Carruthers Cove
Orick, CA
Carruthers Cove sits at the end of a footpath off the old Coastal Drive north of Orick, part of the California Coastal Trail system through Redwood National Park. It's a quiet, hike-in stretch of sand backed by bluffs, the kind of spot you get to yourself simply because most people don't know the trail is there.
Genuinely uncrowded thanks to the unmarked trail, though the lack of any real parking or facilities keeps it a detour rather than a destination.
How we score beachesThere's no parking lot to speak of here, just roadside pullouts along the old drive, so come early if you're visiting on a weekend.
No fee, though the CCC records no formal parking area, just roadside pullouts.
A footpath leads down to the cove; expect a real walk rather than a short stroll.
Dogs are not allowed on the Carruthers Cove Trail, which is the only way to reach this beach in Redwood National Park.
Like the rest of Redwood National Park's coastline, mornings here run foggy through summer and water stays cold year round.
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