Ladybird Johnson Grove Trail and Trinidad State Beach
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Our final day in Redwood National Park began at the Ladybird Johnson Grove Trail. Perched over 1,000 feet on a ridge, the grove was dedicated in 1969 to First Lady Lady Bird Johnson, who championed the protection of old-growth redwoods as logging closed in. Fog hung between the towering trees, giving the short loop trail a calm, almost magical feel.
Ladybird Johnson Grove Trail
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Passing through the town of Orick, we hit the jackpot: a herd of about fifty Roosevelt elk, including two bulls keeping the cows in line. They drifted in and out of the road, stopping traffic and turning the highway into an impromptu wildlife viewing spot.
We stopped at Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center, where we had a picnic lunch right on the beach. Afterward, we decided to explore the coastline further south with no solid plans, just letting the road lead us.
Along Highway 101, we passed Big Lagoon, where I spotted masses of birds but couldn’t stop with no available pullout. Google Maps showed an access point at Blue Lake County Park. There, we walked out on a spit with ocean on one side and the lagoon on the other. Though, it was empty of birds except for a single seagull.
Further south, we ditched the highway for coastal back roads. We stopped at Trinidad State Beach and made the short but steep walk down to College Cove, a wide stretch of sand tucked between rocky bluffs.
Our final stop for the day was the sleepy, seaside town of Trinidad. We had some delicious homemade ice cream at The Lighthouse Grill before continuing on towards the Trinidad Head Lighthouse. Google Maps misled us into thinking we could drive there. The road is closed to traffic, and since we weren’t game for the hike, we settled for the smaller Memorial Lighthouse down at the harbor parking lot.
We stopped at Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center, where we had a picnic lunch right on the beach. Afterward, we decided to explore the coastline further south with no solid plans, just letting the road lead us.
Along Highway 101, we passed Big Lagoon, where I spotted masses of birds but couldn’t stop with no available pullout. Google Maps showed an access point at Blue Lake County Park. There, we walked out on a spit with ocean on one side and the lagoon on the other. Though, it was empty of birds except for a single seagull.
Further south, we ditched the highway for coastal back roads. We stopped at Trinidad State Beach and made the short but steep walk down to College Cove, a wide stretch of sand tucked between rocky bluffs.
Our final stop for the day was the sleepy, seaside town of Trinidad. We had some delicious homemade ice cream at The Lighthouse Grill before continuing on towards the Trinidad Head Lighthouse. Google Maps misled us into thinking we could drive there. The road is closed to traffic, and since we weren’t game for the hike, we settled for the smaller Memorial Lighthouse down at the harbor parking lot.