Northern California Coast?

[Mark Fisher]

I have some business lin the Bay Area late next week and I'm planning on heading to the "Lost Coast" of California. I am interested in the coast and some of the old growth Redwoods. Any advice on the best areas to photograph or to stay?

Thanks -- Mark

 

[MikeK]

It is pretty isolated up there. I have run a few field trips and end up camping at the Burlington or Hidden Springs campground. Burlington is open all year round. There is a motel in Miranda - MIRANDA GARDENS RESORT 6766 AVENUE OF THE GIANTS - not sure if it is open - so be be sure to check. Else there are hotels in the Fortuna and Garberville area.

If you are headin up 101 North - you have to see the Avenue of the Giants - simply stunning - then head east to the lost coast - awesome.

Word of caution - pay attention to your gas tank and gas stations - there are not many in that area.

Have fun and feel free to PM or email me if you need more information

Mike

 

[David Henderson]

I was tempted by the prospect of the Lost Coast a couple of years or so ago and sought advice on www.Photo.net. The thread is still there.

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=0076tO

As a result of this I didn't go, but have visited quite a few of the Redwood areas. I prefer the Jedediah Smith Redwood S. P to others. Sadly from your point of view its right at the north of the state near Crescent City. However if you are tempted to go up that far, possibly the best place to stay is at Brookings Oregon which gives you some fabulous coastline to work as well. I also much like the old harbour at Eureka and the coastline north round Trinidad.

 

[Mark Fisher]

Well, I looked at the photo.net reference and I think I'll reconsider. My first thought is base in Eureka and go from there instead. Redwood NP looks nice as does Jediadiah Smith SP. I'm only up there a couple of days and 5 hours of driving from SF seems like enough.

Are there other areas I should consider instead....maybe further south?

 

[Jon Shiu]

Hi, the Sonoma and Mendocino coastal area is very nice to photograph. Also, still some redwood trees there.

Jon

ps here's a link to an article on the lost coast:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/01/25/SPGAONODCD1.DTL

 

[PatTrent]

Well, I looked at the photo.net reference and I think I'll reconsider. My first thought is base in Eureka and go from there instead. Redwood NP looks nice as does Jediadiah Smith SP. I'm only up there a couple of days and 5 hours of driving from SF seems like enough.

Are there other areas I should consider instead....maybe further south?

You might want to head over to Marin County to a place called Point Reyes. There's a little town with that name, and a National Seashore. The Point Reyes lighthouse is several miles out from the town, on a very narrow peninsula. There are about 100 steep steps (at least it seems that way) going down the cliff to the lighthouse itself. It's such a taxing climb that they have rest stops periodically spaced among the flights! You get a great view of brown pelicans resting on the rocks, flying, and feeding, and there's a sweeping view of the crescent-shaped beach just before you reach the steps to the lighthouse. It's a very popular destination. The lighthouse is the furthest western point on the California coast (and I believe, along the entire USA west coast as well). Any California map should show Point Reyes National Seashore and Point Reyes Station (the name for the town). This time of year, though, I don't know what you might find in terms of weather. It's rainy today, and ground fog is frequent.

 

[Mark Fisher]

I decided to save a trip there for some other time. I'm going to head up to Yosemite instead. The weather forcast makes me thing there won't be much snow, though. Can't go too far wrong with Yosemite.....just tough to find a picture you have not already seen!

 

[Vaughn]

Mark,

Let me know the next time you consider a trip up to the Eureka Area. I live in Eureka and have been photographing around here for the past 30 years or so. I might be able to give you some ideas.

But you can't go too wrong with Yosemite -- I'll be heading there myself next month. Don't worry too much about the AA legacy...just approach the Valley in your own way and see it through your own eyes...and your photos will be your own (but granted, you kinda have to stay away from the iconic shots to do so -- even so, everyone should have at least one negative with Half Dome on it...even if one never prints it!)

Vaughn

 

[tbm]

Yosemite instead...

Mark, you might be bored with Yosemite as a photo op at this specific time. A camera store owner I know led a workshop there last week and everyone was disappointed at the lack of snow and lack of water in the streams. Thus, they all ended up photographing leaf and rock patterns at their feet!

Terry

 

[Curt]

I'll take Yosemite on a bad day rather than not.

 

[Vaughn]

I'll take Yosemite on a bad day rather than not.

As they say...ditto!

I can see how a workshop crowd could be disappointed, but wandering around on one's own in the Valley is worthwhile just about any time.

Vaughn