Fern Canyon

Today we went to the Prairie Creek Redwood State Park Visitor Center to get some literature about places to see while we are here in the Klamath area. I did notice on the campground website that we are close to Fern Canyon. More on that later.

Right next to the Visitor Center was a trail that looked interesting to us. The bridge was built from tree trunks.

Redwood Trail

These are coastal redwoods which are huge but not as big as the Sequoia redwoods. They are still majestic trees! We thought it looked awesome the way the sun was peeking through here.

Coastal Redwoods

We didn't go very far on this trail because we still were going to go to Fern Canyon. We didn't know how far the hike would be so we wanted to save ourselves for that.

Redwood trail

We are going to spend the rest of the blog talking about Fern Canyon. The Road to the canyon was about 6 miles of chewed up dirt that much of the time was just wide enough for one car. This picture is at the beginning but it got thick with ferns and redwoods and very, very windy. It seems that people do not know how to drive on single lane blind corner roads. We are blessed to not have been hit head on!

Road to Fern Canyon

First you get to Gold Bluff beach. There is a campground there but no trailers or motorhomes are allowed because of the road in. Notice the haystack rock way out in the ocean.

Gold Bluff Beach

We got to the parking area and it turned out to only be a tenth of a mile to the start of Fern Canyon.

Fern Canyon sign

Some of the scenes from Jurassic Park were filmed in Fern Canyon. Also I had seen Huel Howser do a segment of Fern Canyon on California Gold. Fern Canyon has been on my bucket list! 

I was sooo excited to actually get to hike here!!!

Enough pictures, let's go!!

Because this is a canyon in an area that it does rain alot in, the state strategically puts down boards to allow you to miss many of the streams. Not all of course, our shoes did get wet, but the boards really did help!

Stream crossing

We started into the canyon. I can honestly tell you that this is the most awesome place I have ever seen! It is unbelievable and if you can you MUST come see it.

Fern Canyom

This is a slot canyon. Unlike any slot canyon we have ever seen this one has ferns and moss growing out of the straight up walls. Where are the dinosaurs?

Watch out for the Raptors!

Not much to say, I just wanted to share several pictures with you to give you an idea of what the canyon looks like.

Fallen trees

Some of these trees we had to climb over. 

More canyon pics

There was a small waterfall here. We were getting rained on. Because the sun was hitting the water we could see a rainbow in it. In the picture the rainbow has a blue tint to it.

Waterfall

In some places the canyon narrowed down. You can see my blue shirt in the distance.

Tight canyon

We had to climb up on this log to continue through the canyon. It was easier when we were younger!

Tight fit

Patty decided the best way for her to stay dry was to pretend she was on the balance beam in the Olympics. I was expecting a splash so I held back camera in hand!

Balance Beam

Ready for the dismount. She did great! No splash or even getting her feet wet on this obstacle. 

9.5

As we were leaving the canyon we noticed these steps going up the mountain. 4 1/2 miles on that trail would take you to the visitor center.

Steps are in the upper left corner

Driving back to camp we came across a herd of elk right beside Highway 101! Here is the bull elk. You can see his antlers.

Elk

There were about 20 or so elk total. It appeared that the rest were all female or young elk. 

Elk herd

Today was a great day! As I said earlier if you can get to Fern Canyon you need to! It is beautiful! God did an awesome, wondrous work here!

thanks for reading,

we love you!

Brian and Patty