Redwoods Trip Day 5: Fern Canyon and Goodbye California

Fern Canyon

One of the things Aaron and I really wanted to see on our trip was Fern Canyon. And we saved it for the last day. Ryan and Melissa, Lisa and Jared and Spencer were the only ones who decided to come with us. And our kids of course, but they didn't really get the option. :)

The canyon was kind of far away, and we took a really pretty scenic route that drove partly through the redwoods and partly along the coast. We stopped along the way to get out and see Big Tree.

Lisa, Ivan, Ollie, Aaron, Adelia, Spencer, Lincoln, Jared, Ryan, and Melissa at Big Tree

Big Tree was a quick stop, and then we were on our way to Fern Canyon. What was the appeal of Fern Canyon you ask? Well, the Redwoods info site describes it this way:

"Imagine walking through a narrow canyon where the walls are completely covered by luxuriant ferns and mosses and are dripping with moisture.

That describes Fern Canyon, an unforgettable natural wonder that Steven Spielberg chose as a location for Jurassic Park 2: The Lost World.

This level trail of about one mile follows Home Creek as it courses through the forest. This modest stream has over the eons carved a deep (50 to 80 feet) canyon through the sedimentary soils. The vertical walls sprout an amazing variety of ferns (five different kinds) and other moisture-loving plants and mosses. Depending on the time of year, there is a constant drip-drip of water trickling down the canyon walls.

During summer months, foot bridges are installed over the creek to make this trail easier (and dryer), but it is generally passable year-round if one is nimble and can tolerate getting damp."

Well, we didn't go in the summer months, and there were no footbridges. And the stream was high due to all the rain. So, we tolerated getting damp. In places we were hiking in a couple feet of water. Since we were hiking, I had opted for my hiking shoes, and not my rain boots. Bad move on my part. Aaron, Ryan, Melissa, and I, and some of the kids rolled up our pants, took off our shoes and socks, and hiked barefoot up the canyon. Jared had his rain boots, so he helped Lisa and the smaller kids cross the deeper parts. It was freezing and the rocks were really sharp, but it was totally worth it. The canyon was really cool to see, and it was just fun just to say that you hiked up a rocky canyon stream barefooted in March. I might be 30, and I might be 13 weeks pregnant, but I'm still freakin' awesome! :)

Did I mention that Fern Canyon is right by the ocean? Like in the tsunami hazard zone and everything. Coming out of fern canyon, at the end of the trail we saw a heard of elk up pretty close, with the ocean right there in the background. It was just like Yellowstone, only plus the ocean. Pretty amazing, this world we live in.

At the parking lot, two girl hitch hikers asked if we wouldn't mind giving them a ride back down to the visitor's center. We squished both of them into the front passenger seat and then I road in the back between Lincoln and Ivan. It could have been awkward silence for 20 minutes, but don't you worry, we had Adelia with us! She talked their ears off, the whole time. It made me laugh.

When we got back into Crescent City, we stopped at the cheese factory to get some cheese curds. Yum. Although, Lincoln and Ivan were not impressed with them. They didn't like the texture.

Then we went back to the cabins. We'd already packed up all our stuff into the van and checked out of our cabin, so we hung out at Sydni's cabin for awhile, while Aaron roasted hot dogs and bratwurst on the grill for our dinner. Then we said our goodbyes, and drove off to spend the night in Klamoth Falls, OR to get a jump-start on tomorrow's drive. Goodbye Redwoods, and goodbye California!