Kruse Rhododendron State Reserve

About 20 miles north of Jenner, this 300-plus-acre nature reserve is home to a wide variety of flora, including tanoaks, Douglas firs, grand firs, ferns, wild flowers, and, of course, rhododendrons. Indeed, each spring, the park's namesake plants explode in brilliant shades of pink. Five miles of trails traverse the picturesque terrain, leading hikers past stands of Pacific wax myrtle, California huckleberry, and small evergreen shrubs known as salal. Best time to see the "rhodies" is usually around Mother's Day.