The Coastal Trail runs nearly 70 uninterrupted miles along the Pacific Coast in Redwood National Park. The 1.75 mile segment between Gold Bluffs Beach and Fern Canyon travels up pristine beaches framed by dunes, bluffs, creeks and wetlands.

Three tectonic plates lie offshore and contact each other at the Mendocino triple junction, about 100 miles SW of Redwood National Park

Campsites at Gold Bluffs Beach are highly desirable and advance reservations are recommended

Coastal creeks are the only natural obstacles along Gold Bluffs Beach, and are usually easy to cross

Lupine improves soil quality by fixing nitrogen, a process by which atmospheric nitrogen is converted to ammonia, a more bio-available nutrient for other organisms

Tides rise and fall twice a day on a 25 hour lunar cycle

Female elk can be protective / aggressive during the May calving season - enjoy wildlife from a safe, respectful distance

On March 27 1964 a strong earthquake in Alaska produced a tsunami that devastated Crescent City

Lagoons and marshes provide critical habitat for birds, and estuaries provide important fresh-salt water transition habitat and protective nurseries for salmonoids

Lupine is a flowering perennial plant from the legume family; the seeds are edible, but many species contain alkaloids that are toxic to livestock

Mining on Gold Bluffs Beach began in 1850 after gold was discovered in terrace and bench gravels in the bluffs, and in a 10-mile stretch of black sand deposits

Approximately 280 bird species have been recorded in Redwood National and State Parks

Gold Bluffs Beach is wide and can be safely traveled at high tide, though storm surges and sneaker waves still pose considerable risks

Plants and grasses provide critical support and structure to dunes along the coast

Roosevelt Elk are the largest elk species in North America, with females reaching 600 lbs and mature bulls nearing 1000 lbs