I am taking my two kids (ages 11 and 15) on a week long trip to visit Redwoods National Park, then continuing on to Ashland and Crater Lake. My husband has to stay behind for work, so I will be the only driver on this trip. I’d like to minimize too many long distance drives each day so we can enjoy our time in nature. Would love feedback on our draft itinerary, especially with regard to pacing so we have a nice variety of activities but also some down time to just soak in the views.

Friday 6/20
-Fly into Eureka at 6 PM and pick up rental car.
-Drive to cottage rental in Trinidad near Indian Beach.

Saturday 6/21
Morning
-Drive Avenue of the Giants to Grieg-French Bell Grove, Rockefeller Loop, Big Trees Loop, Mattole Road

Possible lunch at Pineapple Express Food Truck/
Slice of Humboldt Pie

Afternoon
-Back in Trinidad: Walk down to Indian Beach to look for agates

Evening:
-Dinner at Larrupin Cafe

Sunday 6/22
Morning
-Ride e-bikes (booked through Humboldt Kayaks and Bikes) in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
along Newton B Drury Road and Cal Barrel Road.
Afternoon:
-Explore Sue-Meg State Park

Monday 6/23

Morning:
-11 am tour of Blue Ox Millworks in Eureka

Possible Lunch at T’s Brunch Club

Afternoon:
-Redwoods Skywalk or Trees of Mystery (which one would be better for our kids, ages 11 and 15?)

Overnight
-Historic Requa Inn

Tuesday 6/24
Morning
-Redwood Rides half day kayak on Smith River and hike to Stout Grove
Afternoon
-Oregon Caves National Monument, with a stop in Cave Junction for It’s a Burl
-Overnight in Applegate Valley, in a covered wagon

Wednesday 6/25
-Drive to Ashland for 8 pm show of “Into the Woods” at Allen Elizabeth Theater

Thursday 6/26
-Drive to Crater Lake
-Lunch at Beckie’s Cafe at Union Creek Resort
-Hike Cleetwood Cove Trail and/or Sun Notch Trail
-Dinner Reservations at Crate Lake Lodge for 5:30 pm
-Sunset at Watchman Trail 8:52 pm
-Overnight in Ft. Klamath

Friday 6/27
-Long drive to Crescent City, stopping in Grants Pass for lunch
-If time and energy permit, late afternoon/evening hike at Grove of Titans

Saturday 6/28
-Check out tidepools at Enderts Beach
-Hike Fern Canyon Trail (permit obtained)
-Drive to Eureka Airport for 3:55 PM flight

Whew! You will be busy! Such beautiful country though.
Couple of suggestions- since you are staying at the Requa Inn- continue past the Inn to the Klamath Overlook which is on the Coast Trail. From the Overlook you can frequently see whales feeding at the mouth of the Klamath River. There is a short trail down to a gazebo for a better view. There is also a trail that goes along the coast but its a one way hike- out and back.

If you want to spend a night closer to Crater Lake look at the Prospect Inn in the tiny town of Prospect. Its an old stagecoach inn. You can stay in the main building or they have motel type rooms on the property. They have great food! Its not far from the lake!

Also Hwy 138 has many waterfall hikes. Some are just short walks and some more challenging. Watson Falls is a favorite. Also Susan Falls.

Enjoy your trip

I stopped reading after June 21. I fear the plan for that day is pretty much impossible, Without even getting out of the car along the Avenue or the walking any of the loop trails or lunch in Eureka - just the straight R-T drive from Trinidad to Miranda and back will take 3.5 hours. And the trek out to Mattole Road makes it even worse. Say Myers Flat out to the Mattole Road and north to Trinidad takes more than four hours. Anything involving the Lost Coast means long (loooooong) drives.

To put it another way -- the fastest drive from Trinidad > down the Avenue > Mattole Road > back to Trinidad is close to six hours car time without a single stop. And it could take a good deal longer with traffic anywhere and/or tie ups in Eureka.