Ride Report One Of My All Time Favorites. Prairie Creek!

Located about 100 miles from the Oregon border is a trail I discovered years ago. It's in Prairie Creek redwood state park and is one of the (if not the only) redwood park that allows mountain bikes on dirt.
I've done a few reports on this so I'll post photo's and limit text. Home to bears, mountain lions, and Humboldt elk, it has some incredible views and terrain.
It starts with a 6 mile road ride on a quiet redwood covered scenic road. Then a left on to the Ossagon and then a beautiful ride to the ocean. Stay by the cliffs and ride thru Prairie grass and muck and waterfalls while being covered in ocean mist and fog. Yeah, I love this trail.








































We rode 6 days in a row. The shortest ride was 15, the longest were a couple 27 milers.
I haven't ridden since I got home. Still in recovery mode I guess. Already planning on where to go next though!
Don't stop exploring and save up and take a road trip if you haven't.
Remember though, we are lucky to have what we have in Southern California.
It can be pretty wild here y'know!

 

Awesome road trip Liz, so jealous. Thanks for all the photos!

 

Thanks for sharing......Amazing photos !

 

I camped there as a kid on a family road trip up the west coast. I never realized the trails were open for mountain biking. Cool pictures, it is beautiful up there. Time to add it to my long list of places to go back to with a mountain bike this time.

 

While you're there, you should give this a ride: http://www.geoladders.com/show_route.php?route=17927

One of my favorites up there.

 

Prairie Creek is one of my all-time favorite campgrounds. It is absolutely beautiful. Especially with the Elk and other wildlife. I didn't know they allowed bike on the trails, must have never paid attention.

 

Like others, I went there as a kid, but never realized that the trails were open for riding. Such a beautiful place...

I am now seriously re-routing my summer plans after reading and seeing your RRs Liz. Thanks for the inspiration! :beer:

 

Some more pics:
The first couple of miles of singletrack:



Then pop out on some prairies:



Throw in a waterfall and moss covered tree canopy:


Then drop the bikes and hike thru fern alley. I was told they filmed parts of Jurassic Park here:


Then starting on a fireroad ride with fog covered tree canopy on one side and elk and beach on the other:




On the final section thru a trail under repair, we saw on odd right angle tree branch:

 

Excellent pics ya'll.

 

Great photos.... Sweet

 

Excellent finish to the story! They also have a nice (if crowded) campground there right off the loop. And there are some other trails around that are poachable--but the elk dole out local justice!

 

awesome pics, thanks for sharing

 

That trail looks awesome! If I ever make it up there, I want to check that out. That picture of the fox, I believe, is pretty sweet along with the one where ya rode through all of that greenery! We need more trees here in SoCal!! Thanks for the pictures and glad ya had an amazing trip.

 

Dang! Some ride reports just leave me speechless... Thank you so much for sharing. Perhaps one day... one life...

 

Awesome Binh! I never saw those pics! Can I get some copies?

 

Wow!! Liz!!
Looks like it was a great ride....
Awesome pics!!!

 

I lived up there for 7 years. Beautiful area.
They filmed Jurassic Park 2 in a couple different spots up there- Patrick's Point State Park and in Prairie Creek.

There are other places to ride up there, too, but not very many.

Awesome ride report, thanks for sharing!

 

Another Bump for old times sake.

 

Nice. Have been up there once but only got to hike a bit on the Trillium Falls loop and drive the scenic highway. Ever since then, I've been thinking about a trip up to Gold Bluffs and taking my bike along with me. Will have to search for your other RRs for Prairie Creek.

 

Nice to see some sweet ride reports again! Made me feel like I was there with the amazing pics.
Oh wait...I was there Just as beautiful in person! Go get some new dirt!!!!