San Francisco to Crater Lake - Miss the Redwood Forest?

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05-31-2006, 01:26 PM
Robbi Lou

San Francisco to Crater Lake

I have to drive from San Francisco to Crater Lake with my husband and another couple and it's about 7 hours according to Mapquest. Now, taking I-5 is surely the quick way, but would it be a mistake to miss driving through the Redwoods up past Eureka? We will have already driven the coast from San Diego to L.A., but is it worth it to take an extra 3.5 hours (10 hours total driving one day) to see the Redwoods?

I was thinking San Fran to Crescent City so we could see the Redwoods and then over to Fort Klamath near Crater Lake. I could also go San Fran to Redding and then cut across 299 to Arcata and up to Crescent City, as I've heard that 299 is absolutely gorgeous. Is it too much?
05-31-2006, 05:48 PM
Mark Sedenquist

Twenty hour day!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robbi Lou

I have to drive from San Francisco to Crater Lake

Welcome to the Great American RoadTrip Forum! I just drove SR-299 from Redding over to Arcata and zigzagged around the coast for four days. It is a beautiful drive, but if you are really trying to go all the all way from San Francisco to Crater Lake in one day and see the redwoods, I think it is too much. Mapquest is way off on this section of roadway. It will be impossible to average much more than 50 mph for most of the coastal route, (there are sections where you are able to drive 65+, but also sections where 35 is closer to reality) I think the day will be closer to 15-20 hours in the saddle -- it might be worth it (those trees are magnificient) but you do have to allow sufficient time.

Mark
05-31-2006, 10:36 PM
W. Larrison

I'd recommend doing SF across the Golden Gate up 101 to the Redwoods, and then across at Crescent City to Grants Pass to Klamath Falls to Crater Lake.

However, you'll want to spend at least several hours sightseeing at the Redwoods -- I'd recommend getting down to Gold Beach and Fern Gully, and the Lady Bird grove, at least. If you stay at or near Crescent City, you can make it to Crater Lake in a day I think -- My last trip was from just south of Crescent City over the Howland Hill road through the Jeddiah Smith Redwoods State Park, and then up 199 through Grants Pass to Redding in a day. That included a side trip to Oregon Caves and a tour through them in a day.
05-31-2006, 11:19 PM
Robbi Lou

I have two nights booked in Frisco!!!

I can't stay at or near Crescent City. If I left Frisco at like 7 am could I see the Redwoods and get to Crater Lake in 1 day?
06-01-2006, 01:16 AM
pashnit

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robbi Lou

I can't stay at or near Crescent City. If I left Frisco at like 7 am could I see the Redwoods and get to Crater Lake in 1 day?

Robbi- I'd have to agree with Mark on this one. I was running around there last weekend too, and the distance is pretty dramatic.

Maybe if you left early from SF, and went up 101 straight to Leggit (watch for speed traps in ALL the small towns), but the Avenue of the Giants is 31 miles long if that's what your planning. At a 35mph speed, take you an hour to get through there. Then onto Fortuna/Eureka. If you took Hwy 199 cutting up into Oregon, still a rather slow road with all the traffic and twists and turns. I suppose it could be done, but you'd be traveling all day on county highways after Crescent City (Oregon border) and maybe you'd reach the base of the hill.

I once rode from the base of Crater Lake, to the top, down the north side, then straight out to the Oregon Coast, then all the way down the Oregon-California coastline on Hwy 1 and cut in around Fort Bragg on Hwy 128 to Sacramento. Lil further than San Fran.

If I remember correctly, it was 16+ hours in the saddle, all county roads, stopping only for gas (no meals) & a couple pics. Couldn't feel my right hand for 3 days after that. :)

If you want to see the redwoods, and you're in San Fran, why not just zip across the Golden Gate over to Muir Woods?

NorCal's Highway 299
http://www.pashnittours.com/photos/2...Hwy299-600.jpg
06-01-2006, 07:13 AM
Midwest Michael

What's the question

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robbi Lou

I can't stay at or near Crescent City. If I left Frisco at like 7 am could I see the Redwoods and get to Crater Lake in 1 day?

I'd have to go with the response Mark already gave for this one. Yes, the trip could potentially be done in one day, but it will take you upwards of 20 hours behind the wheel.
06-01-2006, 07:55 AM
Mark Sedenquist

Pashit is the ultimate authority on this one!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robbi Lou

If I left Frisco at like 7 am could I see the Redwoods and get to Crater Lake in 1 day?

Pashnit is an expert motorcyclist (who has been known to drive a tweeny-weeny bit above the posted speed limits). If he couldn't cover this distance on his jet-fueled two-wheeler, there is no way you can travel it faster in a car...

Mark
06-01-2006, 12:27 PM
Robbi Lou

Muir Woods???

What is Muir Woods? Would it be an adequate replacement for the Avenue of Giants? I am quite unfamiliar with the West Coast so all these names and places are new to me. Just trying to see as much beauty and wonder as I can...
06-01-2006, 12:39 PM
cool

i dont think so!

Robbi,
You may want to check this.
Muir woods has redwoods, but I don't think you can compare it to the avenue of the giants.
But it does have some trees, maybe lots of them(probably down the trail-I've not done that).
There is a popular 1 mile trail. Its beautiful, but nothing close to the avenue of the giants, imo.
But if you push yourself too much, you won't be able to see anything completely. So, plan it out.

And as the others have mentioned, 299 is beautiful.

have a nice trip!
cool
06-01-2006, 09:48 PM
Robbi Lou

Forget Muir Woods!

We've decided to forgo our 4th night in San Fran and instead leave early evening from San Fran towards the Avenue of the Giants, and stay somewhere fairly close to there. Can we still do 299 if we go this route? Where should we stay now that we have 2 days to get to Crater Lake?
06-02-2006, 04:48 PM
Mark Sedenquist

Driving at night?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robbi Lou

We've decided to forgo our 4th night in San Fran and instead leave early evening from San Fran towards the Avenue of the Giants, and stay somewhere fairly close to there

It still seems like a such shame to drive this stretch at night and miss all of this country. Starting in San Franisco, it occurs to me that you should just use US-101 and go north. Following this plan, you could stay over-night at Ukiah or Leggett and then enjoy the redwoods as you drive north the next day.

Quote:

Can we still do 299 if we go this route? Where should we stay now that we have 2 days to get to Crater Lake?

Sure, after you leave the Avenue of the Giants you can swing east on SR-299 and take that over to I-5 at Redding. I would suggest staying overnight at Medford.

Mark
06-03-2006, 02:48 AM
pashnit

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robbi Lou

We've decided to forgo our 4th night in San Fran and instead leave early evening from San Fran towards the Avenue of the Giants, and stay somewhere fairly close to there. Can we still do 299 if we go this route? Where should we stay now that we have 2 days to get to Crater Lake?

Robbi- leave SF early evening, then stay somewhere around the Avenue of the Giants is what you mean?

If so, click these and see if anything grabs you. Some pretty neat lodging places in those parts. The Avenue of the Giants is really just a road that parallels the freeway for 31 miles (well marked) and runs through a series of tiny towns and runs through a series of groves of redwoods. The redwoods are quite massive, mainly just taller than your brain can conceptualize. Ironically, they're root systems only run about 10 feet deep- yet can spread out 250 feet! So to survive, they grow in groves, and as they grow, they interlock their root systems with the next tree. 60% of the world's tallest trees are found in the Avenue of the Giants. Anyway, maybe you already knew that but just fun facts about California. ;)

http://www.benbowinn.com - Garberville

http://www.gingerbread-mansion.com - Ferndale

http://www.a-victorian-inn.com - Ferndale

http://www.myersinn.com - Myers Flat

Remember that the section of freeway b/n Leggett to Fortuna is a 70 mile stretch and is known for speedtraps as the road drops down to 40mph in some spots. We've actually seen the local cop just sitting on the other side of the sign at times, waiting.

I've written several articles on the redwoods, here's a quickie excerpt. Fascinating stuff.

Quote:

The Dyerville Giant & the Founders Tree are found along the Founders Grove nature trail southeast of this junction. The Dyerville Giant was certified by the American Forestry Association as the Champion Coast Redwood up until it fell in March of 1991. Until that time- this giant redwood was 370 feet tall and was estimated to weigh over 1,000,000 pounds- comparable to a thirty story building or 200 feet taller than Niagara Falls. The base of tree was 52 feet in circumference and 17 feet in diameter.
06-04-2006, 12:44 PM
Robbi Lou

How far is The Avenue of the Giants from SF?

I want to see the Avenue of the Giants during the day, so when should I leave to see it during the day? Also, if I go to the Avenue of the Giants where should I stay after that so I can A) still drive the 299 and B) get close enough to stay somewhere that limits the drive to Crater Lake?