PRAIRIE CREEK REDWOODS STATE PARK

WHEN MY SON WAS LITTLE WE WENT CAMPING IN MANY STATE PARKS WHERE I DID ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEYS. ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO HIKE IN THE SUMMER IS IN PRAIRIE CREEK REDWOODS STATE PARK IN FERN RIVER CANYON. THIS IS A 100 ' DEEP CANYON WHERE THERE ARE MANY TYPES OF FERNS - IT IS CONSIDERED A SPIRITUAL CANYON TO THE TOLOWA, KAROK, YUROK, WIGOT AND OTHER NATIVES. THE FERNS ARE DESCENDANTS OF PLANTS FROM 200 MILLION YEARS AGO.

WE USUALLY TAKE PHOTOS OF ALL THE ELK AS YOU ENTER THE PARK. AND THE BLACKBERRIES ARE GREAT TOO. THE ROAD TO THE CANYON IS VERY DUSTY AND WINDY. WE'VE CAMPED BY THE OCEAN AND STAYED IN SMALL HOTELS AS WELL.

HIKING IN THE CANYON IS SO COOL - YOU JUST TAKE YOUR WATER SANDALS AND YOU CAN SPEND AN HOUR INVESTIGATING WALKING ON ALL THE REDWOOD TREES AND SPLASHING IN THE PUDDLES AND STANDING UNDER SOME SMALL WATERFALLS. THEN YOU CAN TAKE TRAILS ABOVE THE CANYON, AND SPEND A HALF DAY OR SO ON THESE DRY PATHS. THERE ARE DEER, BEAR, ELK, SNAKES, AND OTHER ANIMALS ABOVE THE CANYON.

THERE IS A UNIQUE TYPE OF BUNCH GRASS THAT GROWS AT THE MOUTH OF THE CANYON THAT THE NATIVES USED FOR MAKING BASKETS. IT IS A QUIET PARK THAT DOESN'T GET TOO CROWDED.

WE USUALLY ALSO GO TO FERNVILLE, A SMALL TOURIST TOWN ON THE COAST WHERE ARTISTS GATHER. IT WAS AN OLD LUMBER TOWN AND HAS MANY TOURISTS, RESTAURANTS, AND A BIG OLD HOTEL.