Orick, California is a small town
situated at the south boundary of the Redwood National and State Parks.
The photo at the left shows the trail to Trillium
Falls, just north of town. The trail starts at the Elk Meadow Day Use Area, 1/4 mile west of Highway 101
via Davison Road. Turn left into the parking lot after
crossing the bridge over Prairie Creek. Continuing to the end of
Davison Road will get you to the very popular Fern Canyon(photo by Jef Pokanzer).
While in Orick, another route to explore is the Bald Hills Road, leading
up to the Ladybird Johnson Grove where
the national park was dedicated. Continuing on past the grove,
you come to a series of grasslands on ridgetops, known locally as the
"Bald Hills prairies". Blue
lupines may be in bloom in spring. In summer, the Bald Hills is
often a good place to go for warmth and sun when it is foggy at the coast.
Many other people have taken photos in the redwoods. In addition to
to Jef Pokanzer's photo mentioned above, some of my favorites are by Dr.
G.D. Bain of the Geography Department at U.C. Berkeley. He has taken
many photos which tell interesting stories of the redwood region.
I have a special affection for his photo showing a banana
slug on a wild iris... But then his whole collection of old redwood photos
is fascinating.
Finally, I heartily recommend the website of Cristalen,
a photographer with a keen eye who captures both the special character of Orick
and the beauty its surroundings.
While in Orick, another route to explore is the Bald Hills Road, leading
up to the 