Plannning your camping trip at Patrick’s Point State Park

THE BASICS

The park is open year-round, but many sites are closed from Labor Day to Memorial Day. Individual sites can be reserved for $20 a night (other fees and taxes not included) using www.reserveamerica.com. The park has a visitors center, three family campgrounds, two group camps, a camp for hikers and bicyclists and three group picnic areas. We stayed in the heavily shaded Abalone camp portion of the park, which was just a short walk to the cliffs. Arrangements can also be made to host weddings on the premises. There are restrooms, some of which contain coin-operated showers. Spigots with potable water are spread throughout the campground, and there is a dumping station for RVs. Dogs are not allowed on the park’s trails or on the beach. There is also a re-created Yurok village -- Sumeg -- that contains, among other things, a dance house, a sweat house and a redwood canoe and is used to help local Yuroks educate their children about the tribe’s culture. Next to the village is an example of a Native American garden containing plants used in making food, baskets and medicine.

DRIVE TIME

Making the trek up U.S. 101 is probably the most scenic way to Patrick’s Point, but those pressed for time can take Interstate 5 north to Redding, then head west on California 299. Pick up the 101 north just north of Arcata and drive 15 miles to the park. All told, it’s about a 10-hour drive from L.A.

TO LEARN MORE

Patrick’s Point State Park, (707) 677-3570, www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=417. To reserve a campsite, www.reserveamerica.com.