Gold Bluffs Beach, Redwoods State Park

March 31, 2022

Giant redwood trees march right up to the edge of tempestuous bluffs. The ridge drops down to a grey sandy beach and then into the sea. The sea stretches as far as the eye can see. Here, at the end of 5 miles of unpaved road, is the Gold Bluffs campground. There are no hookups here, and even campfires with quick-start kindling won’t light. The wind is fierce and frigid. It is desolately beautiful, and also very popular. No trailers are allowed on the road to this campground, no vehicles longer than 21 feet. Yet every campsite was reserved, and intrepid humans huddled around propane grills and tents that looked ready to sail away on the next gust of wind.

The 7 mile hike started right at our campsite, led north along the beach before disappearing upland into the forest. The trail leads from the bluffs into old growth redwoods, then into a cut of land called Fern Canyon. This place seemed out of a fairytale, with whimsical hanging gardens of vines and ferns and a babbling pebble creek. One half expected to find an enchanted pixie, a guardian of the forest, around the next turn.

And then suddenly, the forest opens up to beach again, and we find ourselves where we started. Site #7 is at the far end of the campground, where Won and I were cozy enough with our hot water showers and Instapot stews. With the shades up, looking west over the bluff as the sun dipped below the curve of the Pacific Ocean, we toasted our 5th anniversary.

April 2, 2022