STANDISH HICKEY STATE PARK

AT THIS PARK OUR FAMILY USUALLY HAS CAMPED EACH SUMMER IN THE REDWOOD AND DOUGLAS FIR FOREST ALONG THE EEL RIVER. IT IS A FUN PARK AS IT HAS A GREAT PLACE TO SWIM ALONG THE EEL IN THE SUMMER AND IF YOU HIKE UP THE RIVER A BIT FURTHER YOU CAN SWIM IN A DEEPER POOL OF WATER AND EITHER FLOAT ON A BLOW UP TUBE DOWN TO THE CAMPGROUND OR JUST SWIM DOWN THIS SHALLOW RIVER. THEY OCCASIONALLY HAVE CAMPFIRE TALKS ABOUT STORIES OF NATURE AND DETAILS OF THE ANIMALS, INSECTS THAT LIVE HERE OR PERHAPS ABOUT THE NIGHT SKY.

THE PARK HAS TRAILS EVEN TO THE EAST OF HIGHWAY 101 WHERE WE HAVE HIKED AS WELL. THIS AREA IS HOTTER THOUGH AND THERE ARE NO DRINKING FOUNTAINS. THE TRAILS GO THROUGH THE THICK REDWOOD AND DOUGLAS FIR FOREST AS WELL AS ALONG THE EEL RIVER. THERE ARE FEW ANIMALS ABOUT; THERE ARE MANY BIRDS HOWEVER. AND YOU CAN STAND ON SOME OF THE FALLEN GIANT REDWOOD TRUNKS THAT HAVE FALLEN.

OUR FAMILY HAS BEEN TRADIONALLY CAMPING AT THIS PARK EACH FOURTH OF JULY. IT IS RELATIVELY COOL THERE. WE ALSO HAVE CAMPED WITH OUR FRIENDS THERE. THERE IS A LOT OF POISON IVY. THE PEOPLE THERE ARE USUALLY FRIENDLY AND BRING FLOATING DEVICES TO USE IN THE DEEPEST PART OF THE RIVER. WE TOOK A FLOATING RAFT TO RIDE THE CURRENT FOR ABOUT A MILE DOWN THE RIVER. THERE ARE TRAILS ALL ALONG THE RIVER. IF YOU TAKE THE TRAIL UP TO THE FARTHEST POINT THERE IS A BIG LAKE WHERE TEENS DIVE IN, EVEN THOUGH IT IS DANGEROUS,

THE FUN THING ABOUT THIS REDWOOD COUNTRY IS THAT IT COOLS OFF AT NIGHT! WE HAVE GONE INTO TOWN, GARBERVILLE, WHICH HAS MARKETS AND SOME NICE RESTAURANTS, AS WELL AS ART STORES.

WE HAVE ALSO SWAM AT BENBOW PARK NEAR GARBERVILLE. THE WATER QUALITY THERE IS NOT AS NICE AS AT STANDISH HICKEY. WE HAVE ALSO WALKED AT SOME OF THE OTHER REDWOOD PARKS WHERE THERE ARE DIFFERENT TRAILS IN LARGER FLAT REDWOODS WITH AN UNDERGROWTH OF OXALIS CLOVER.

THE LOCALS LIKE THE AREA'S COOL REDWOODS IN THE SUMMER AND THEY HAVE FAVORITE SWIMMING AREAS.