Information & To Do's
Calendar
Please check the calendar regularly for updates and corrections....
2018
June 24 Sunday - Start of the 49th Westrek in Fortuna, CA - Registration and reception
June 25 Monday - Tour to Eureka and Samoa
June 26 Tuesday - Tour the Avenue of the Giants
June 27 Wednesday - Tour to Wildlife Areas and Ferndale
June 28 Thursday - Tour Fortuna and Loleta, Ladies Tea, Tech Session, Swap Meet, and Banquet
June 29 Friday - Tour to Old Town Eureka
2018
June 24 Sunday - Start of the 49th Westrek in Fortuna, CA - Registration and reception
June 25 Monday - Tour to Eureka and Samoa
June 26 Tuesday - Tour the Avenue of the Giants
June 27 Wednesday - Tour to Wildlife Areas and Ferndale
June 28 Thursday - Tour Fortuna and Loleta, Ladies Tea, Tech Session, Swap Meet, and Banquet
June 29 Friday - Tour to Old Town Eureka
Directions to Fortuna
Fortuna is located on Highway 101 about 16 miles south of Eureka. The following are some suggested routes to reach Fortuna (please check maps and/or GPS to confirm details, time, road conditions and traffic):
From Oregon and Washington
If you are coming from an area that is not included above and you would like a recommendation, please contact us.
Some folks have asked about taking Interstate 5 to Red Bluff, Highway 36 to Alton, and Highway 101 North to Fortuna. Highway 36, although beautiful, is not recommended for towing a trailer. In addition, Highway 36 is undergoing a major reconstruction project and there are lengthy road closures. Our advice is to not use Highway 36 to Fortuna. Highway 299 from I-5 at Redding to Highway 101 just north of Arcata also has construction and short duration delays. This route is also not recommended for towing a trailer.
California Road Conditions
Before leaving for Fortuna, you can check the CalTrans Road Conditions website at http://www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roads.cgi or by calling1-800.427.7623.
From Oregon and Washington
- Interstate 5 South to Grants Pass, Oregon
- Highway 199 South to Crescent City
- Highway 101 South to Fortuna
- Take Exit 687 from Highway 101
- Right on Kenmar Rd (Riverwalk Dr)
- Riverwalk RV Park and Best Western Country Inn are on the right in 0.2 mile
- Interstate 5 North to Williams
- Highway 20 West to Calpella
- Highway 101 North to Fortuna
- Take Exit 687 from Highway 101
- Right on Kenmar Rd (Riverwalk Dr)
- Riverwalk RV Park and Best Western Country Inn are on the right in 0.2 mile
- This route has bridge tolls
- Interstates 580 and 880 are used to miss going through San Francisco
- Highway 101 N to San Jose
- Interstate 880 North to Oakland
- Interstate 580 West to San Rafael
- Highway 101 North to Fortuna
- Take Exit 687 from Highway 101
- Right on Kenmar Rd (Riverwalk Dr)
- Riverwalk RV Park and Best Western Country Inn are on the right in 0.2 mile
- Interstate 80 West to Yuba Pass
- Highway 20 West to Calpella
- Highway 101 North to Fortuna
- Take Exit 687 from Highway 101
- Right on Kenmar Rd (Riverwalk Dr)
- Riverwalk RV Park and Best Western Country Inn are on the right in 0.2 mile
If you are coming from an area that is not included above and you would like a recommendation, please contact us.
Some folks have asked about taking Interstate 5 to Red Bluff, Highway 36 to Alton, and Highway 101 North to Fortuna. Highway 36, although beautiful, is not recommended for towing a trailer. In addition, Highway 36 is undergoing a major reconstruction project and there are lengthy road closures. Our advice is to not use Highway 36 to Fortuna. Highway 299 from I-5 at Redding to Highway 101 just north of Arcata also has construction and short duration delays. This route is also not recommended for towing a trailer.
California Road Conditions
Before leaving for Fortuna, you can check the CalTrans Road Conditions website at http://www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roads.cgi or by calling1-800.427.7623.
Weather
Fortuna is a small city located about 10 miles from the ocean. Most of the time we wil°l be touring within that 10 mile zone. Based on past weather information, the temperature usually ranges from a low of 48°F to a high of 68°F with an average of 57°F. In late June there is usually little precipitation. The Avenue of the Giants (Tuesday’s tour) is inland and it is usually warmer. There can be days where it is foggy and cold in the morning, warm during the midday, and windy and cold in the afternoon. The best thing to do is to be prepared for variable conditions with layered clothing and for the possibility of rain.
Tow Rig and Trailer Parking
Parking for tow rigs and trailers is in a graveled lot adjacent to the Best Western Country Inn off of Alamar Way. A copy of the Westrek Site Map showing the parking, lodging and Westrek activities has been distributed to all attendees. Please bring a copy of the map with you and park as shown. The lot owner uses the lot for other purposes, and we need to keep our rigs as shown to prevent being in the owner’s way. You can view the map by selecting "Download File" below.
| site_map_parking.pdf |
Westrek Activities, Service Stations, Restaurants & More
A map of Fortuna showing the location of the Westrek activities, auto parts stores, service stations, and restaurants has been distributed to all attendees. We recommend that you bring this map with you. You can view the map by selecting "Download File" below:
| fortuna_map.pdf |
Things to do Before and/or After the Westrek
During the Westrek you will have the chance to see many of the area’s attractions; however, there are many more attractions that we won’t have time to visit. The following places to visit are just a sampling of what is available if you have time before and/or after the Westrek.
Fort Humboldt State Historic Park
This remote military post was established in 1853 as a result of conflicts between Native Americans and gold-seekers and settlers who had begun coming into the area after the discovery of gold in the northern mines. The Fort was abandoned in 1870 and it rapidly fell into decay. The hospital building is all that remains of the original fourteen structures. It is now an historical museum dedicated to telling the story of the Fort and the Native American groups. The Surgeon’s Quarters was reconstructed in the 1980’s. The park also includes a Logging Museum and open air displays of historic logging equipment including two steam locomotives.
Fort Humboldt SHP is open daily from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. It is located in the southern part of the City of Eureka. Take Highway 101and turn right (going north) or left (going south) onto Highland Avenue and, in a few hundred feet, turn left onto Fort Avenue.
This remote military post was established in 1853 as a result of conflicts between Native Americans and gold-seekers and settlers who had begun coming into the area after the discovery of gold in the northern mines. The Fort was abandoned in 1870 and it rapidly fell into decay. The hospital building is all that remains of the original fourteen structures. It is now an historical museum dedicated to telling the story of the Fort and the Native American groups. The Surgeon’s Quarters was reconstructed in the 1980’s. The park also includes a Logging Museum and open air displays of historic logging equipment including two steam locomotives.
Fort Humboldt SHP is open daily from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. It is located in the southern part of the City of Eureka. Take Highway 101and turn right (going north) or left (going south) onto Highland Avenue and, in a few hundred feet, turn left onto Fort Avenue.
Ride the Rails on a Historic Crew Car Speeder
The Timber Heritage Association’s next scheduled Crew Car/Speeder ride is Saturday, June 23, 2018, which is the day before the Westrek Registration. If you are in the area on that day, consider driving to Samoa and taking a ride. More information about the rides has been excerpted from their website and is shown
Enjoy a scenic trip along Humboldt Bay on Timber Heritage Association’s (THA) speeder crew car! This car is a restored maintenance of way vehicle that was used to get the logging crews out into the woods.
Signature rides, offered every 4th Saturday of June, July, August and September, are a four mile round trip ride from the town of Samoa, along the beautiful Humboldt Bay to Manila. This is a great ride to see the flora and fauna of the area as well as some historic locations. These 1/2 hour rides begin at 10:00 AM and run every 1/2 hour until the last ride leaving at 4:00 PM On these days, the historic Samoa Shops are open for tours, and you can see many of Timber Heritage’s collection of logging artifacts and locomotives. There are lots of docents/volunteers available to answer questions about the buildings, locomotives, and the Timber Heritage Association during these events.
Samoa Speeder prices are: Adults $8.00; Seniors (62+) $7.00; Children 3-10 $4.00, 2 and under ride free. Children must be accompanied by an adult. THA accepts cash, local checks, and Visa®/Mastercard®
For more information check out THA’s website at http://timberheritage.org/. You can get to the Speeder rides by taking Highway 101to Eureka and turning left (going north) or right (going south) onto Highway 255 which takes you over the Bay. Turn left, where Highway 255 dead ends, onto New Navy Base Road, then left on Cookhouse Road.
The Timber Heritage Association’s next scheduled Crew Car/Speeder ride is Saturday, June 23, 2018, which is the day before the Westrek Registration. If you are in the area on that day, consider driving to Samoa and taking a ride. More information about the rides has been excerpted from their website and is shown
Enjoy a scenic trip along Humboldt Bay on Timber Heritage Association’s (THA) speeder crew car! This car is a restored maintenance of way vehicle that was used to get the logging crews out into the woods.
Signature rides, offered every 4th Saturday of June, July, August and September, are a four mile round trip ride from the town of Samoa, along the beautiful Humboldt Bay to Manila. This is a great ride to see the flora and fauna of the area as well as some historic locations. These 1/2 hour rides begin at 10:00 AM and run every 1/2 hour until the last ride leaving at 4:00 PM On these days, the historic Samoa Shops are open for tours, and you can see many of Timber Heritage’s collection of logging artifacts and locomotives. There are lots of docents/volunteers available to answer questions about the buildings, locomotives, and the Timber Heritage Association during these events.
Samoa Speeder prices are: Adults $8.00; Seniors (62+) $7.00; Children 3-10 $4.00, 2 and under ride free. Children must be accompanied by an adult. THA accepts cash, local checks, and Visa®/Mastercard®
For more information check out THA’s website at http://timberheritage.org/. You can get to the Speeder rides by taking Highway 101to Eureka and turning left (going north) or right (going south) onto Highway 255 which takes you over the Bay. Turn left, where Highway 255 dead ends, onto New Navy Base Road, then left on Cookhouse Road.
Humboldt State University Natural History Museum
The museum is located in Arcata, and it has over 2,000 natural history objects. Collections include Native American cultural objects, a large fossil collection and many exhibits that are interactive. Most of the exhibitions focus on the natural history of the region surrounding the museum. The museum is located at 1242 G St, Arcata. They are closed on Sundays and Mondays. Open hours are 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Tuesday through Saturday. Admission costs are $15 for a family (2 adults and 4 kids), $6 for adults, $3 for seniors, students, and kids 3 years old and above. Toddlers are free. The gift store is free!
