OrickOrick may at first go unnoticed by some who have their sights set on visiting Prarie Creek Redwood State Park as they are passing through it between Eureka and Klamath traveling north along Hwy 101. But, the first thing locals think of for Orick is either "Roosevelt Elk", or "Fern Canyon"
At the bottom of the hill at "Stone Lagoon" is a great campground with a couple cabins (short, park model trailers) to rent, a small store and stable with horses for rent. It's trade mark name, the "little red schoolhouse" is also the first place coming north you better slow down and look for "Roosevelt Elk" herds crossing the road and people taking pictures of the elk you'll have to dodge. I've noticed them crossing about 8am and about 5pm give or take. How ironic. Home of the "Lady Bird Johnson" grove as well as what us locals have come to call Elk Meadow, for obviouse reasons. It is also the nearest town to the spectacular "Fern Canyon" which you won't believe is pretty true to it's name. Coming north toward Orick from Trinidad, Fresh Water Lagoon which is regularly stocked by the Fish and Game (I just saw the truck pull out this week by the way. The "Redwood National Park Visitors Center" is just north of Freshwater Lagoon on the ocean side, turn off at the rest area (PIT STOP) There is one gas station with a convenience store right as you enter town on the west. This is the last gas till Klamath, so if you're low!
From little windmills of various sizes to ceiling high or larger sculptures of redwood trees, fishermen, bears, even a stallion rearing up, to a garden bench with chipmunks on the ends. You name it, it's probably here somewhere. There is a grammer school, and down the street to the east from there you can rent horses to ride on the beach. The town has a snack shop, tiny hardware/general store and two restaurants. One, "the Palm" on the west side of the road with it's own tiny motel, right next to the old movie theater, now partially used as a barber shop. Across from that on the same side of the street is the "Hog Wild" bar with the Harley on the roof. Really. Next is the large new building that is the location of the "Redwood National Park Regional Southern Operations Center". The other eatery " " is a Mexican restaurant , on the right side of the road by the US Post Office, and general store.
As you travel north about two miles north of town the road turns off to the right and goes up along the creek to the "Lady Bird Johnson" memorial Redwood Grove and the towns biggest employer, a redwood sawmill.
Continuing north on Hwy 101 around the next two turns in the road you'll want to start looking on the left for the turn off to "Fern Canyon". You may really want want to slow down, especially around 7-8am, just after it's getting light or 4-5pm when it's just starting to get dark depending on the time of year. Elk cross the road here as they work their way through the Redwood National Park and no one tought them to look both ways before crossing the road. It's usually between here and the old fish hatchery on the right side of the road near "Lost Man Creek" and usually you need to watch more for the tourists stopping in the center of the road because the elk are grazing along the sides to take pictures, but neither one moves and they both can cause a nasty wreck. This is the same location where the newly developed "Elk Meadow Cabins" and "Redwood Adventures" are located with cabins to rent and tours available. It's definitly safer to pull off there to take pictures than get run over by passing motorists. 
A couple miles further north from Orick is where the start of the 4 lane freeway is. Locals call it the "ByPass". It's where it meets up with the Newton P. Drury scenic turnoff is.
This is actually the better road to take than the bypass. Especially if you have a trailer or motorhome because the bypass is so steep, going up to nearly 1500 ft then back down the other side where this same road comes out. We call it the "Prairie Creek" road because this is where the state campground is. This side road is where you'll get all your best pictures and save your engine from overheating for sure. At least being this close to Orick it's almost easier to go back for supplies but you could drive another 10 miles into the town of Klamath to the north just as easily. It's about in the middle. However you want to spend your day in Orick there is so much nature to enjoy you really don't want to just drive past in a hurry to get somewhere else for sure.
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