Melanie S.
@ocparkbuilder.bsky.social
Geographer. Environmentalist. 30x30 Activist. Chronic Illness. National Park Lover. Weekend Camper. Cat Mom.
This Park is off the 784, which is east of the coastal 101 route. This park had its first purchase in 1958 and it includes about 320 acres of property.
5/5
#Camp #Camping #CampLikeAGirl #RoadTrip #Washington #Oregon #California #FallRoadTrip #Redwoods #OregonCoast #OlympicPeninsula #ParkChat
5/5
#Camp #Camping #CampLikeAGirl #RoadTrip #Washington #Oregon #California #FallRoadTrip #Redwoods #OregonCoast #OlympicPeninsula #ParkChat
November 30, 2025 at 8:48 PM
This Park is off the 784, which is east of the coastal 101 route. This park had its first purchase in 1958 and it includes about 320 acres of property.
5/5
#Camp #Camping #CampLikeAGirl #RoadTrip #Washington #Oregon #California #FallRoadTrip #Redwoods #OregonCoast #OlympicPeninsula #ParkChat
5/5
#Camp #Camping #CampLikeAGirl #RoadTrip #Washington #Oregon #California #FallRoadTrip #Redwoods #OregonCoast #OlympicPeninsula #ParkChat
The next morning, I took a hike along the River and enjoyed the freedom that comes with a long vacation. My next stop was just a few miles away so I had plenty of time to enjoy this location.
4/5
4/5
November 30, 2025 at 8:48 PM
The next morning, I took a hike along the River and enjoyed the freedom that comes with a long vacation. My next stop was just a few miles away so I had plenty of time to enjoy this location.
4/5
4/5
The campground met me with a squawking scrub jay. The lazy afternoon by the river meant listening to the sounds of happy kids playing in the water and reading a book. There was still the feel of thick forests and moss hanging from the trees.
3/5
3/5
November 30, 2025 at 8:48 PM
The campground met me with a squawking scrub jay. The lazy afternoon by the river meant listening to the sounds of happy kids playing in the water and reading a book. There was still the feel of thick forests and moss hanging from the trees.
3/5
3/5
But first, I headed inland to spend the night at Alfred Loeb State Park along the Chetco River. The one thing I'll never miss is the concrete lined rivers we have in Southern California. The Chetco was wide and meandering. A true free-flowing river was in my midst.
2/5
2/5
November 30, 2025 at 8:48 PM
But first, I headed inland to spend the night at Alfred Loeb State Park along the Chetco River. The one thing I'll never miss is the concrete lined rivers we have in Southern California. The Chetco was wide and meandering. A true free-flowing river was in my midst.
2/5
2/5
Day 9 & 10 - Sat. Oct. 4 to Sun. Oct. 5, 2025
📍Brookings, OR
📍Alfred Loeb SP, OR
Leaving California, I headed up the Oregon Coast. This was the purpose of this trip -- to see the Oregon Coastline. I was finally here to do that!
1/5
📍Brookings, OR
📍Alfred Loeb SP, OR
Leaving California, I headed up the Oregon Coast. This was the purpose of this trip -- to see the Oregon Coastline. I was finally here to do that!
1/5
November 30, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Day 9 & 10 - Sat. Oct. 4 to Sun. Oct. 5, 2025
📍Brookings, OR
📍Alfred Loeb SP, OR
Leaving California, I headed up the Oregon Coast. This was the purpose of this trip -- to see the Oregon Coastline. I was finally here to do that!
1/5
📍Brookings, OR
📍Alfred Loeb SP, OR
Leaving California, I headed up the Oregon Coast. This was the purpose of this trip -- to see the Oregon Coastline. I was finally here to do that!
1/5
Reminder to get your yearly screening!! #BreastCancerAwareness
November 26, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Reminder to get your yearly screening!! #BreastCancerAwareness
The park has two campgrounds--I was at Gold Bluffs. It includes 14,000 acres, and was declared a state park in 1923.
7/7
#Camp #Camping #CampLikeAGirl #RoadTrip #Washington #Oregon #California #FallRoadTrip #Autumn #Redwoods #OregonCoast #OlympicPeninsula #ParkChat
7/7
#Camp #Camping #CampLikeAGirl #RoadTrip #Washington #Oregon #California #FallRoadTrip #Autumn #Redwoods #OregonCoast #OlympicPeninsula #ParkChat
November 21, 2025 at 4:16 PM
The park has two campgrounds--I was at Gold Bluffs. It includes 14,000 acres, and was declared a state park in 1923.
7/7
#Camp #Camping #CampLikeAGirl #RoadTrip #Washington #Oregon #California #FallRoadTrip #Autumn #Redwoods #OregonCoast #OlympicPeninsula #ParkChat
7/7
#Camp #Camping #CampLikeAGirl #RoadTrip #Washington #Oregon #California #FallRoadTrip #Autumn #Redwoods #OregonCoast #OlympicPeninsula #ParkChat
This place was so magical I cried on the drive out. I absolutely loved this location.
This Park is situated off the 101 freeway and the beach isn't appropriate for all vehicles.
6/7
This Park is situated off the 101 freeway and the beach isn't appropriate for all vehicles.
6/7
November 21, 2025 at 4:16 PM
This place was so magical I cried on the drive out. I absolutely loved this location.
This Park is situated off the 101 freeway and the beach isn't appropriate for all vehicles.
6/7
This Park is situated off the 101 freeway and the beach isn't appropriate for all vehicles.
6/7
On the way out I met a fellow who worked for the federal government. At this point we were a few days in to the shutdown and he decided to go scouting new locations. I thanked him for his public service and wished him well in his US Forest Service job.
5/7
5/7
November 21, 2025 at 4:16 PM
On the way out I met a fellow who worked for the federal government. At this point we were a few days in to the shutdown and he decided to go scouting new locations. I thanked him for his public service and wished him well in his US Forest Service job.
5/7
5/7
Since October 1st was the official change of season, none of the bridges were there, and it was my most epic hike. You wind your way through a narrow canyon covered from top to bottom in ferns. Without bridges meant walking in the stream.
4/7
4/7
November 21, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Since October 1st was the official change of season, none of the bridges were there, and it was my most epic hike. You wind your way through a narrow canyon covered from top to bottom in ferns. Without bridges meant walking in the stream.
4/7
4/7
popup and awning dry out as I headed to the beach.
It was a beautiful day and the coastal fog was rolling in from the north and the south. In the morning, I headed up to Fern Canyon for a hike. They filmed portions of Jurassic Park here, so it may look familiar.
3/7
It was a beautiful day and the coastal fog was rolling in from the north and the south. In the morning, I headed up to Fern Canyon for a hike. They filmed portions of Jurassic Park here, so it may look familiar.
3/7
November 21, 2025 at 4:16 PM
popup and awning dry out as I headed to the beach.
It was a beautiful day and the coastal fog was rolling in from the north and the south. In the morning, I headed up to Fern Canyon for a hike. They filmed portions of Jurassic Park here, so it may look familiar.
3/7
It was a beautiful day and the coastal fog was rolling in from the north and the south. In the morning, I headed up to Fern Canyon for a hike. They filmed portions of Jurassic Park here, so it may look familiar.
3/7
--Gold Bluffs Beach.
A long, windy, and pothole riddled eight-mile dirt road takes you through a gorgeous redwood forest. You arrive at the State Park kiosk and then head a ways up the coast to the campground. I parked, opened everything up, (because we'd had rain) and let the
2/7
A long, windy, and pothole riddled eight-mile dirt road takes you through a gorgeous redwood forest. You arrive at the State Park kiosk and then head a ways up the coast to the campground. I parked, opened everything up, (because we'd had rain) and let the
2/7
November 21, 2025 at 4:16 PM
--Gold Bluffs Beach.
A long, windy, and pothole riddled eight-mile dirt road takes you through a gorgeous redwood forest. You arrive at the State Park kiosk and then head a ways up the coast to the campground. I parked, opened everything up, (because we'd had rain) and let the
2/7
A long, windy, and pothole riddled eight-mile dirt road takes you through a gorgeous redwood forest. You arrive at the State Park kiosk and then head a ways up the coast to the campground. I parked, opened everything up, (because we'd had rain) and let the
2/7
Day 8 & 9 - Fri., Oct. 3 - Sat. Oct. 4, 2025
📍Orick, CA
📍Prairie Creek Redwoods SP, CA
I left my mom and Jacob at the airport, completed a work meeting, and then headed off back to Prairie Creek Redwoods SP. This time to what has been dubbed the best coastal campground in all of California
1/7
📍Orick, CA
📍Prairie Creek Redwoods SP, CA
I left my mom and Jacob at the airport, completed a work meeting, and then headed off back to Prairie Creek Redwoods SP. This time to what has been dubbed the best coastal campground in all of California
1/7
November 21, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Day 8 & 9 - Fri., Oct. 3 - Sat. Oct. 4, 2025
📍Orick, CA
📍Prairie Creek Redwoods SP, CA
I left my mom and Jacob at the airport, completed a work meeting, and then headed off back to Prairie Creek Redwoods SP. This time to what has been dubbed the best coastal campground in all of California
1/7
📍Orick, CA
📍Prairie Creek Redwoods SP, CA
I left my mom and Jacob at the airport, completed a work meeting, and then headed off back to Prairie Creek Redwoods SP. This time to what has been dubbed the best coastal campground in all of California
1/7
A12: #ParkChat Book Club is about to start Defending our Wildlife Heritage: The Life & Times of a Special Agent (by Terry Grosz). The book focuses on defending America's biodiversity by a wildlife conservation officer. Our first meeting is Tuesday, Dec. 16 at 5 PM Pacific. DM me for deets.
November 13, 2025 at 3:02 AM
A12: #ParkChat Book Club is about to start Defending our Wildlife Heritage: The Life & Times of a Special Agent (by Terry Grosz). The book focuses on defending America's biodiversity by a wildlife conservation officer. Our first meeting is Tuesday, Dec. 16 at 5 PM Pacific. DM me for deets.
#Camp #Camping #CampLikeAGirl #RoadTrip #Washington #Oregon #California #FallRoadTrip #Autumn #Redwoods #OregonCoast #OlympicPeninsula #ParkChat
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November 12, 2025 at 6:22 AM
This Park is situated off the 101 freeway and has several campgrounds--we were in Agate Campground for a night. This park is one square mile in size, which is 640 acres. After a 1928 bond act passed, purchases for this SP began in 1929.
5/6
5/6
November 12, 2025 at 6:22 AM
This Park is situated off the 101 freeway and has several campgrounds--we were in Agate Campground for a night. This park is one square mile in size, which is 640 acres. After a 1928 bond act passed, purchases for this SP began in 1929.
5/6
5/6
the road. We piled in and drove quickly back up the coast and saw the most impressive harem of females and a bull.
The next morning we met two of my work friends (Sandra and Josefina) for lunch at a park in Arcata, then off to the airport for Jakey and my mom to head home.
4/6
The next morning we met two of my work friends (Sandra and Josefina) for lunch at a park in Arcata, then off to the airport for Jakey and my mom to head home.
4/6
November 12, 2025 at 6:22 AM
the road. We piled in and drove quickly back up the coast and saw the most impressive harem of females and a bull.
The next morning we met two of my work friends (Sandra and Josefina) for lunch at a park in Arcata, then off to the airport for Jakey and my mom to head home.
4/6
The next morning we met two of my work friends (Sandra and Josefina) for lunch at a park in Arcata, then off to the airport for Jakey and my mom to head home.
4/6
rather than later. Sure enough, fog rolled in making everything damp.
After hearing of our goal to see Roosevelt elk and having not yet checked that off, the SP Ranger came back after a visit to Humboldt Lagoon SP with news. An entire herd of females and one male was in a meadow 7 miles up
3/6
After hearing of our goal to see Roosevelt elk and having not yet checked that off, the SP Ranger came back after a visit to Humboldt Lagoon SP with news. An entire herd of females and one male was in a meadow 7 miles up
3/6
November 12, 2025 at 6:22 AM
rather than later. Sure enough, fog rolled in making everything damp.
After hearing of our goal to see Roosevelt elk and having not yet checked that off, the SP Ranger came back after a visit to Humboldt Lagoon SP with news. An entire herd of females and one male was in a meadow 7 miles up
3/6
After hearing of our goal to see Roosevelt elk and having not yet checked that off, the SP Ranger came back after a visit to Humboldt Lagoon SP with news. An entire herd of females and one male was in a meadow 7 miles up
3/6
This coastal park was full of beautiful ocean views & redwoods--the smallest we saw. We drove to Trinidad for lunch on the beach.
Another hike along the coast & wandering around the redwoods during beautiful weather ensued. Rain was forecasted for later making our dry-hike needed earlier
2/6
Another hike along the coast & wandering around the redwoods during beautiful weather ensued. Rain was forecasted for later making our dry-hike needed earlier
2/6
November 12, 2025 at 6:22 AM
This coastal park was full of beautiful ocean views & redwoods--the smallest we saw. We drove to Trinidad for lunch on the beach.
Another hike along the coast & wandering around the redwoods during beautiful weather ensued. Rain was forecasted for later making our dry-hike needed earlier
2/6
Another hike along the coast & wandering around the redwoods during beautiful weather ensued. Rain was forecasted for later making our dry-hike needed earlier
2/6
Day 7 & 8 - Thur., Oct. 2 - Fri., Oct. 3, 2025
📍Trinidad, CA
📍Sue-meg SP, CA
We left Prairie Creek Redwoods SP and headed down the coast to the recently renamed Patrick's Point SP. Now called Sue-Meg SP honoring the Yurok Tribe's generations of history on this land.
1/6
📍Trinidad, CA
📍Sue-meg SP, CA
We left Prairie Creek Redwoods SP and headed down the coast to the recently renamed Patrick's Point SP. Now called Sue-Meg SP honoring the Yurok Tribe's generations of history on this land.
1/6
November 12, 2025 at 6:22 AM
Day 7 & 8 - Thur., Oct. 2 - Fri., Oct. 3, 2025
📍Trinidad, CA
📍Sue-meg SP, CA
We left Prairie Creek Redwoods SP and headed down the coast to the recently renamed Patrick's Point SP. Now called Sue-Meg SP honoring the Yurok Tribe's generations of history on this land.
1/6
📍Trinidad, CA
📍Sue-meg SP, CA
We left Prairie Creek Redwoods SP and headed down the coast to the recently renamed Patrick's Point SP. Now called Sue-Meg SP honoring the Yurok Tribe's generations of history on this land.
1/6
A12.1: #ParkChat Book Club is reading Confluence by
@zakpodmore.bsky.social. The book is more than just a story of the Colorado River and its tributaries. It touches on Indigenous stories, family, water rights, & adventures. Our second meeting is Tuesday, Nov. 18th at 5 PM Pacific. DM me for deets.
@zakpodmore.bsky.social. The book is more than just a story of the Colorado River and its tributaries. It touches on Indigenous stories, family, water rights, & adventures. Our second meeting is Tuesday, Nov. 18th at 5 PM Pacific. DM me for deets.
November 6, 2025 at 3:01 AM
A12.1: #ParkChat Book Club is reading Confluence by
@zakpodmore.bsky.social. The book is more than just a story of the Colorado River and its tributaries. It touches on Indigenous stories, family, water rights, & adventures. Our second meeting is Tuesday, Nov. 18th at 5 PM Pacific. DM me for deets.
@zakpodmore.bsky.social. The book is more than just a story of the Colorado River and its tributaries. It touches on Indigenous stories, family, water rights, & adventures. Our second meeting is Tuesday, Nov. 18th at 5 PM Pacific. DM me for deets.
This is easily one of my favorite Northern California redwood parks. It includes 14,000 acres, and was declared a state park in 1923.
6/6
#Camp #Camping #CampLikeAGirl #RoadTrip #Washington #Oregon #California #FallRoadTrip #Autumn #Redwoods #OregonCoast #OlympicPeninsula #ParkChat
6/6
#Camp #Camping #CampLikeAGirl #RoadTrip #Washington #Oregon #California #FallRoadTrip #Autumn #Redwoods #OregonCoast #OlympicPeninsula #ParkChat
November 1, 2025 at 8:06 PM
This is easily one of my favorite Northern California redwood parks. It includes 14,000 acres, and was declared a state park in 1923.
6/6
#Camp #Camping #CampLikeAGirl #RoadTrip #Washington #Oregon #California #FallRoadTrip #Autumn #Redwoods #OregonCoast #OlympicPeninsula #ParkChat
6/6
#Camp #Camping #CampLikeAGirl #RoadTrip #Washington #Oregon #California #FallRoadTrip #Autumn #Redwoods #OregonCoast #OlympicPeninsula #ParkChat
We also drove a 4x4 road called Cal Barrel Road, which took you into the heart of the redwoods. It was incredibly serene.
The park is situated off the 101 freeway and has two campgrounds--we were in Elk Prairie for two nights.
5/6
The park is situated off the 101 freeway and has two campgrounds--we were in Elk Prairie for two nights.
5/6
November 1, 2025 at 8:06 PM
We also drove a 4x4 road called Cal Barrel Road, which took you into the heart of the redwoods. It was incredibly serene.
The park is situated off the 101 freeway and has two campgrounds--we were in Elk Prairie for two nights.
5/6
The park is situated off the 101 freeway and has two campgrounds--we were in Elk Prairie for two nights.
5/6
It was such a lovely and magical location that we changed our reservation and stayed another night.
We were there at the shoulder season and all the bridges were pulled up over the creeks, so any stream crossing meant wading through the very cold (like take your breath away cold) water.
4/6
We were there at the shoulder season and all the bridges were pulled up over the creeks, so any stream crossing meant wading through the very cold (like take your breath away cold) water.
4/6
November 1, 2025 at 8:06 PM
It was such a lovely and magical location that we changed our reservation and stayed another night.
We were there at the shoulder season and all the bridges were pulled up over the creeks, so any stream crossing meant wading through the very cold (like take your breath away cold) water.
4/6
We were there at the shoulder season and all the bridges were pulled up over the creeks, so any stream crossing meant wading through the very cold (like take your breath away cold) water.
4/6
The weather was pretty good (scattered showers) for this park and my mom saw an epic double rainbow while Jakey and I hiked.
We saw a lot of evidence of bear, elk, and deer scat on the ground, but they never came near our campsite (that we were aware of).
3/6
We saw a lot of evidence of bear, elk, and deer scat on the ground, but they never came near our campsite (that we were aware of).
3/6
November 1, 2025 at 8:06 PM
The weather was pretty good (scattered showers) for this park and my mom saw an epic double rainbow while Jakey and I hiked.
We saw a lot of evidence of bear, elk, and deer scat on the ground, but they never came near our campsite (that we were aware of).
3/6
We saw a lot of evidence of bear, elk, and deer scat on the ground, but they never came near our campsite (that we were aware of).
3/6