Klamath, CA 2012

The drive from San Benito, CA to Klamath, CA is a killer.  We made a similar drive last year and, fortunately, learned from that mistake.  This time we stopped at the halfway point in Willit, CA and stayed at the Golden Rule RV Park on the south side of town.  The Golden rule is a very nice trailer park with a few RV spots for visitors.  The drive from highway 101 down to the park is narrow and challenging, but results in a quiet evening just one mile off of the busy highway.  This was a one-day stay with another early morning start.  We arrived at the Klamath River RV Park around three in the afternoon.  If you haven’t had a chance to stay in this park, we strongly recommend it!  It is a Coast-to-Coast Park and you pay an additional $4.00 per day for electric on top of your normal $10 fee.  In addition, if you want a pull-through site overlooking the river it is another $5.00 per night.  Pay the extra … it is well worth waking up to the river quietly moving toward the ocean just a few feet from your front window … spectacular!  Here are a few pictures!

Sunset from the Park

Sunset from the Park - 2

Lynda with rig ... overlooking Klamath River

Rig parked at river's edge

View from the rig

View from the rig

There are only a few activities at the park itself.  The scenery is the main attraction here, although a number of guests launched their kayaks and/or boats for a ride on the river.  Fishing is available certain times of the year and a license is required.  The real attraction in the area is the great Redwood National and State Parks consortium.  Redwoods National Park is one of the few that has enhanced its management and range by joining with the state park system to provide a larger experience.  Some of the best redwood groves are in the state parks … Jedediah Smith State Park has a wonderful grove that is accessible by car and a short hike.  Another really nice grove is the Lady Bird Johnson grove, located just off of Highway 101.  Don’t miss the elk herds in the park … a great place to see them is by the red schoolhouse off of Highway 101.  We thoroughly explored the park on our last visit, so opted for the more commercial, but interesting, Trees of Mystery this time.  The Trees of Mystery are located on Highway 101.  Don’t just stop at the gift shop … pay the $15.00 per adult ($11.00 for seniors over 60) to hike up to the trees.  The fee includes a ride on the tram and a visit to the Paul Bunyan trail.  It is worth the price of admission.  Here are some pictures.

At Trees of Mystery

The Elephant Tree

Lynda by overturned tree roots

Cathedral Trees

Redwood

The Candelabra Tree

View from the Tram

Carvings about Paul Bunyan's Life (Here and Following)

Finally, don’t forget to stop and see the rugged Pacific coastline here.  It is rocky, rough, and beautiful!  It is kind of nice to see a beach without a million people vying for the same small piece of sand.

Northern California Coastline ... (Here and Following)

Driftwood along Northern California Coast

Until next time … do what you love.