Aliner trailer camping and photography on the Northern California Coast-part 1

by Scott

part 1 of 3

My original plan was to head to Utah and Arizona and hike and photograph the slot canyons, but after finding most of the trails I was interested in limited to less than 15 people (and completely booked up) we decided to head to Olympic National Park in Washington state, and back down just to see what was there. I had never driven highway 1 past the California border so this would all be new for me. We did some basic research and found some key places we wanted to photograph, but most of it was just reacting to where we were and exploring. It rained the first 5 days straight and the Aliner worked like a charm keeping us warm and dry. We left Tahoe and stayed our first night on the coast at Patricks Point campground near Eureka. This was a great campground with large, secluded forest sites, easily suited to larger trailers. We found a spot on the Agate loop with nobody near us and pretty much had the redwoods to ourselves. This campground is popular with Abalone fisherman. Trails lead from just behind the campsites for several miles along the coast. All these images and many more can be purchased or licensed in from my online archive.

 patricks point state park

Patricks point state park

patricks point state park

Patricks point state park

Aliner in redwood campground at Patricks Point State Park

Aliner in redwood campground at Patricks Point State Park

most of the campsites in the various loops at Patricks Point campground felt like camping in the redwoods

Most of the campsites in the various loops at Patricks Point campground felt like camping in the redwoods

Walking along the coast trail out of the campground.

Walking along the coast trail out of the campground.

editing photos in the Aliner as the rain beats down

Editing photos in the Aliner as the rain beats down

From Patricks point we wanted to get into our first real day of photography at Jedediah Smith Redwoods state park, but first we stumbled upon a giant talking statute. Oddly enough, right after getting back NPR did a great piece on the voice of Paul Bunyan.

The talking Paul Bunyan statue at Trees of Mystery park in Humbolt County.

The talking Paul Bunyan statue at Trees of Mystery park in Humbolt County.

Flowers in the park in Cresent City, CA just before the Oregon border.

Flowers in the park in Cresent City, CA just before the Oregon border.

Monique plays around on hte Jetty

Monique plays around on the Jetty

sady vacationsady vacation

Monique taking a nap on the giant cement formation on the Cresent City jetty.

Monique taking a nap on the giant cement formation on the Cresent City jetty.

The Battery Point lighthouse with it's washed-out road in Cresent City, CA.

The Battery Point lighthouse with it’s washed-out road in Cresent City, CA.

After goofing of on the Jetty in Crescent City and getting lunch, we headed to Jedediah Smith Redwoods State park and got our campground. This place has some good and some bad campgrounds. Never get one near an intersection of roads and if you have a larger trailer, make sure yours can fit. We barely fit the Aliner in our spot on the corner, then it rained all night and we were parked in 3 inches of standing water in the morning that ever passing car turned into a muddy wave, so we moved a few spots down to the middle of the row and it was a thousand times better. Trees are thinner and the illusion of privacy in your campground doesn’t exist here the way it did at Patricks Point, but hey, you aren’t here to sit in your trailer, you are here to hike among the giant redwood trees. To that end, I strongly recommend the Stout Memorial Grove. In my opinion the most visually appealing trails, mostly thin paths covered with clover. STICK TO THE TRAILS! There are tons of micro trails through the clover that are already worn. We saw plenty of idiots stomping through the clover fields just to get a picture. Well, if you keep doing that, pretty soon there will be no clover fields left and that is the whole thing that makes this grove so unique. Also, go early or late when the sun is at low angles in the sky or on an overcast day. Bright sun blobs shining through the trees can kill a good forest pictures. If you want mist (we only had a tiny bit and it lasted about 10 minutes) go at sunrise. You often get a fog off the river than can create nice sun beams as it dissipates. The Boys Scout trail and the long drive on a dirt road to get to it is another great destination and grouping of massive trees. The waterfall at the end was a little underwhelming, mainly due to low water, but the grove rivals the Stout grove.

Monique among the giant redwoods in the Stout Memorial grove at Jedediah Smith Redwoods state park in CA.

Monique among the giant redwoods in the Stout Memorial grove at Jedediah Smith Redwoods state park in CA.

Some of the giant redwoods in the Stout Memorial grove at Jedediah Smith Redwoods state park in CA.

Some of the giant redwoods in the Stout Memorial grove at Jedediah Smith Redwoods state park in CA.

Some of the giant redwoods in the Stout Memorial grove at Jedediah Smith Redwoods state park in CA.

Some of the giant redwoods in the Stout Memorial grove at Jedediah Smith Redwoods state park in CA.

Some of the giant redwoods in the Stout Memorial grove at Jedediah Smith Redwoods state park in CA.

Some of the giant redwoods in the Stout Memorial grove at Jedediah Smith Redwoods state park in CA.

Some of the giant redwoods in the Stout Memorial grove at Jedediah Smith Redwoods state park in CA.

Some of the giant redwoods along the Boy Scout trail at Jedediah Smith Redwoods state park in CA.

Some of the giant redwoods and clover covered trails in the Stout Memorial grove at Jedediah Smith Redwoods state park in CA.

Some of the giant redwoods and clover covered trails in the Stout Memorial grove at Jedediah Smith Redwoods state park in CA.

Some of the giant redwoods and clover covered trails in the Stout Memorial grove at Jedediah Smith Redwoods state park in CA.

Some of the giant redwoods and clover covered trails in the Stout Memorial grove at Jedediah Smith Redwoods state park in CA.

jedediah smith redwoods

Some of the giant redwoods and clover covered trails in the Stout Memorial grove at Jedediah Smith Redwoods state park in CA.

Some of the giant redwoods and clover covered trails in the Stout Memorial grove at Jedediah Smith Redwoods state park in CA.

Some of the giant redwoods and clover covered trails in the Stout Memorial grove at Jedediah Smith Redwoods state park in CA.

Two trails diverge in a woods in the Stout Memorial grove at Jedediah Smith Redwoods state park in CA.

Monique among the giant redwoods in the Stout Memorial grove at Jedediah Smith Redwoods state park in CA.

Monique among the giant redwoods in the Stout Memorial grove at Jedediah Smith Redwoods state park in CA.

Some of the giant redwoods and clover covered trails in the Stout Memorial grove at Jedediah Smith Redwoods state park in CA.

Some of the giant redwoods along the Boy Scout Trail at Jedediah Smith Redwoods state park in CA.

Some of the giant redwoods and clover covered trails in the Stout Memorial grove at Jedediah Smith Redwoods state park in CA.

Some of the giant redwoods along the Boy Scout Trail at Jedediah Smith Redwoods state park in CA.

Beams of early morning light in the redwoods at Jedediah Smith state park in California.

Beams of early morning light in the redwoods at Jedediah Smith state park in California.

Beams of early morning light in the redwoods at Jedediah Smith state park in California.

Beams of early morning light in the redwoods at Jedediah Smith state park in California.

Beams of early morning light in the redwoods at Jedediah Smith state park in California.

Beams of early morning light in the redwoods at Jedediah Smith state park in California.

Beams of early morning light in the redwoods at Jedediah Smith state park in California.

Beams of early morning light in the redwoods at Jedediah Smith state park in California.

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  • Aaron SuozziJanuary 12, 2014 - 8:06 am

    Scott,

    Looks like a great trip! Also, you have to love taking your hotel room with you. I think I am on my 4th pop up camper and it’s the best money I have ever spent.

    Aaron

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Fine Art Landscape Photography

Lake Tahoe Landscape Photographer

Scott Sady is a freelance commercial and fine art landscape photographer and FAA licensed drone pilot based in Lake Tahoe and Reno. Scott specializes in Lake Tahoe landscape photography, Sierra landscape photography, Reno and Lake Tahoe stock images and freelance and photojournalism. Scott is available for freelance photography assignments in the Reno and Lake Tahoe area.