The wild northern California coast, part 1
4 leisurely days from Guerneville to Elk and a bit beyond
There are road trips that check boxes, and then there are road trips that shimmy their way into your soul. This one—starting in tree-hugging Guerneville and curling north along the shoulder of the continent until just past Elk, California—is firmly in the latter camp. It's a route of lumberjacks and lattes, art and misty forests, and food that makes you go “Please, sir, may I have some more?”
Buckle up: here’s your 4-day itinerary of cheek, charm, and coastal California magic. This adventure takes you from forested Guerneville to the craggy cliffs of Elk via one of California’s most cinematic highways. You’ll pass towering redwoods, flirt with the ocean at every turn, and find enough oddball charm to keep things interesting. Expect to encounter tiny towns, art, and moments of speechlessness brought on by breathtaking views.
First, some notes
Think layers (This is the way.)
Keep an eye on the gas gauge (Gas stations are rare and sometimes existentially priced)
Pack snacks and beverages
Download your playlist as well as the area’s map (there will be dead zones)
Don’t forget the binoculars!
NO RUSHING
This is a trip made for turning off notifications, flipping on your hazard lights, and pulling over every ten minutes to say “wow.”
Day 1: Guerneville – redwood chill and river revelry
Morning: rise and redwood shine
Get an early start so you can spend time at Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve before heading into town. It’s a quieter cousin of Muir Woods, where the trees are older than the country and taller than a techbro’s ambition. It’s like entering a cathedral built by Mother Nature herself, where pews are replaced by logs and the wind singing in the trees serves as the choir.
After you’ve stretched your legs in such beauty, head to Guerneville, the quintessential example of what happens when a former logging town is adopted by artists, hippies, and those who know their way around a wine list.
Guerneville is weird, wonderful, and wildly walkable. The town looks like a throwback to the 60s, with its Rexall drug store and other storefronts that haven’t seen upgrades for decades.
Afternoon: lazy river, not-so-lazy lunch
Float the Russian River by kayak or paddleboard, or if you’re feeling less ambitious, rent a donut-shaped floatie and let the current do the work.
Lunch at Pat’s International, where all-day breakfast rules and the cinnamon sugar donuts are fresh. Still have a sweet tooth? Stop for a cone at Nimble & Finn’s in the old bank building.
Evening: wine, dine, and soak
Guerneville loves a wine bar. Try Equality Vines (first LGBTQ+ cause-based wine label) or sip local pinot at Big Bottom Market. Dine and stay the night at boon hotel + spa with its redwood-shaded pool and outdoor cedar hot tub.
Day 2: from Guerneville to Point Arena – rivers, cliffs, and coves
Morning: Duncans Mills and Jenner
Wait for breakfast until you get to Duncans Mills on your way west.
This tiny hamlet wins you over fast: general store, old train cars, a few art galleries, and stellar coffee at Gold Coast Coffee & Bakery. Feels like time travel, but with better pastries.
Late morning: Jenner and Goat Rock
Highway 1 begins its performance art. Hairpin curves. Sheer drops. The ocean heaving at your side. Stop frequently. Gasp constantly.
Roll into Jenner, where the Russian River meets the Pacific. Stop at Goat Rock Beach for wind, drama, and harbor seals doing their loafing thing. Warning: the surf here is no joke.
Midday: the long and winding cliffs
After Goat Rock, settle in for a slow roll up Highway 1, where the road clings to the cliffs like a cat on a curtain. Each turn reveals another gasp-worthy ocean view, and each wide spot in the road is a potential impromptu photo shoot location.
Gone is the calm estuary of Jenner—now the coastline is raw and cinematic. Trees lean from the wind. Fences surrender. You're in True Coastal California, where gas stations are rare and cell signal is a fond memory.
You’ll pass through tiny outposts like Timber Cove (home to the famous Peace Obelisk, a 93-foot oceanfront sculpture that looks like very tall aliens left it behind) and Stillwater Cove, which offers secret beach access if you’re the kind of traveler who keeps a towel in the trunk and doesn’t mind sand in your shoes.
Late afternoon: Gualala goodness
Cross the bridge into Mendocino County and roll into Gualala (pronounced “Wah-LA-la”). If you’re puckish, hit Surf Market for local deli delights. Walk the Gualala Bluff Trail for sweeping views where river meets ocean. Stop at Gualala Arts Center if your inner sculptor needs feeding.
Evening: The lighthouse at the end of the world
Arrive in Point Arena just in time for gold-hour magic. This is on the list of the westernmost points in the continental U.S., and it feels like it. Stop by the Point Arena Lighthouse, which stands proud and white against the blue Pacific. At 115 feet, it’s one of the tallest lighthouses on the West Coast—and you can climb it.
If you’ve managed to snag a reservation, stay at the Point Arena Lighthouse in one of their on-site vacation rentals. You get private access to the lighthouse and museum after hours. Whale sightings included, no extra charge.
Alternatively, book the stylish Wildflower Boutique Motel back in town, complete with EV chargers and garden cocktails.
Hit The Record for dinner. If you haven’t experienced it already, this is the place to pick up the community vibe of Point Arena, plus the food is damn good.
Day 3: Point Arena to Elk – driftwood, tiny towns, and artists
Morning: pier and pancakes
Walk the Point Arena Cove Pier to start the day with salt air and seabirds. Grab a pastry and coffee at Franny’s Cup & Saucer (get there early before they sell out).
Midday: parks and the pulse of the coast
Head north on Highway 1 and let the road unspool. Stop at:
Manchester State Park: Long, lonely beach loaded with driftwood. Good chance of spotting porpoises. (Don’t forget the binocs!)
Schooner Gulch State Beach: Short trail to Bowling Ball Beach, a geologic marvel at low tide.
Sea Lion Cove: Rugged cliffs and frothy surf with secret trails to ocean overlooks.
Afternoon: Elk—the prettiest blink-and-you’ll-miss-it place
Welcome to Elk, where even the fog seems to have good taste. It’s one street of charm perched on a cliff.
Explore the Elk Artists Collective, a warm, well-stocked gallery showcasing local ceramicists, painters, jewelers, and photographers. Craig Hathaway is the hand behind all the gorgeous redwood burl pieces, while Rabbani Kenyon is the artist to blame for the amazing wood carvings. The genie carving on the second floor is not to be missed!
Across the street is a scenic blufftop park, perfect for a picnic, a nap in the grass, or dramatic ocean-view journaling.
As tiny as Elk is, you have choices for your night’s accommodation: Elk Cove Inn with ocean views, spa tubs, and breakfast delivered to your door; and Harbor House Inn with Michelin-star dining, organic gardens, and foghorn lullabies
Toast the trip with a glass of Mendocino pinot while the sun takes its final bow. You’ve traveled part of the most romantic road in California at exactly the right pace.
Day 4: Elk to Route 128 — forests, fog, and finales
Wake up to crashing surf and complimentary scones. Elk mornings are slow and misty and meant to be savored.
Late morning: Greenwood State Beach and beyond
Stroll to Greenwood State Beach, where the driftwood feels deliberate and the silence is cinematic.
Midday: Navarro River redwoods
As you head toward the junction with Route 128, Highway 1 threads its way through the Navarro River Redwoods. Roll down your windows and inhale that loamy, redwood-scented air.
At the Highway 128 junction, you’re at a portal. Anderson Valley wine country lies to the east. Mendocino Village’s charm is just north. But this trip? This one ends right here, with your camera overflowing and your heart ridiculously full. (Stay tuned: itineraries for both directions are coming!)
You did it, you coastal wonder!
You started in Guerneville, wrapped in redwoods and rosé. You ended at the edge of Route 128, cliff-kissed and mildly windblown. You sipped, ate, floated rivers, and flirted with fogbanks.
In short? You did it right.
Now go unpack your damp hiking socks and start planning your next adventure. Because Highway 1 doesn’t end here—it just pauses, takes a deep breath, and waits for you to come back.
I have driven through this area several times on the way to visit family in Oregon, and I’ve often stopped frequently at viewpoints to take pictures, but I’ve always wished to spend more time here.