6 Hidden Redwood Getaways in Northern California

Picture this: you’re tired, you crave a break, but the idea of another overcrowded, Instagram-trendy “wellness” spot makes your skin crawl. You want somewhere real; places where the trees are ancient, the rooms aren’t all beige, and the Wi-Fi is just unreliable enough that nobody blames you for tuning out. That’s what Northern California’s redwoods were made for, bestie.

These getaways are the secret sauce to feeling a little more like yourself and a little less like someone stuck in a Slack notification loop. Quick reality check: These spots are real, but property names and availability can change faster than a last-minute travel craving. A tiny bit of extra searching will save you a surprise.

1. Redwood Hiding Place (Fortuna, CA)

You know those places that feel like they were designed by that part of your brain that still loves secret forts and fairy tales? Redwood Hiding Place is the real-life version; complete with a geodesic dome, a cottage that actually looks good in daylight, and 1.5 acres of honest-to-god privacy. I stayed once and didn’t see a single soul, unless you count the deer that made a habit of photobombing my coffee moments.

Three minutes from the Avenue of the Giants, but nobody’s rushing you out the door in the morning. Bring books, bring snacks, bring zero expectations beyond bird calls and absolute, sheltered quiet. The coast is close enough for a spontaneous foggy picnic, and the Wi-Fi won’t tempt you to check emails.

Fun fact: Geodesic domes were all the rage after Buckminster Fuller started hyping them in the 1960s; apparently, he was onto something. If you’ve ever longed for a weekend with just trees, the dome, and yourself, this is it. Get ready for your phone’s “Do Not Disturb” mode to feel like a lifestyle, not a setting.

2. Redwood 101 (Hiouchi, CA)

Ever fantasized about ditching your routine and trading it for big trees and a kitchen you actually want to cook in? Redwood 101 is the retreat you didn’t know existed: three bedrooms, a loft, and the chef’s kitchen of Pinterest dreams. Hiouchi itself is tiny, and that’s the point.

You’re a few minutes from Jedediah Smith Redwoods, where the trees are so old they make your existential dread feel trivial. I once spent a rainy day chopping vegetables, watching the mist roll over the canopy, and realized I hadn’t said a word in hours. It felt like an upgrade, not a crisis.

Created for people who love real comfort but don’t need everything curated for Instagram. It’s the spot for impromptu game nights, actual conversations, and the best sleep you’ll get all year. If you want a loud night out, look elsewhere. If you want to hear your own thoughts, this is your sign.

3. The Front Porch Inn (Arcata, CA)

Let’s be honest: Arcata is a little weird, and that’s half the fun. The Front Porch Inn turns weird into wonderful: part eco-retreat, part vintage fever dream, and all lovingly built from reclaimed old-growth redwood. It’s the rare place where mismatched quilts and garden gnomes feel like personality, not clutter.

Don’t expect spotless minimalism. Instead, lounge on a porch swing, watch fog drift through the trees, and remember what it felt like to have summer break. Each suite is a personality test: are you a cozy cabin type or more of a modern treehouse soul? Coffee is strong, and breakfast comes with side-eye from the resident cat.

Arcata’s Plaza is a ten-minute stroll away; grab tacos or people-watch students arguing about philosophy. Part of the inn’s magic is how it makes you feel like you belong, even if you only stay two nights. Bring your quirks; you’ll fit right in.

4. Elk Beach View (Brookings, OR)

You know those moments when you need the ocean and the forest at the same time? Elk Beach View is what you’ve been craving. It’s a two-bedroom, two-bath home perched so close to the Pacific you can smell the salt and hear the gulls. The redwoods begin where your coffee mug ends.

Brookings is technically Oregon, but the redwood magic doesn’t follow state lines. Take morning walks down to the beach: maybe catch sight of a sea lion, maybe just watch the waves win their endless argument with the rocks. The deck is made for reading, not doomscrolling.

Here’s a secret: when fog rolls in, the house feels like a private theater for the world’s slowest, prettiest drama. If you want nightlife, this isn’t it. If you want your problems to shrink to the size of a tidepool, well, you’re home. Don’t forget your binoculars; whales sometimes crash the view.

5. Shelter Cove Charmer (Shelter Cove, CA)

Ever wanted to disappear for a bit, but not in a missing-persons way? Shelter Cove Charmer pulls off that trick. This four-bedroom house sits right where the Lost Coast starts pretending it’s Europe, cliffs and all, and yes, there’s parking for your boat and your existential baggage.

You won’t get city-level cell service, but you will get sunsets so intense they could pass for special effects. I once watched fog and sunlight wrestle over the cliffs and felt, very briefly, like I understood poetry. The local general store has supplies for both s’mores and campfire confessionals.

Shelter Cove is a tiny, stubborn community: no chain stores, few distractions. Bring friends who can handle silence, or just come with your most honest self. Bonus: black sand beaches are a five-minute drive away. Bring a sweatshirt; the wind is nobody’s fool.

6. Redwood Treehouse (Healdsburg, CA)

Living in a treehouse is every eight-year-old’s fantasy; Redwood Treehouse in Healdsburg lets you make it a grown-up reality, minus the splinters. The main house and guest cottage hover between branches, strung with lights that flicker like fireflies. It’s the sort of place where you imagine finishing your novel, or just your glass of Sonoma red.

You’re in wine country, but the trees steal the show. Wake up to sunlight streaming through redwood needles, then wander to Healdsburg Plaza for pastries that taste like they cost too much (they do, but worth it). At night, the frogs and crickets hold court.

Pro tip: the local bakery still uses recipes from the 1920s. Bring someone who likes a little magic with their morning coffee, or bring yourself, and finally learn what “rest” feels like. Treehouse living: not just for kids anymore.