Northern redwoods and the Oregon Caves on US-199

Route description

Drive north from Eureka on US-101 past Arcata to Trinidad, about 40 minutes. Sue-meg State Park, formerly Patrick’s Point, has a reconstructed Yurok village, agate beaches and viewpoints for gray whales. Its campgrounds are small but among the most beautiful on this coast. Continue to Orick and the Kuchel Visitor Center of Redwood National and State Parks.

Bald Hills Road climbs steeply from US-101 north of Orick to Lady Bird Johnson Grove, a 1.5-mile loop among giant redwoods; trailers and long RVs should skip this road. North of Orick, the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway is a quieter alternative to US-101 through old-growth forest. Just across the Klamath River, Requa Road climbs to the Klamath River Overlook, high above the river mouth.

Crescent City has fuel, supermarkets and a harbour. East of town, US-199 follows the Smith River into Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. Stout Memorial Grove is a half-mile loop among some of the tallest trees; Howland Hill Road, the gravel lane that reaches it, is too narrow for RVs, but in summer you can walk in from the park campground over a seasonal footbridge.

US-199 follows the wild Smith River gorge, through the Collier Tunnel and into Oregon, continuing to Cave Junction, about 90 minutes from Crescent City. From there, OR-46 winds 20 miles to Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve, where ranger-led tours run from spring to autumn. The road is not recommended for trailers; return to Cave Junction to stay the night.