Hiking Slowly
While researching the hiking possibilities on my trip to Eureka, I found out there are two lighthouses in the area. I love lighthouses so I was going to pick up a sandwich, go on a short hike in a State Park, drive to the lighthouses, have a quiet evening watching the sunset, and maybe share a picture or two on my personal social accounts. Well, this outing turned into much more of an adventure, I just had to share.
The sandwich part I got right, there was a cute little shop right down the street from the hotel. I also managed to get to the State Park without any issues (anyone else directionally challenged?), where I headed out on a few short trails before heading to the town of Trinidad. The main road through this coastal city ends at a peninsula with a beach on one side and a pier and harbor on the other. The Trinidad Memorial Lighthouse, which is a replica, is right there in the parking lot, so it’s pretty hard to miss. This is going so well!
After walking over to check out the rocky beach, I grabbed my backpack, shoved my sandwich and my drink inside, and headed up Trinidad Head Trail to see the actual, working lighthouse. The first part of the trail consists of steps, which end at a landing on the left with a view of the wharf and beach below. Turning right, I headed up the steep, paved hill and under the canopy of the trees and bushes. Every once in a while, there was an opening in the flora that provided a framed view of the boulder-studded beach below. (We all know that I take every opportunity to catch a view, especially when walking up-hill.)
Cresting the first incline, there were three benches looking over the cove where the trail switched toward the left and continued up. This section of the path offered a few different resting spots with benches overlooking the wharf side of the peninsula. If there is a bench, I always stop, it MUST be there for a reason, right? Cresting this incline, I came to another switchback. Are you getting the pattern? I didn't catch on until I reached the third switchback where there was a closed fence blocking the road in front of me and where the paved path up the hill turned to rocks. It felt like I was walking up Haystack Butte all over again (If you missed it, there were lots of switchbacks and the batteries in my headlamp were dead so I had to trudge back down the rocky trail in the dark). After the fourth switchback, I came to a fork in the road, one way led up another steep incline, and the other way led down - I chose the path going down. Yes, I was tired, flushed, and breathing heavy, but I really made that choice because my friend Google said the lighthouse was that way.
Going downhill, the path was actually more compacted and green. I came to a seating area with a giant statue of a cross. I paused in respect and continued beyond the cross and toward what I thought was going to be the lighthouse. Of course, it wasn't. But there was a platform with a magnificent view of the ocean and the setting sun. This was the perfect place to pause, put my stuff down, take off my winter coat and sweatshirt (because in the parking lot I was freezing, but by that time I was sweating), and eat part of my sandwich. I was starving. I swear Google said "just drive out here and take a short walk, and the lighthouse is right there, I promise." At no time did she say I would have to climb from sea level to the top of a whole mountain. Anyway, I finished my sandwich, had a drink, took a few photos, and tried to decide if I needed to go on and find the lighthouse or just stay there and watch the sunset.
I did hang out there for a few more minutes, and then my FOMO won. (That's Fear Of Missing Out, for those of you who don't know.) So, I turned around in search of the lighthouse. Fortunately, the path I followed continued downward and was on the west side of the island so I could continue to watch the sun set. Gorgeous. I arrived at a bench just before the trail turned around the mountain and sat down to decide if I wanted to head back and go to the top of the mountain. Of course I chose to go to the top. After all, wouldn't the view be even more spectacular at a higher elevation? And, wouldn't the lighthouse be at the top as well?
Nope. I got to the top and all I found was a grassy area with two fenced-in buildings and a large tower that held electric wires. Not even a bathroom! Disappointed, I headed back down the hill, stopping to peek over the bushes to catch the tail end of the sunset. I was glad that I wouldn't have to head back down in the dark but confused about not being able to find that lighthouse.
So, I was heading down the hill, certain that my knees were going to make me pay for this little jaunt later and also glad that it wasn't dark, and I arrived at the switchback where the fence was. This time I went over to the fence and read the sign - the lighthouse is only open on the first Saturday of the month. I guess the lesson here is that when they say “look for the signs”, they mean literally look for the signs. Oh, and you should probably read them, too.
