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

[CaptainCurtis]

Our first trip to the USA we went to Muir Woods to see the redwoods. Still remember it.

Being a National Monument, Muir Woods had been closed during the recent government shutdown, but I'm hoping to check it out soon now that it has reopened. It's meant to be fantastic.

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?

I think I was there during a quieter period, which must've helped. Jedediah is also quite far north, and so with plenty of options closer to San Francisco, it doesn't appear to be as popular as places like Muir Woods, Avenue of the Giants and Prairie Creek. I also did some longer hikes which naturally are less popular for tourists.

Lassen was deathly quiet outside of the tourist spots like Bumpass Hell and Lassen Peak. It's less well known, a bit of a drive, and has a short season with the main road shutting due to snowfall.

Great question on the raised walkways - there were a few, but not many at all. Lots of signs, however, recommending folks to stay on the trails.

 

[OZDUCK]

Being a National Monument, Muir Woods had been closed during the recent government shutdown, but I'm hoping to check it out soon now that it has reopened. It's meant to be fantastic.


I think I was there during a quieter period, which must've helped. Jedediah is also quite far north, and so with plenty of options closer to San Francisco, it doesn't appear to be as popular as places like Muir Woods, Avenue of the Giants and Prairie Creek. I also did some longer hikes which naturally are less popular for tourists.

Lassen was deathly quiet outside of the tourist spots like Bumpass Hell and Lassen Peak. It's less well known, a bit of a drive, and has a short season with the main road shutting due to snowfall.

Great question on the raised walkways - there were a few, but not many at all. Lots of signs, however, recommending folks to stay on the trails.

Thanks for the response. Whatever the reason it must have been really nice wandering through the forest on your own..

 

[CaptainCurtis]

After the mammoth hike the day before, I allowed myself a proper sleep-in. I woke to the sound of torrential rain. Breakfast and coffee were at the Beachcomber Café in Trinidad, a cosy stop to warm up and watch the storm roll through before getting back on the road.



From there, I continued south toward the Avenue of the Giants, one of the most famous scenic drives in Northern California. The avenue runs for about 31 miles (50 km) parallel to Highway 101 and cuts through Humboldt Redwoods State Park, home to the largest contiguous stand of old-growth redwoods left on Earth. It’s a slow, winding road designed to be driven deliberately, with towering redwoods lining both sides and countless pullouts for short walks and groves.

Unfortunately, the weather had other plans. The rain was relentless, and visibility was poor, so this became a drive-only experience. Even from inside the car, though, the scale of the trees was impossible to ignore.

No hikes this time, but sometimes the road itself is enough.

 

[CaptainCurtis]

From the Avenue of the Giants, it was about a two-hour drive south to Fort Bragg. The rain stuck around for a while inland, but as I approached the coast it finally began to ease. Joining Highway 1 felt like a turning point - the clouds started to break and patches of blue appeared. After days of forest and mist, it was a relief to see the Pacific again.






Fort Bragg is a former logging town turned coastal hub, best known for its rugged shoreline, fishing harbour, and access to Mendocino’s dramatic coast. It has a practical, working-town feel rather than the polish of some neighbouring spots, but that’s part of its charm.

Lunch was a late one at The Pub at North Coast Brewing Co.



From there, I stretched my legs with a 6 km walk along the Fort Bragg Coastal Trail, which follows the bluffs above the ocean. One highlight was crossing the Pudding Creek Trestle, a former railway bridge now converted into a pedestrian crossing. It spans the mouth of Pudding Creek where it meets the ocean, with views back toward the harbour and out to sea - a great example of old industrial infrastructure finding new life.

 

[CaptainCurtis]

 

[CaptainCurtis]

A couple of cute squirrels along the way.




All up a 6km, slow walk.

 

[CaptainCurtis]

Later in the afternoon, I checked into my accommodation for the night, the Harbor Lite Lodge. At $138, the room was simple but spacious, and I was lucky enough to have a view out the back over Noyo Harbor, Fort Bragg’s working fishing harbour. Watching boats come and go in the late afternoon light was a nice way to slow things down.








I rounded out the day with a drive to Todd Point to catch the sunset. The earlier rain had washed the air clean, and the light was beautiful — warm tones reflecting off the cliffs and ocean as the sun dipped below the horizon.








Overall, a bit of a mixed day weather-wise, but after the run of luck I’d had so far, I really couldn’t complain.