Crescent City, California

Crescent City is the northern gateway to Redwood National and State Parks with world class redwood forest hiking, secluded beaches and scenic drives. Crescent City is also the western gateway to Highway 199 a road that takes you through Smith River National Recreation Area with a watershed that is claimed to be the cleanest in the lower 48 states and into Oregon with wild and scenic rivers, Oregon Caves National Monument, wilderness areas and historic sites.

Crescent City has miles of secluded beaches, estuaries, scenic rocky coastline, tidepools, Tolowa Dunes State Park and Lake Earl Wildlife Area. The Battery Point Lighthouse is one of the oldest lighthouses in California and is located near the Marine Mammal Rescue Center and the large city park on the bay.

A short drive to the north of Crescent City takes you to Brookings and the scenic Oregon coast. A short drive to the south immerses you in the redwood forest, rocky wave battered beaches and native Yurok culture. Trees of Mystery offers rides through the redwood canopy.

Crescent City map of things to see. Battery Point Lighthouse, Pebble Beach Scenic Drive, Tolowa Dunes State Park, Redwood National Park, Brother Johnathan Point, birding. Highway 101, northwest California

This map is intended to be used for orientation to the Crescent City area and should not be considered to be a comprehensive depiction of park and private property boundaries. A published map is recommended if you are uncertain about the location of public and private lands.

Roads in the map are colored black or gray to simplify identification of primary routes of travel for visitors who are unfamiliar with the Crescent City area. Black lines are the recommended routes and gray lines are residential roads.

Red Rectangle = Redwood National and State Park Headquarters located at the intersection of Second and K Streets. This building is raised above the road with the offices suspended above Second Street like a bridge. The design of this building was intended to make it safe during a tsunami. Look across the street from the visitor center for a sign with a blue line about five feet above the side walk indicating the depth of water in this part of town during the 1964 tsunami, the only major tsunami to do major damage along the coast of the continental United States.

Purple Square = Del Norte County Chamber of Commerce located at the intersection of Second and Front Street. This building is raised above the surrounding land for the same reason as the Redwood National and State Park Headquarters located a block away.

1) City Park: The park offers a little bit of something for everyone. A hollow redwood log is on display near the corner of H Street and Front Street. Across the street is Kid Town with picnic tables and a large play area. The road next to the bay offers plenty of parking for those who want to enjoy sitting and watching the scenic vista or take a walk on the beach during low tide.

2) Marine Mammal Rescue Center: Located at one end of the City Park, this facility is run entirely by volunteers who care for sea lions, harbor seals, elephant seals, etc. that have been injured by human or natural causes. Interpretive signs provide information about north coast wildlife. Seals can be seen from a distance through a chain link fence.

3) Battery Point Lighthouse: This is one of the oldest lighthouses on the California coast. Tours are offered when the tide is low. Located at the end of front street. A gift store inside the building has books and other items as well as displays about the light house. Managed by volunteers from the Del Norte County Historic Society.

4) Museum: Located on the corner of H Street and 6th Street, the museum has displays on the local history of the area. Managed by volunteers from the Del Norte County Historic Society.

5) Ocean World: A guided tour takes you to see displays where you can touch live starfish, pet sharks and watch a performance by sea lions. The gift store is one of the largest in Crescent City.

6) Brother Johnathan Point: A scenic vista point overlooks the northern California coast with the Battery Point lighthouse in the distance overlooking a rocky shore battered by waves. Across the street, is a park with a cemetery and display telling the story of the Brother Johnathan ship wreck. The park has a play ground and lots of grass covered places for a family to throw out a blanket and have a picnic.

7) Beach access: A narrow road goes down to the site of a rock quarry used as a source of boulders in the construction of the Crescent City harbor's main jetty. Drift wood washed in from storms may obstruct the road and parking area.

8) Pebble Beach access and picnic overlook: A picnic area on a grass covered overlook is located near stairs going down to the scenic south end of Pebble Beach.

9) Castle Rock National Wildlife Refuge: Castle Rock is a small island and is not accessible to the public. A pair of binoculars is sufficient to see the herds of sea lions that use a small beach on the island and dedicated birders can watch nesting birds on the island's rocky, grass covered crest.

10) Point Saint George: A large parking area marks the access trail to the south end of Pelican Bay (Kellogg Beach), a five mile beach mostly within Tolowa Dunes State Park. Grass covered knolls overlook the rocky point where the Point Saint George lighthouse can be seen in the distance. A historic military complex is located at the entrance to the parking lot (private residence).

11) Howland Hill Scenic Drive: Five miles of gravel surfaced road snakes along a historic wagon route through a forest of giant redwood trees. Several hiking trails take you into the forest. The Stout Grove is wheelchair accessible.

12) Enderts Beach Scenic Drive: This short drive follows the old route of Highway 101 to a wheelchair accessible vista point on the Redwood National Park coastline. A wheelchair accessible picnic area is located on Crescent Beach.

13) Tsunami display: Located at the corner of N Street and Front Street, this display tells a small part of the 1964 tsunami story. The large cement dolo seen here is the same as the ones put out on the end of the jetty but this one was put here to show visitors what they look like. It used to sit centered on the round cement pad to one side of it. During the 1964 tsunami, a log hit this dolo with such force that it pushed it off the cement pad. A more unfortunate event took place several minutes later when the wave receded. Several people who were at a tavern where the wave hit the hardest climbed on the roof where they saw a life boat from one of the trawlers in the harbor. They used this to try to paddle to dry land but when the wave receded it pulled them into the Elk Creek drainage where they were pulled under Highway 101. All but one drowned. You can see the culvert about 200 feet from the dolo display. It now has iron rails covering it, to prevent a repeat of the 1964 tragedy. (Note: a modern-day dolo is on display near the Chamber of Commerce building about two blocks west on Front Street.)

14) Tolowa Dunes State Park: Located about four miles from downtown Crescent City with hiking trails, beaches, Native American history and wildlife viewing. Includes Lake Earl Wildlife Area.

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Disclaimer: All information in Highway199.org is accurate to the best knowledge of the author. However, conditions in outdoor settings can change dramatically after storms or fires. For this reason, travelers are advised to check current road conditions before traveling through the area, drive responsibly and take measures to understand safety issues in the region. When participating in outdoor activities, always plan and prepare for safe hiking, swimming or any other activities mentioned in the Highway 199 website. More on disclaimer and copyright...