Richardson Grove State Park
State Park · Garberville, California
Richardson Grove State Park sits in Humboldt County on the South Fork of the Eel River, along Highway 101 just south of Garberville. It is often called the Gateway to the Redwoods (confirm), because this is where northbound drivers first meet old-growth coast redwoods close to the road, big trees rising from a river flat in fog and filtered light. The park has a campground and a visitor centre (confirm hours), a short interpretive loop (confirm), and a summer river beach where people swim (confirm), while winter brings rain and steelhead fishing on the Eel (confirm). The grove is small, and Highway 101 runs through it, so traffic noise and trucks are part of the experience. Humboldt Redwoods State Park, with the Avenue of the Giants, is a separate park farther north. It suits road-trippers who want an easy first redwood stop, campers and swimmers, and it disappoints anyone who expects a wilderness without highway sound.
1600 US-101, Garberville, California, 95542, United States
California State Parks has generally kept Richardson Grove open for day use from about sunrise to sunset, with the campground open around the clock for registered campers - confirm the posted hours and any seasonal changes. The visitor centre has operated on a limited schedule, often shorter in winter and closed on some weekdays - confirm before you plan around it. Summer is the busy season, when the river beach and campsites fill, while winter is wet, quiet and sometimes foggy for days. Highway 101 construction, slides or river flooding can change access, so check road conditions, and expect the grove to feel dim in the early morning and late afternoon.
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