Sasquatch for mayor!
The story are as marvelous as the trees in the diminutive town of Willow Creek , California . Located about an hour sou'-east ofRedwood National Park ’s ancient giants , the town sits besiege by the dense forests and rugged mountains of Northern California , an outdoorsperson ’s haven to reboot and a far war cry from the usualGolden State weekend trip . This is not a place you “ accidentally finish up ” or “ go on a whimsy . ” More likely than not , if you ’re manoeuvre to Willow Creek , you know exactly what — and who — you’re after : Sasquatch . This is , after all , the beat heart of Bigfoot Country .
Though rumors about unusual , gargantuan , humanoid creatures in the country have circulated for century , it wasthe Patterson – Gimlin film — a 59 second , yet - disproven clip of a massive name walking along the banks of nearby Bluff Creek — that put Willow Creek on the mathematical function and established its reputation as the Bigfoot Capital of the World . In the meter since the tape was released , researchers , journalists , and serious believers alike ( not to bring up courageous and curious tourists ) have derive here in hope of coming look - to - face with Bigfoot . And though few have come through , those who have are incessantly changed .
Although you wo n’t determine the trappings of a traditional holidaymaker destination here ( just a smattering of bar , restaurants , and shops lining the principal landing strip ) , you ’ll find that what Willow Creek lacks in with child - city amenities , it make up for in cock-a-hoop nature — not to mention big secrets . Here ’s what to do if you obtain yourself pass through Bigfoot ’s very own hometown .
Find this evidence and more at Willow Creek’s Bigfoot Museum|Gary Crabbe/Enlightened Images/Alamy Stock Photo
Get acquainted with Bigfoot Country
Much like Roswell embraced its report as a UFO working capital after the famed 1947 incident , so did Willow Creek swell with Bigfoot pridefulness after the liberation of the Patterson – Gimlin film and the dozens of other sighting that happened before and since . ( Locals would argue , though , that while extraterrestrial being plausibly neveractuallytouched down in New Mexico , a small population of sasquatches does genuinely exist in the backcountry of Northern California . )
dust throughout the town , you ’ll find a score of local dapple themed after Bigfoot : there ’s a museum , a steakhouse , a bookstore , a motel , and more . But theBigfoot Museum , the town ’s large draw , is the doubtless best plaza in townsfolk to learn about the more than 300 sasquatch sightings that’ve been recorded in the country . in spite of appearance , you ’ll notice surgical incision on Willow Creek ’s story , as well as a room full of artefact and evidence of sasquatch ’s universe , including poultice hurl of alleged Bigfoot track and a collection of stories about firsthand face-off . ( There ’s also a starring gift shop and , out front , a tktk - marvelous Bigfoot statue you could utilize to convert your friend you managed to have a sighting . )
The playfulness continues along theBigfoot Scenic Byway , which stretches for 153 Admiralty mile through Bigfoot Country beginning in Willow Creek and heading compass north to Yreka . You ’ll drive through the natural peach of the Hoopa Valley Reservation ( stop atHoopa Tribal Museumfor exhibits on the chronicle and culture of the local Hupa , Yurok , and Karuk tribes ) ; past Bluff Creek and Clear Creek ( where , in the summer , you may take a fall in crystal - clear swimming holes ) ; and up to the former boomtowns of Happy Camp and Yreka , the latter now home to historic buildings and museums , old - timey cafes , and craft brewery . Along the way , you ’ll discover raft of beautiful spots to camp out and bask in nature — as well as mickle of places to park it for the dark in hopes of run into a sealed cryptid .
Bigfoot track casings (aka…Bigfootprints)|Gary Crabbe/Enlightened Images/Alamy Stock Photo
you may also time your trip for the annualBigfoot Daze Festival . Over Labor Day weekend each September , the town of Willow Creek comes together to celebrate all things sasquatch with log competition , nutrient , trafficker , live euphony , a parade , a horseshoe tournament , a Bigfoot Call competition ( ! ! ! ) , and more . After a two - year hiatus due to the pandemic , the company is back on for 2022 ; prepare to do your very upright central scream .
How a California Small Town Became the Bigfoot Capital of the World
Hear the stories, see the proof, scour the woods—and decide for yourself.
Take a day trip to Redwood National Park
Just over an hour north toward the Pacific Coast , go lowly yourself amidst some of the tall , old tree on the planet at Redwood National Park . Technically a compounding of one internal park and three land parks , this in truth vast , deeply mossy old - growth forest is standardised to the Grand Canyon in that it ’s difficult to comprehend the immensity of nature until you ’ve really witnessed it .
Within , you’re able to hike up course like theBoy Scout TrailandTall Trees Grovethat’ll take you wander through Akko after Accho of California redwoods , some of which make heights of more than 370 foot ( that ’s 65 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty ! ) and have existed for thousand of year . Once you ’re out of the woods , wander out onto the park ’s groggy beach — far closer to the moody Pacific Northwestern slide of Oregon than the gay Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin and breakers of SoCal — to exploreEndert ’s BeachorFalse Klamath Cove , where you ’ll findtide poolsabundant with sea biography like urchins , mussels , and slimy sea virtuoso .
Back in Willow Creek , the nature admiration bear on : go on a scenic whitewater ride withBigfoot RaftingorSix Rivers Rafting , or boost through nearbySix Rivers National Forest , where the Patterson – Gimlin motion picture was shot at Bluff Creek .
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Enjoy a healthy dose of wine and weed
If you reallydohave a Bigfoot sighting , chances are you ’re going to be reasonably damn shaken up afterward and in the need of total relaxation . Luckily , outside of Willow Creek in greater Humboldt County , you ’ll find mint of opportunities to chill out with a deep pour of wine or a full 24-hour interval with your top dog in the clouds .
apart from its status as a Bigfoot finish , Humboldt County was once also a major hub for the Golden State ’s weed industry . From June through October , hit upHumboldt Cannabis Toursin Eureka to go on half- or full - daylight guided tours of out-of-door farms , greenhouses , and/or dispensary ; you ’ll get a chance to hear all about California cannabis , from cryptical diving on account and culture to an in - depth look at the culture process . you may also check into Valkyrie Farm , anAirbnb located on a ganja farmsurrounded by redwoods , where you may bask a cozy studio , a woodwind instrument - fired soaking vat fit for two , seasonal hitch , and — most importantly — free samples with your stay .
As it goes in Northern California , you ’ll also findtop - snick beer , wine , and cider all throughout Humboldt County . Beer aficionados should tally decades - older , honour - winningMad River , one of the first Native American - owned breweries in the country;Six Rivers , a ego - promulgate “ Brew with a View ” overlooking the Pacific and slinging cocktails , too ; andRedwood Curtainon Arcata Bay , where Belgian - vogue brewage get pair with tasty greaser . Meanwhile , winos ( and cider - os ? ) can make a beeline for any number of vineyard in the country . Closer to Willow Creek , Miles Garrett — though nottechnicallyopen to the populace — tender a basic degustation and tours with in advance notice , whileMoonstone Crossingin Eureka andWrangletownin Arcata are deserving throw an afternoon trip for .
Skyscrapers have nothing on California redwoods|YayaErnst/iStock/Getty Images
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Where to eat and stay in Willow Creek
As antecedently mentioned , you ’re not going to regain monolithic hotels or upscale bars — or anything remotely close — in Willow Creek itself . For the most part , you ’ll demand to antecede the fauna comforts so as to meet the creature ; rough it is a part of the experience . The area is replete with camping site includingCamp Kimtu , Boise Creek Campground , andEast Fork Campground , all surround by hushed , verdant woods . If you ’d really rather hop into a informal bed at the final stage of a long day , you could make it happen , but heads up : though the name may tempt you , skip the Bigfoot Motel for now and head toCoho CottagesorChina Creek Cabinsinstead , where all the windows and individual decks peer into the hem in forests .
As far as libations go , you ’ve got a few options in townsfolk : Grab breakfast or a clear dejeuner atOsprey Cafe , or take hold of a diner - style bite atOl ’ Rusty ’s . In the evening , heading toRaging Creek Brew - Pubnext door to the Bigfoot Museum , before terminate your eventide amongst fellow Bigfoot believers sipping drinks atForks Lounge . Of of course , there ’s also the aforementionedBigfoot Steakhouse ; despite the name , we promise you are not dining on the very same fabled animal you came all this way to see .
Willow Creek is all about roughing it|Vineyard Perspective/Shutterstock
