We spent about a week traveling north on Highway 1 along the California coast towards Oregon. The road was slower going than expected, but allowed us to enjoy the ocean views. For most of the coast, this road is right next to the ocean, making the road very windy, hilly, and it was full of pot holes! Highlights along the route included exploring the King Range National Conservation Area and hiking in the Redwoods! The King Range NCA is about a 30 mile stretch of wild coast, without any roads or development. We climbed King Peak, the highest point in the area, to see the ocean, surrounding mountains, and a distant snow covered volcano (Mt. Shasta). The next day, we hiked along the coast from Mattole Beach enjoying the waves crashing against the huge rocks spotting the shoreline. Watching the sunsets along the ocean brought bright colors to our evenings!
We finished our time in California by going to the Redwoods. Hiking among the massive tree giants made it feel unlike any other forest! Redwoods grow in groves, so transitioning from areas with ‘normal’ (they were still very tall) trees to the towering redwoods, brought us to wows! It was a great way to finish our time in California!
