If you really want to get away from it all and immerse yourself in the beauty of nature, spend the night in a fire lookout at Bear Basin Butte Lookout in the heart of the Smith River National Recreation Area. Perched atop a narrow ridge at 5,300 ft., the lookout features breathtaking 360-degree views of the Siskiyou Mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. If you rent the lookout, a 1930s-style cabin comes with it, providing sleeping accommodations for up to 12 people. The lookout and cabin are available for one- to four-night stays between July 1 and September 30.
MORE INFO: Reservations are taken after January 1 at 877-444-6777 or Recreation.gov. When traveling along Hwy 199, be sure to enjoy the Smith River National Recreation Area. Go kayaking, whitewater rafting, and swimming in the Smith River and other rivers in the area. Fishing for trout, steelhead, and salmon on the rivers is considered world-class due to the trophy-sized catches and the challenge of landing a fish. There are also numerous hiking trails through the Siskiyou Wilderness, along Myrtle Creek and on the Darlingtonia interpretive trails, where you will be able to spot rare and endangered plants including wildflowers. You can find the recreation area throughout much of Del Norte County, and Hwy 199 runs right through it.
MORE INFO: 707-442-1721, www. fs.usda.gov/recarea/
