From Harbour Bridge to Golden Gate Bridge: 2–3 Years Living in the US

[CaptainCurtis]

 

[CaptainCurtis]

Another easy 2km walk.

 

[OZDUCK]

Lovely photos thanks.

Two things jumped to my mind. Firstly how you seemed to be exploring these paths completely alone. Are there just so many tracks that it it is easy to escape others or was the park very 'empty' of visitors? Secondly I noticed the sign about shallow roots but saw no sign of any 'raised walkways' to avoid soil compression by people walking along the tracks. Did you run across any?

 

[CaptainCurtis]

After finishing up at Jedediah Smith, I drove an hour or so south along the Redwood Highway (US-101) before turning off onto the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway at the northern entrance to Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. Prairie Creek is known for its towering trees, resident Roosevelt elk herds, and the lush, fern-filled gullies that have made it a filming location for everything from Jurassic Park to Star Wars.






The Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway runs for about 10 miles through the heart of the park, a slower, quieter alternative to Highway 101 (which I'd taken on the way up to Crescent City).

 

[CaptainCurtis]

My first stop was the Moorman Pond Trail, another short 2km walk.

 

[CaptainCurtis]

In the afternoon, I headed to the southern end of the park for a 4 km walk along the Foothill and Cathedral Trees Trails, which form a gentle loop through some of the park’s most impressive groves.

 

[CaptainCurtis]

 

[CaptainCurtis]

The drive from Prairie Creek down to my accommodation in Trinidad for the next two nights was an easy 40 minutes, retracing the coast just north of the town I’d stopped in two days earlier. I checked into the Historic Schoolhouse Inn - Camp Trinidad, where I’d be staying for two nights. At $261 per night, it was one of my pricier stops, but also one of the nicest.

The Inn sits on a 13-acre property near the coast and was once a functioning schoolhouse, now converted into a boutique inn with freshly renovated, spacious rooms. Mine had a comfortable bed, modern bathroom, and plenty of space to spread out. It’s not directly on the beach, but the location was quiet, breezy, and well positioned to head back into Prairie Creek the next day.








Dinner was at the Sunset Restaurant, inside the Heights Casino south of Trinidad.



I had the New York strip. Before...



After...



Sunset snaps on the short drive back up to the Inn.

 

[CaptainCurtis]

I was up early, departing Camp Trinidad at 7AM and arriving at the Prairie Creek Visitor Center at 7:45. The morning was cool and misty, the air carrying that unmistakable mix of salt and redwood. Today’s plan was an ambitious one: a full 22.5 km loop, starting on the James Irvine Trail to Fern Canyon, then walking along Gold Bluffs Beach, and returning to the Visitor Center via the Miners Ridge Trail.





The James Irvine Trail is one of the park’s signature walks, and for good reason. From the very first steps, the path wound through towering redwoods, past quiet creeks and fallen logs carpeted in neon-green moss. The early light filtering through the canopy gave the whole forest a soft, golden glow. For long stretches, the only sounds were dripping water and the faint chatter of birds far above.

 

[CaptainCurtis]

 

[CaptainCurtis]

 

[CaptainCurtis]

After a couple of hours, the forest began to open as I reached the mouth of Fern Canyon. Even after everything I’d seen in the park so far, this place felt incredibly special - a narrow gorge lined with towering green walls, ferns cascading down like curtains. The air was cool and still, the sound of trickling water echoing off the canyon walls. It’s easy to see why this spot has been used as a filming location for Jurassic Park - walking through, you half expect a dinosaur to emerge from the fog.

 

[CaptainCurtis]

I wasn’t brilliantly prepared as I didn't have any water shoes with me, but a ranger at the visitor center had mentioned that barefoot would be fine since the pebbles were rounded - and thankfully he was right. The cool water and smooth stones actually added to the experience.

 

[CaptainCurtis]

 

[CaptainCurtis]

Emerging from the canyon, I crossed the final stream bed and paused to take one last look back at the moss-covered walls before heading toward the coast. A hiker coming the other way mentioned seeing an elk nearby. Sure enough, not long after, I spotted one standing about twenty feet away, watching me intently from the trees. It was absolutely exhilarating in the moment - a perfect mix of awe and adrenaline, recognising the sheer size and strength of the animal, and its complete ease in this landscape. I scuttled away quickly.

I’d planned to continue directly onto Gold Bluffs Beach, but couldn’t find a clear access point. A muddy creek cut the beach and the parking area, too wide to cross without getting soaked and not particularly inviting, so I took the pragmatic route instead - following the road south until it joined the Miners Ridge Trail. It wasn’t quite the seaside stroll I’d pictured, but the sound of the surf followed me the whole way. Thankfully, no further elk to be seen.

 

[CaptainCurtis]

 

[CaptainCurtis]

 

[CaptainCurtis]

By the time I made it back to the Prairie Creek Visitor Center, it was mid-afternoon and I’d clocked just over 22.5 km. My legs were tired, shoes damp, and camera full - all signs of a good day on the trail. The James Irvine–Fern Canyon–Miners Ridge loop had lived up to its reputation and then some: towering redwoods, lush canyon walls and a wildlife encounter I won’t soon forget.



I highly recommend the site linked below for all things Redwoods, highlighting the best trails through the various parks in California. This was where I found the inspiration to do today's hike.

Redwood Hikes

A guide to California's old-growth redwood parks

www.redwoodhikes.com

 

[CaptainCurtis]

After finishing the big loop at Prairie Creek, I made one last stop on the way back south - the Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail, located within the federally managed Redwood National Park. It’s a 2.5 km loop through an elevated redwood grove dedicated to the former First Lady for her conservation efforts. In hindsight, adding another trail after 22.5 km might have been ambitious, but it was worth it.

 

[CaptainCurtis]

By around 3 PM, hunger had well and truly set in. A quick Google search led me to Mojo Pizza, a food truck parked on the side of the road boasting over 450 five-star reviews. Simple, fresh, and exactly what I needed after a long day on the trails.




Back at the Historic Schoolhouse Inn, I had a quick shower before heading out again to the Moonstone Grill for a well-earned glass of wine. The restaurant sits high above Moonstone Beach, offering beautiful views of the coastline,







I rounded out the evening with a short soak in the spa back at the Inn to ease the legs, before calling it a night. A perfect finish to a huge day.