San Francisco to Humboldt National Park

After some more shopping we left Sausalito to travel north along Highway 1. This is the major state highway that runs along most of the pacific coast of California. In fact, it is the longest state road in California at just over 1000 km.

First stop around 50 km north of San Francisco was Point Reyes National Seashore. As we followed the highway 1 north, we passed/visited Jenner, Bodega and Bodega Bay, and Gualala all great little seaside villages. Driving along the stunning Highway 1, the narrow winding roads along soaring cliffs above the ocean is a must do.

We just missed the whale migration season in Bodega Bay. Next stop was the village of Mendocino. Highway 1 offers an amazing coastline with lots of opportunities to stop and enjoy this wild and untamed coastline, with lots of little coves. Lots of bush camping possible along this road. The area around Mendocino is an ideal overnight destination enroute to Humboldt National Park coming from San Francisco.

Our next overnight stop was on the Avenue of the Giants, some say this is the most scenic road in the whole of the USA. I cannot comment as we still have a long, long way to go. However, this narrow 50-kilometre two-lane route is a wonderful way to explore the redwood groves. 50000 acres of which more than half is made up of old redwood forest and around 100 trees more than 120 meters high.