NorCal ?

[JohnC]

I just signed up for a photo workshop in the CA Redwoods that starts on Monday May 20 in Crescent City. I plan to drive from SoCal leaving early on Sat the 18th. I will drive direct to Jamestown to visit the railroad museum, expecting to arrive near noon. I've not been there before so I don't know how long a visit will take without rushing. I'd like to possibly see other gold country tourist spots while still working my way north.

At some point I need to book a room for the night (Sat), get up the next morning and head for Crescent City to arrive the evening before my workshop starts. Driving up the 101 or the 1 on Sunday sounds great except that I've never been that way and would have no idea what good photo ops could be had along the way or the time needed to do them justice.

The more driving I have to do on Sunday means less time to stop and photograph the roses (pardon the poetic license). But adding more driving on to Saturday after leaving home early, stopping at the RR museum and maybe other spots, may be a bit much for one day.

So, if you've read this far and are still with me, the question becomes are there some nice photogenic places around the gold country and/or driving up 101 or 1 that would be worth planning my trip around? I've never really been to any of the northern part of the state and just don't have a good feel for how to split up the drive and get some bang for my buck photographically speaking.

Thanks for any thoughts.

 

[JimFox]

Hey John, the Redwoods in Northern California are awesome!

If you haven’t taken the 101/1 before then you have to take it for sure. It is definitely worth it. There is so much to see along that route you will end up wishing you had more time. Some of my favorite Rhoadie photos are actually taken just along Hwy 1. You will see them all over if you aren’t too early for their blooming.

The blooming of the Rhoadies (which is why you picked that time I am guessing) can vary, but usually are more towards the 1st and 2nd week of June. Though if this person is leading a workshop on May 20th, maybe he knows something I don’t. The blooming can be wide spread with the blooms happening at different times in the different groves.

Also I do lead small workshops too, preferring one on one workshops. So hit me up if you have interests in a specific location, it would be great to be able to take you there. My prices for my private workshops are similar to what people often charge for the larger group workshops.

 

[JohnC]

Thanks Jim. Most of the workshops I saw online tended to go from mid to late May. Definitely the Rhododendron bloom and the fog are the main attractions that time of year. But as with anything seasonal, weather and mother nature can change things. I've been wanting to visit the area for a while and just never had.

The 101 and 1 look to run parallel up north so which is the better route for photo ops?

 

[AlanLichty]

Highway 1 is far more photogenic but will take longer to drive - esp. when you stop to take pictures. Right after you get to Westport Landing Hwy 1 goes inland (do you like twisty roads?) up to the town of Leggett and joins US101 for the rest of the coastline heading north.

 

[Kyle Jones]

1 - although it is a much slower drive. It gives you coastal options. Where would you pick it up? I'm pretty familiar when the coast up there.

 

[JohnC]

Highway 1 is far more photogenic but will take longer to drive - esp. when you stop to take pictures. Right after you get to Westport Landing Hwy 1 goes inland (do you like twisty roads?) up to the town of Leggett and joins US101 for the rest of the coastline heading north.

Thanks Alan. Yeah, I figured 1 would be slower. I guess it would depend on if the scenery is worth the extra drive time. I'm not keen on twisty roads if they last a while. That certainly keeps you from enjoying any views.

 

[JohnC]

1 - although it is a much slower drive. It gives you coastal options. Where would you pick it up? I'm pretty familiar when the coast up there.

Thanks Kyle. If I go up that way I was thinking of getting a room around Santa Rosa and starting the morning from there.

 

[Kyle Jones]

Thanks Kyle. If I go up that way I was thinking of getting a room around Santa Rosa and starting the morning from there.

Cutting over to 1 from there gives you some nice coastline. The salt point area is really nice, bowling ball beach, stornetta/point arena, Mendocino. Elk has a nice viewpoint I've been meaning to shoot too.

 

[JohnC]

Cutting over to 1 from there gives you some nice coastline. The salt point area is really nice, bowling ball beach, stornetta/point arena, Mendocino. Elk has a nice viewpoint I've been meaning to shoot too.

Thanks Kyle. According to Google maps, it's 300 miles and 5 hours from Santa Rosa to Crescent City via 101. Any idea how long the drive would be using 1 instead of 101? Also, it looks like from Santa Rosa you need to take 128 north (from 101) to get to 1?

 

[Kyle Jones]

Thanks Kyle. According to Google maps, it's 300 miles and 5 hours from Santa Rosa to Crescent City via 101. Any idea how long the drive would be using 1 instead of 101? Also, it looks like from Santa Rosa you need to take 128 north (from 101) to get to 1?

It would take a while. Google maps should let you specify a different route. I'd aim from Santa Rosa to Jenner and head north from there if you want to see some nice coastline.

 

[JohnC]

It would take a while. Google maps should let you specify a different route. I'd aim from Santa Rosa to Jenner and head north from there if you want to see some nice coastline.

According to Google maps, you have to cut through somebody's backyard to get to Jenner from Santa Rosa. They don't exactly show any highways going that way.

But I did find a way to drag the map and show other routes so I can play with that for a while.

 

[Kyle Jones]

Head South on 101 to just north of Petaluma and aim for Bodega Bay. Otherwise take 116 through Monte Rio (and visit the Armstrong Redwoods while you're at it).

You can also take Skaggs Springs Road from Healdsburg across to Sea Ranch and go north from there. You can get some nice views of hills and valleys and it can be magical if there is fog.

 

[JohnC]

Head South on 101 to just north of Petaluma and aim for Bodega Bay. Otherwise take 116 through Monte Rio (and visit the Armstrong Redwoods while you're at it).

You can also take Skaggs Springs Road from Healdsburg across to Sea Ranch and go north from there. You can get some nice views of hills and valleys and it can be magical if there is fog.

Thanks again Kyle. I'll look into those options.

Does the Skunk train have any good photo ops among whatever they offer? I wouldn't have time to ride and explore it going up, but I thought maybe on the way back.

 

[Kyle Jones]

Thanks again Kyle. I'll look into those options.

Does the Skunk train have any good photo ops among whatever they offer? I wouldn't have time to ride and explore it going up, but I thought maybe on the way back.

I have no idea, I've never ridden it.

 

[JohnC]

I have no idea, I've never ridden it.

OK, thanks.