North Coast - Eureka - Sequoia Park
1.5 mi 
Suitable for
Touring *
Slalom *
Directions
From U.S. 101 entering Eureka about a mile up from where the freeway ends, turn right onto Harris Street, a one-way street heading west. After 2.25 miles, turn right on W Street and pull into the Sequoia Park entrance on the right.
Notes
Sequoia Park is a fantastic little ecosystem still standing within the city limits of Eureka. The forest primeval momentarily surrounds you as you skate among the gigantic redwoods and dense fern undergrowth in the park's 54 acres. Besides its incredible beauty, Sequoia Park offers one of the most thrilling skates around. Half of the three-quarter mile loop is flat and covered with pine needles, but the other half consists of steep hills with surprise lumps in the pavement.
Starting from the park's W Street parking lot, take the short tour to the right (north) that follows a narrow asphalt service road (as a skating path, it's actually quite wide) winding through the shade of the tall trees. Here the pine needles lie in a brown carpet that often hides the pavement, but they're not so thick as to prevent stroking and gliding. You'll emerge into the daylight at T and Glatt Streets. To the left you can see Glatt's "Wrong Way-Do Not Enter" sign where the trail re-enters the forest to drop steeply into the dark. You don't want to enter here either, because in this direction, the hill is too steep for a safe descent on in-lines, and meeting a car coming uphill could be deadly. Turn around and return to the W Street parking lot.
Expert skaters who can control a steep descent around a hairpin turn can visit the duck pond from here. Enter the trees on the service road that heads west into the dark forest from the parking lot. Soon the trail curves to the right and then dips down, down (watch out for the log-sized raised ridge in the road), around a hard left hairpin turn, and down some more to a little flat spot next to a concrete pool where you can feed the ducks. Now it's time to pay your dues. Are you ready to climb? Remember, short, wide strokes work best, and don't stop or you'll lose your momentum. You'll emerge from the forest at Glatt and T Streets again. Once your heart resumes a more or less normal rate, enjoy the soothing roll through the forest back to the main park area.
And why not do it all over again!
Starting from the park's W Street parking lot, take the short tour to the right (north) that follows a narrow asphalt service road (as a skating path, it's actually quite wide) winding through the shade of the tall trees. Here the pine needles lie in a brown carpet that often hides the pavement, but they're not so thick as to prevent stroking and gliding. You'll emerge into the daylight at T and Glatt Streets. To the left you can see Glatt's "Wrong Way-Do Not Enter" sign where the trail re-enters the forest to drop steeply into the dark. You don't want to enter here either, because in this direction, the hill is too steep for a safe descent on in-lines, and meeting a car coming uphill could be deadly. Turn around and return to the W Street parking lot.
Expert skaters who can control a steep descent around a hairpin turn can visit the duck pond from here. Enter the trees on the service road that heads west into the dark forest from the parking lot. Soon the trail curves to the right and then dips down, down (watch out for the log-sized raised ridge in the road), around a hard left hairpin turn, and down some more to a little flat spot next to a concrete pool where you can feed the ducks. Now it's time to pay your dues. Are you ready to climb? Remember, short, wide strokes work best, and don't stop or you'll lose your momentum. You'll emerge from the forest at Glatt and T Streets again. Once your heart resumes a more or less normal rate, enjoy the soothing roll through the forest back to the main park area.
And why not do it all over again!
| Last Skated
Aug 1, 1995
|
Updated
Mar 9, 2004
|