Trinidad Head to Elk Head

Trinidad State Beach

(map link)

I decided to have a walk out to Elk Head and watch the water a little out there. I parked at the other end of the park by Trinidad Head, then climbed over the ice plant covered hump of sand to the beach. The tide was quite high. Some day I should come at a low tide and actually get to see the arch up close. Well, the one arch on the beach, anyway. There seem to be quite a few in the area. The blowhole spouted once on the side of Pewetole Island to help remind me of other fun structures within the rocks that happen to exist out here.

The stacks around College Cove at Trinidad State Beach. The trees on Pewetole Island are looking very nude for the season.

I had to scamper across the beach in a couple spots before getting to the trail up beside Mill Creek. It has nice flow right now. The squish spots on the trail were almost dry enough to just walk across without paying too much attention to foot placement.

Above the mouth of Mill Creek.

Mill Creek comes down through a small, lush canyon.

What was a big, leafy maple over the bridge is just sticks for the season.

I headed up to find there's been a grand clearing of ivy. A lot of work has been put in although, unfortunately, there's a lot left to do, too. I spotted the first blooming redwood violet of the year, but didn't photograph it. There were also candy flowers and a couple others.

Clearing out the ivy leaves a lot of room for native plants to grow up.

Peeking through the trees at the waves coming into College Cove.

I proceeded around, past the parking lot, and toward Elk Head. There were a lot more people on that end of the park.

Pewetole Island from the other side.

Caught in the act! The north side of the island has another blow hole, which I saw go off a couple times.

A tiny cove on the way to Elk Head.

It seemed extraordinarily crisp and clear when I got out to Elk Head. Perhaps that's because the last time was in fog that kept things in varying degrees of shrouded as it blew past.

The trail out to Elk Head and looking out at all the cliffs of the area.

I braved the steps and made my way down to the high rock top to enjoy the spot for a while. A windbreaker helped to make it more comfortable with a bit of breeze coming across the water.

The steps are far above the water, but the area gets washed in storms and they need to be used with care.

The rocks south of Elk Head with Trinidad Head in the background.

Looking nearly straight down the cliff, the water churns below.

Then I headed back. I stopped by the beach briefly, but decided against climbing the rocks to get to the larger section. I wandered the longer trail around the forest in between before dropping again to the creek.

Getting gloomy in the deeper part of the creek.

Looking up through some tiny mushroom parasols.

Rather than go out to the beach again, I climbed out of the canyon on the far side and followed the cliff top trail as far as it goes.

Another look at Pewetole Island. The local Adventure Lab (a geocaching thing) identifies the large, closer rock as Grandmother Rock.

I stopped by an overlook by the marine lab, then made my way along the roads the short way to the harbor by way of some public steps. By that time, it was getting deep into shadow.

Rocks and islands along Trinidad State Beach. There's a couple people down on the beach too.

Making a way through a little bit of Trinidad.

There's a few boats at anchor in the Trinidad Harbor.

It's just a short way from the bottom of the steps to the parking and heading off again.

*photo album*




©2022 Valerie Norton
Written 29 Jan 2022