Saturday April 28, 2012, 22 miles (35 km) Total so far: 467 miles (752 km)
Today’s plan is to ride the old logging haul road that run parallel to the Big River for about 8 miles from the beach in Mendocino. It’s only a mile or so from our hotel, so we head out right after breakfast.On the way to the beach we make a quick stop at a turnout on Highway 1 that affords a great view of the beach and the surrounding coastline.
A scenic overview of the beach and surrounding coastline from highway 1.
Then its down the hill and into the Mendocino State Park Big River Beach Area. This area is slated to become it’s own park eventually, but for now is managed under the auspices of the Mendocino Headlands Park. Turn right at the bottom of the hill, and we follow a short trail that leads out to the beach itself.
Heading down the hill into the Mendocino Headlands State Park – Big River Unit. It was pretty steep, and we worried about climbing back up at the end of the day.A short trail from the parking area allowed us to get close to the beach.
Turning around, we head back through the parking lot and onto the old logging trail. The redwoods were cut for timber along this stretch of the Big River until as late as the 1930’s. The trail we are riding was originally a trail used by the timber companies to haul lumber from the mountains to the mill that was located at the mouth of the river near the beach. Now it a fabulous hiking and biking trail that allows the public a glimpse of the redwood forest.
The trail is unpaved, but was easily managed on the trikes. No steeps hills, wide and hard packed.The trail affords great views of the Big River and it flows into the Pacific Ocean .
Less than a mile in, and we start to realize that this is no ordinary trail. The views are really pretty, and the spring growth fills the area that surrounds us – ferns, wildflowers grasses and budding trees. As we ride on our amazement continues to grow. Both of us are wearing huge, idiot, trike grins. Nancy exclaims “This is the best trail ever!”
Fields of wildflowers on every hillsideGrasses catching the sun along the trail
The river swings in and out of view through the trees on out right. We catch glimpses of people canoeing and paddle boarding along the water beneath us.
River views from the trailA paddle boarder plays on the Big RiverThe trail descends deeper into the redwood forest
Soon the trail descends deeper into the redwoods. The sounds around us is more hushed – the pine needles lining the trail absorb some of the sound of our tires. The bright sun is blocked by the canopy of the trees. There are no longer sweeping views of the river, instead we get just tantalizing glimpses through the trees.
A redwood tree along the trailA tantalizing glimpse of the river through the trees
As we ride deeper into the woods, the trail becomes increasingly rough. Its more narrow, and has distinct ruts on either side. We begin to meet mud puddles. We get stuck at one point and need to push ourselves out of the mud. Finally, we reach a point where further progress on the trikes seems impossible. A huge mud puddle, bordered on both sides by dense stands of poison oak. I don’t think we are going past this point. Sadly we turn around and ride back out. Along the way, we catch sight of those wooden outrigger canoes along the river.
An wooden outrigger canoe on the Big River.
Another canoe along the river.
Eventually we return to the parking area. We climb the steep hill out of the park and cruise into town. The local deli makes us sandwiches. we munch happily as we think back on our adventure along the Big River.
