Location
The far northwest corner of California
Sea Elk Ranch is on US Highway 101 just outside Crescent City, in Del Norte County — the last stretch of California before the Oregon line, where the redwood forest meets the sea.
Crescent City is the town you will use: groceries, restaurants, fuel, the harbour and the lighthouse. Beyond it, in every direction, there is old-growth forest, wild river and open coast.
Guests receive the exact address, gate details and driving notes with their booking confirmation.
Nearby
What is within reach
Approximate driving times from the ranch.
- Crescent City Groceries, restaurants, fuel, hospital, harbour ~10 min
- Redwood National & State Parks Old-growth trail heads — the park borders the property At the gate
- Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park Stout Grove, Howland Hill Road, the Smith River ~20 min
- Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park Damnation Creek and the coastal trails ~20 min
- Battery Point Lighthouse Tidal island in Crescent City — check the tide table ~15 min
- Smith River The clearest major river in California; swimming and fishing ~25 min
- Trees of Mystery & Klamath Gondola through the canopy; Klamath River mouth ~30 min
- Brookings, Oregon Oregon coast, Samuel H. Boardman corridor ~35 min
- Prairie Creek Redwoods & Elk Prairie Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway ~45 min
Getting here
By road and by air
Driving
The property is directly off US Highway 101, which is the coast road all the way from San Francisco in the south to the Oregon coast in the north. From the Interstate 5 corridor, Highway 199 runs west from Grants Pass through Jedediah Smith Redwoods and joins 101 at Crescent City — a beautiful approach, and the one we recommend.
Flying
Del Norte County Regional Airport (CEC) is on the edge of Crescent City with regional connections. Larger options are Rogue Valley International in Medford, Oregon, and California Redwood Coast–Humboldt County Airport near Eureka. A car is essential either way.
Approximate road distances
- Grants Pass, OR — about 2 hours
- Eureka, CA — about 1½ hours
- Medford, OR — about 3 hours
- Portland, OR — about 7 hours
- San Francisco, CA — about 7 hours
While you are here
Days worth planning
- Walk Stout Grove and Howland Hill Road at first light
- Swim or fish the Smith River in late summer
- Tide pools and the lighthouse on a low tide
- Whale watching from the bluffs in winter and spring
- Fresh crab and fish off the boats at Crescent City Harbour
- Drive north into Oregon for the Boardman coastline
- Elk watching at Elk Prairie, south of town
- Dark skies — bring something to look through
Stay with us
Plan your trip
Tell us when you would like to come. We will confirm availability, rates and everything you need for the drive.