Carruthers Cove Trail

Carruthers Cove is a short but surprisingly steep drop through a tunnel of red alders and berry thickets down to a wild, driftwood-strewn beach on the Pacific. The old skid road — a relic from logging days — keeps the footing wide but the grade is relentless enough to earn that moderate rating despite the brief distance. You'll descend through a green corridor where Roosevelt elk sometimes browse just off-trail, unbothered and enormous. At the bottom, the cove opens up to a rocky shoreline with tidepools, sea stacks, and the kind of raw Northern California coast that feels genuinely remote. The catch: every foot you drop, you climb back out. It's a leg-burner in reverse. This one's perfect for hikers who want a quick taste of wilderness beach without committing to an all-day affair.