Navarro River Redwoods State Park hugs a narrow stretch of land on either side of Highway 128, from two miles east of the Pacific Ocean to 11 miles inland with Paul M. Dimmick campground at the halfway point. With the Navarro River only 50 or so yards from the highway, park is popular with campers, anglers, canoeists, and kayakers in the late winter and spring. 707-895-3141
As described on the California State Parks site, this is a long “tunnel of redwoods.” What a spectacular tunnel it is.
Whether I am heading home to the coast or leaving the coast for the Bay Area and points beyond, this is a highlight of my journey. For the 15 minutes (without stops) it takes to drive through this park, you feel like you are in a different world. Whatever you do, don’t race past — pull your car to the side of the road (safely) into a wide spot, turn off the engine, listen to the quiet and take in the fresh air. It’s one of those quality of life moments you don’t want to miss. – Bruce Lewis
Mendocino Outdoors, the premier guidebook for outdoor fun and adventure on the Mendocino Coast, has been updated in 2017 as an ebook for the 5th Edition. You can buy a copy at Smashwords.com, the Apple iBooks Bookstore, Amazon’s Kindle Books, and Barnes & Noble's online store.