REDWOOD NATIONAL & STATE PARKS

Crescent City is the gateway to Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park and Redwood National Park, the only UNESCO designated world heritage site in California. Follow Highway 101 south to access the Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park area where you can bike or hike through ancient redwood forests to the Pacific Ocean.

There are a vast number of National Parks and National Monuments to explore within a 250-mile radius of Crescent City, California: Redwood National & State Parks, Oregon Caves National Monument & Preserve (72 miles), Crater Lake National Park (164 miles), Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument (68 miles), Lassen National Monument (225 miles) and Shasta Trinity National Forest (132 miles).

10 PACIFIC OCEAN BEACHES

Crescent City is the gateway to Oregon’s scenic coastline and communities like Brookings, Oregon. Del Norte County has a total of 10 beaches to explore, including South Beach, Crescent Beach, Enderts Beach, and Pebble Beach are within Crescent City’s city limits.

TWO HISTORIC LIGHTHOUSES

Walk out to Battery Point Lighthouse during low-tide. Take a tour of the interior on select days and hours (hours are posted at the parking area). Whale watch or go tidepooling while you are seeing the lighthouse.

Saint George Reef Lighthouse can be seen from the Point St. George beach trails in Crescent City or there are a limited number of helicopter tours out to the St. George Reef Lighthouse available here.

SMITH RIVER

The Smith River is the wildest and cleanest river in the continental U.S. and is the only undammed river in California. The Smith River — a designated Wild & Scenic river — is located in the Smith River Recreation Area is known for salmon and steelhead fishing, whitewater and flatwater rafting and kayaking, and plenty of cerulean swimming holes. The Smith River has the best spring whitewater rafting and whitewater kayaking in California.

Flat or whitewater raft or kayak down the Smith River taking in the beauty of the sapphire water and the surrounding canyon walls dotted with unique flora and fauna only found here like the Serpentine Catchfly. The grand finale is floating by some of the world’s tallest redwood trees. Shimmy out of your boat and walk to Stout Grove, one of Crescent City’s most spectacular redwood groves. Guided trips are available with Redwood Rides.

KLAMATH RIVER

The Klamath River is the second largest river in California known for salmon fishing and recreational pursuits like whale watching and wildlife viewing, canoe and jet boat tours.

Take a tranquil Redwood Canoe Tour down the Klamath River on a traditional dug-out canoe (ohl-we-yoch) guided tour where you’ll hear about the native Yurok tribe and their people, cultural landmarks and Yurok traditions, plus wildlife viewing.

NATIVE CULTURE

Three strong Native American tribes: Tolowa, Yurok, Pulikla, and Elk Valley Rancheria tribes have inhabited the Del Norte County area since the beginning of time.

The Yurok Tribe is California’s largest Native American tribe. Learn more about their culture and feast on fresh salmon at the annual Klamath Salmon Festival every August. Visit the free museum and purchase handmade jewelry, baskets and art by local tribe members in their Klamath Visitor Center. Across the street is the Redwood Hotel & Casino, operated by the Yurok, which includes a restaurant, casino, and meeting space.

The Pulikla Tribe of Yurok People also inhabit the Klamath River basin, which includes the lower Klamath River and tributary watersheds, high country, coast and lagoons along the Pacific Ocean, and the ocean off this coastline west to the horizon. Learn more about the Pulikla Tribe.

In Smith River, you can celebrate and learn more about the Tolowa People every September at Tolowa Dee-ni’ Day, which has been observed since 1960. Enjoy traditional Tolowa art, food and games. The Lucky 7 Hotel & Casino features a luxury hotel, restaurant, casino and gaming, meeting rooms and convention space, live entertainment and a gift shop with an impressive museum. For a peaceful retreat along the mouth of the Smith River, book one of the spacious rooms at the Howonquet Village & Resort.

In Crescent City, the Elk Valley Rancheria opened a new casino, restaurant and convention and conference space in 2022. The Elk Valley Rancheria tribe consists of Tolowa, Wiyot, Yurok, and Hupa Indians. View the Elk Valley Rancheria free museum, located in the administration building. An interpretive Elk Trail will be opening on the spacious grounds surrounding Elk Valley Casino. This has been a popular wildlife viewing location in Crescent City for Roosevelt elk, bears, birds and more. Elk Valley Rancheria also operates a fuel filling station onsite, which has the best gas prices in the area.

The Trees of Mystery, in Klamath, has the largest privately-owned collection of Native American art and culture on display. View this extraordinary collection for free in the Trees of Mystery gift shop.

CASTLE ROCK NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

Sea kayak out to Castle Rock National Wildlife Refuge from the shores of Crescent City’s Pebble Beach. Paddle a 1/2 mile out to view seals, sea lions and nesting birds in their natural habitat — harbor porpoises, sharks and gray whales can be seen here, too. Castle Rock is the second largest nesting seabird colony south of Alaska with more than 100,000 breeding seabirds of 11 different species and a popular pupping area for elephant and harbor seals. Be sure to stay 100 yards away from Castle Rock to keep the wildlife safe and sound. We recommend booking a guided tour.

CRESCENT CITY HABOR

The Crescent City Harbor — one of the largest commercial fishing ports in California — is the gateway to ocean crabbing and fishing. Cast your line into the Pacific for lingcod and rockfish any time and Dungeness Crab can be caught off the B Street Pier in the Crescent City Harbor. Year-round whale watching tours and ocean charters are available from the Harbor.

CALIFORNIA COASTAL TRAIL (CTC)  & THE CRESCENT CITY HARBOR TRAIL

The California Coast Trail (CTC) is a 1,200-mile trail stretching from Mexico to the Oregon border — the Del Norte County portion of the trail will wow with redwoods and shoreline views . The trail welcomes hikers, bikers, horseback riders as well as wheelchairs. Walk or bike the CTC through Crescent City from South Beach to Pebble Beach on the section called the Crescent City Harbor Trail.

FOODIE CULTURE & AGRICULTURE

Rumiano Cheese is the oldest family-owned cheese company in California making grass-fed, non-GMO cheese made in an environmentally sustainable facility and farm. Stop by their Crescent City store for free samples.

Visit the farm store at Alexandre Family Farm in Crescent City to pick up fresh organically produced dairy and eggs from roaming chickens. Ocean Air Farms has a quaint country organic farm stand open on weekends just outside of Crescent City.

Port O’ Pints Brewing Co. was the first craft beer brewery to open in Crescent City. They have won so many national beer awards, we lost count. Their second location opened in the scenic Crescent City Harbor where you can catch an ocean sunset and enjoy rotating seasonal pints of craft beer.

SeaQuake Brewing is the largest craft beer brewery in Crescent City. They also brew and distribute their popular hard ciders and Seabucha Kombucha.

Crescent City has two farmers’ markets: Del Norte County Fairgrounds every Saturday from June – October and the Downtown Crescent City Farmers & Artisan Market is every Wednesday from late May – October

FAMILY-FRIENDLY ATTRACTIONS WITH SOME HISTORY

Both Trees of Mystery, a magical destination within the redwood trees, and Ocean World — a quaint aquarium where you are guided through a tour of the local North Coast marine life and have the chance to pet a shark. Both attractions have been providing family fun to many generations of visitors to Crescent City.

You can scale a cabled suspension bridge 50 to 100 feet high through a redwood canopy or soar through the tops of the trees from the Sky Trail Gondola.

Meet Marina — a senior sea lion who is over forty — or a few of her “younger” comrades like Cora at Ocean World Aquarium’s outdoor show.

HISTORICAL LODGES & LODGING

Del Norte County has three historical lodges where you can stay: Historic Requa Inn (Klamath) and Patrick Creek Lodge (Gasquet), Anna Wulf House (Crescent City)

TSUNAMI HISTORY

Take a self-guided Tsunami walking tour around Crescent City to see where not one, but two tsunamis struck. You can even see the high-water marks. The last tsunami was in 2011 and the most devastating tsunami happened in 1964.

DEL NORTE COUNTY ART MURAL TRAIL

Take a self-guided art tour around Del Norte County to see over 50 art murals from notable artists depicting the history, Native culture, historic lighthouses, and our connection to the Redwood National Parks. The Del Norte County Art Mural Map is available online and a printed version can be picked up at the Visitor Center or requested by mail.