Northern Coast

Although Redwood National Park is rightfully known for its magnificent redwood trees, it also contains about 40 miles of spectacular Pacific coastline. The northernmost section of the park lies just a couple of miles south of Crescent City. The ocean is bordered here by Crescent Beach, shown below in this view to the north. There is a picnic facility next to the beach at the northern border of the park.

This picture, and the one above, were taken from the Crescent Beach Overlook, a wooden viewing platform which provides outstanding views of the coastline of the northern section of the park. It is accessible from Enderts Beach Road which intersects with Highway 101 just north of the northern boundary of the park. This picture looks south along the coast past Battery Point, with Enderts Beach in the foreground.

At the right season, the area around the overlook platform features wildflowers in addition to coastal views.

Much of the coast in the northern part of the park is part of Del Norte Redwoods State Park. Established in 1925, the park encompasses 6400 acres including 6000 acres of old growth redwoods and steep, forested coastal slopes.

The redwood forest itself does not stretch all the way to the coast. The drying effects of the salt air makes it an unfavorable habitat for the redwood tree, and opens the way for Sitka spruce which becomes the dominant old-growth species. These trees serve as a buffer for the inland redwood groves.

The north coast features several impressive rocks or sea stacks which are visible from overlooks along Highway 101 which runs along the cliff far above the ocean. There are several overlooks in this area where the visitor can pull off the highway, park, and gaze out over forest, rock, and ocean.

Below is a closer view of the rocks in the ocean pictured above.

Much of the Pacific coast within the confine of the parks complex is rocky, with a number of rocks which extend out into the sea. This includes some named features, such as Sister Rocks and Footstep Rocks.