Grants Pass to Crescent City Highway 199 Road Guide - Oregon & California Redwood Highway

Redwood Forest, California

ZERO ODOMETER at Hiouchi (Chevron Station)

0.0 Hiouchi (Chevron Station)

0.1 Turnout: Use turnouts to allow faster moving traffic to pass.

0.3 Enter Redwood National and State Parks:
Redwood National Park is made up of three state parks connected by National Park Service lands. This is why the entrance sign says “National and State Parks”. You are now entering Jedediah Smith State Park, the northern most of the three state parks that make up Redwood National Park.

0.6 The Visitor Center on the right is not always open but the restrooms usually are. There is a nice picnic area here as well as interpretive signs and samples of the three “redwoods” in the world; coast redwood, giant sequoia (Sierra Mountain redwood) and Dawn Redwood (actually a cypress) a tree that was believed to be extinct until rediscovered in China in 1942.

0.7 Jedediah Smith Campground on the left has a day use area with picnic tables in a redwood forest overlooking the river. The picture above shows the popular swimming area located here. A fee is charged to use the day use area. During the summer, you can hike from the day use area to a foot bridge over the Smith River to the Mill Creek Trail and Stout Grove Loop Trail, a world class redwood forest experience. You can also hike to the Jedediah Smith Campground visitor center that has displays, gifts, books and maps.

1.3 Intersection Highway 197– GO LEFT over bridge to continue the tour.

If you are interested in hiking on the River Trail, start reducing your speed as you cross the bridge to slow traffic before you make the left turn into the turnout at the trailhead, located on the left immediately after crossing the bridge. There is no turning lane.

1.5 End of Smith River Bridge and trailhead for the River Trail.

2.8 Simpson-Reed Loop Trail and Hatton Loop: The large turnout on the right just before Walker Road marks the trailhead to the Simpson-Reed Loop Trail, a wheelchair accessible trail through an old growth redwood forest. The Peterson Loop Trail (picture below) is another foot path that loops off of the Simpson-Reed Trail. The trailhead for the Hatton Loop Trail, a short route that climbs into the redwood forest above the road, is on the left across from the Simpson-Reed Trail.
Peterson Loop Trail is part of the Simpson-Reed Loop Trail, Jedediah Smith State Park, Crescent City, California redwood coast.

2.9 Walker Road (right):
Walker Road is a gravel surfaced road that goes to the Smith River. The right fork, located about a half a mile from Highway 199, goes to the approximate location of the Peacock Ferry crossing for the 1852 Turnpike and Puncheon Road. A portion of the Leifer Loop Trail follows a segment of the 1852 Turnpike and Puncheon Road. The Leifer Trail is less used than the Simpson-Reed Trail and offers an alternate redwood forest hiking experience for those who want to avoid the crowds.

3.6 Turnout: Use turnouts to allow faster moving traffic to pass. Other turnouts are located at miles 4.1, 4.5, and 4.7.

4.9 Exiting Redwood National and State Parks.
Note the flat terrain as you come out of the forest. This is a terrace of land that appears to have been recently uplifted. The lands that were uplifted to create French Hill may have appeared like this when they were a coastal flat land next to the ocean.

5.1 Camp Lincoln Historic Landmark (right):
Camp Lincoln is a California National Historic Landmark and is located about a mile from Highway 199 on King Valley Road. The Turnpike and Puncheon Road passed by this military encampment before going through the redwood forest to Peacock Ferry. You can find a portion of this road a short distance up the hill to the left (north) of the historic buildings. See 1857 Turnpike and Puncheon Road for information on this section of the historic road.

The road on the left connects to Elk Valley Road, which follows the approximate route of the 1852 Turnpike and Puncheon Road to the south end of Crescent City. To get on Elk Valley Road, turn left and drive about a quarter of a mile to the intersection with Elk Valley Road on the left. Elk Valley Road ends at an intersection with Highway 101 near the harbor on the south end of Crescent City.

5.3 Hwy 101 north: To go north on Highway 101 to Brookings and the Scenic Oregon Coast, you turn right on this road. Highway 101 is located at the next stop sign. Turn right to go north.

Highway 101 south: To go south on Highway 101 to Crescent City continue straight ahead. Highway 199 automatically becomes the onramp for south bound traffic.

8.3 Washington Street off ramp:

Washington Street goes toward the ocean and dead ends at Point Saint George on the south end of Tolowa Dunes State Park. The banner picture at the top of the page was taken at Point Saint George. Pebble Beach Scenic Drive turns off to the left near the end of Washington Street and follows the beach into Crescent City.

Tolowa Dunes State Park (picture above) and two popular hiking trails can be accessed by going to the end of the off ramp and turning right on Washington Street. Drive a half mile and turn right on Northcrest Road. Watch for Mill Street on the left about a mile from Washington. Drive for about two miles on Mill Street to the State Park Headquarters on the right and the trailheads for Sand Hill Trail and Old Mill Loop Trail.

9.0 Crescent City
There are many things to do in this area. For more information on hikes, scenic drives, and places to explore near Crescent City see the Redwood Coast home page.

End Tour

Highway 199 Road Guide text and photography by Roger Brandt, Highway199.org
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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...