Great Redwood Trail Recon: Northern California's future 300 mile network.
Вставка
- Опубліковано 10 лют 2025
- Gravel Bike California previews the budding Great Redwood Trail system that will connect over 300 miles between the Bay Area beyond Eureka:
gravelbikecali...
Gravel Bike California Shop:
gravelbikecali...
Support Gravel Bike California on Patreon:
/ gravelbikecalifornia
Find more routes on our map of Gravel Guides across California:
gravelbikecali...
Follow us on:
/ gravelbikecalifornia
/ gravelbikecalifornia
/ strava
When the planning for the Great Redwood trail began, I owned a 137 acre parcel with over 1/2 mile of the tracks on my land. There is a tunnel that has partly collapsed, but is passable. A small trestle then a big hole for about 220 feet. They restored Woodman Creek on my parcel. Removing the tracks and leaving a gap. I have told the new owner he should put in three yurts above the trail as accommodations. It is about six miles from Dos Rios. This area is called the canyon. It is very isolated and beautiful.
Thanks for sharing that. I'm super curious to explore the Eel River.
Thanks Zack, for your story on that bit of very exciting news.
Definitely so many opportunities developing in your upper half of the state.
Awesome video / summary of this project. Hopefully we will see real progress in our lifetime.
Looks like we're some more on the southern half first, as the north needs a lot of work.
At least one guy who wants to ride this (me!) is currently 70. Hurry up!!! 🙂
Thanks for sharing this exciting project!
I've been keeping my eye on this for years can glad its gotten to this point.
Yes... YESSSS... Thank you for the breakdown! I am indeed getting extremely excited!
Tick tock...
I've kayaked the Eel River section. It's breathtaking and truly remote.
Must be an amazing experience.
So exciting, thanks for the update!
I'll keep the updates coming!
Awesome! I had just heard about this, thanks for the great info!
Now that it's become more formalized, I'm sure we'll keep hearing more!
Simply, wow!
Hopefully this will spur other ideas across the state
Very beautiful view!! I wish someday I could go there for bike touring. Thanks for sharing information.
On all our bucket lists.
it would be cool to have rails AND trails
Agreed. The erosion rate along the Eel River though is a big hinderance.
An impressive amount of cooperation between all these different parties that have distinctly different backgrounds and values, very heartening to see.
On another note, I haven't heard any of this story of this at all except from you. What do you read/listen to in order to hear about this cool shit?
I wish I had a great answer for how I come across this. Maybe the algorithm finds me. Also something exciting up in Shasta: www.greatshastarailtrail.org/
Looks Amazing. Hard to believe 290 miles in California could only be 3k elevation! Thats an average 20 mile mountain bike ride here in the Bay Area!
And subtract that one climb before Willits and it's even half that!
Or another existing bike path spur on the Hammond trail from Arcata bottoms up through Mckinlyville to Clam Beach/airport area. RGT with Hwy 1 will be an excellent bike touring loop. Thoes small town and settlements will benefit economically fro the loop
Just an exciting way to explore a part of California that most haven't.
Don't forget that the Trinidad Regional Land Trust is working with Caltrans to develop the Little River Trail to go from Clam Beach to Trinidad. Admittedly it's intermediate future, but it'll be cool to avoid riding on the 101.
Love this! Is your ride schedule public?
Yes. I typically post to FB, Instagram and our webpage.
FYI, the Skunk Train doesn't go to Willits anymore; the tunnel collapsed and I doubt they'll come up with the $2 mil to repair it. Otherwise it's a great overview, thanks.
That's good intel. I hadn't heard that. How long ago?
@@GravelBikeCalifornia IIRC, last year.
@@Korina42 2013. You missed it by a decade. lol.
@@akellyiii Oops. Just a *little* off.
Does this mean that the section between Cloverdale and Hopland will pass through the Frog Woman Rock tunnel? I hope so!
It does, I've been through that tunnel, It's in good shape.
Ah...someday...
@@GravelBikeCalifornia Well, if you're ever biking this trail and you pass an odd hairy backpacker who looks like he might in fact be five raccoons in a trenchcoat pretending to be a human, give a wave. It's probably me.
I just want to figure out how to get meaningful segments up and running FAST and not have to hope my (nonexistent) grandkids get to travel on it ;-)
The Eel River section is definitely going to be the most challenging. Wouldn't be surprised if they try tackling the other portions first.
@@GravelBikeCalifornia Yeah. I can see that. But it does seem like there are some good, long segments that could be expedited rather than just 5-10mi near urban segments first. Thanks for bringing to more people's attention.
@@GravelBikeCalifornia The plan is to do the easy (read; cheaper) stuff first; the Eel River Canyon has been described as a mud avalanche, and with the extensive cleanup needed, it will be saved for last.
@TimR123, there are sections of the GRT already in existence; in addition to the sections in the Bay Area, there's 1/2 mile in Ukiah, with plans in the works to extend it; the tiny town of Rio Dell is working on their section; there's 7+ miles of the Eureka Waterfront Trail; Humboldt County is currently planning the route to continue the trail south to College of the Redwoods, and then, eventually, to Fortuna. There are 3 miles in Arcata, and the 4 miles between the two should be completed in October, making up the Humboldt Bay Trail. Arcata's Annie & Mary Connector Trail should begin construction next year, and will get partway to Blue Lake. Blue Lake has 1/2 mile, called the Annie & Mary Trail (duh), and is working with Caltrans to get it to Arcata.
It sounds like you're hoping for more backcountry trail but again, they're going for the easy stuff first. They *will* get to the interesting sections, hopefully before your grandkids exist. 😊
Floods, landslides and fires have plagued the rail line. I wonder what precautions are being taken to prevent these incidents from happening to the trail? I stopped watching after a few minutes. This will never be completed in my lifetime. I’m 70 and I can say that with much confidence.
The timeline isn't favorable for me either and maintaining it will be challenge, but far less so then for a rail line. I'm hopeful that some of the non-Eel River portions will come online sooner than later.
Cant wait to rip my dirt bike on it!!! 🙌🏼
Even if they can get part done soon...