Take an old school cruise through the American west along the “Winnemucca to the Sea Highway”. Stop for scenic vistas, endless lakes and peaceful forests as you make your way to the swirling, salty Pacific Ocean. History, geysers and more await you on your drive to Del Norte County from Winnemucca, Nevada.
The “Winnemucca to the Sea Highway” began humbly, as an idea from community leaders in the 1950s to create a direct route from Winnemucca, Nevada – gateway to Burning Man’s Black Rock Desert – to Crescent City, California. Within a decade, enough highways connected to make an unforgettable scenic drive.
Motor past varied landscapes on this 500-mile trek through Nevada, Idaho, and Oregon before reaching the fringes of Old California. Your starting point in Winnemucca features a portion of a 1,400 year old redwood tree. At 13 feet in diameter, this monstrous slab drifted to the shores of Crescent City after the 1964 tsunami. It was trucked to Nevada to dedicate the scenic drive in 1965. You may be looking at the largest piece of driftwood ever recorded.
Watch the desert sagebrush fade into the high desert Cascade Mountains of Oregon. Along the way, you’ll have to stop for Old Perpetual, an active geyser that erupts every 90 seconds during winter and spring. Cruise past tranquil lakes, little towns and finally into old growth redwood forests before descending to the jagged shores of the Pacific Ocean in Crescent City.
