Devil's Elbow

Willow Creek, California

Description

This is a new adventure! Be the first to share your experience.

Join a supporting community of travelers and adventurers sharing their photos and local insights.

Devil's Elbow is a beach and swimming hole located in the Trinity Alps just north of Willow Creek, California. The pronounced bend in the river along Highway 96 slows down the flow of the river making it a good spot to hop in and cool off on a hot summer day. During the summer months when the coast may be covered in fog, this more inland spot can be plenty warm.

Please be respectful of this area in the Hoopa Valley as it is considered a spiritual location of the Hupa people. It is also a pathway for migrating Chinook Salmon.

Parking:
There is a pull-off on the right side of Highway 96 if heading north from Willow Creek.

Swimming hole:
Devil's Elbow is accessed via a short, but steep ~15-minute hike from the parking area. The trail is marked by a tall stake. The best time to visit the swimming hole is Summer through October.

Download the Outbound mobile app

Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.

Get the app

Features

Chillin

Dog Friendly

River

Swimming Hole

Devil's Elbow Reviews

Have you done this adventure? Be the first to leave a review!

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Hike Lyons Ranch

This is really a dirt road that is gated off from Bald Hills Road. The trail head parking can fit about 6 cars but seldom do people venture out this way. After all, the attraction of Redwood National Park is the redwoods but this high prairie is definitely worth exploring.The walk to the ranch is 2 miles in. It is an easy walk along a dirt road that weaves across prairie land and a few sections...

Hike the Emerald Ridge - Redwood Creek Loop

This loop begins at the Tall Trees Trailhead. To access this parking area, you must have a permit that you can obtain from the Kuchel ranger station. The gate is locked. When you get the permit, the ranger will also give you the combination to the gate. Once you drive through, close the gate and lock again.The Emerald Ridge Trail begins just from the parking lot and off the Tall Tree Trail....

Tall Trees Grove, Redwood Creek, Emerald Ridge Loop

Day 1: Check with the Rangers station before heading up for best camping opportunities. Assuming you've checked with the rangers for approval...if there are openings, off of the main road, there are side streets with access to the beaches. Pull into one of these areas and drive down as far as you can – this may involve squeezing your car through spaces between boulders. If you find such a spot,...

Hike to Tall Trees Grove, Redwood NP

NOTE: You need a permit, albeit free, to do this hike.First, you'll need to go to the Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center just off Highway 101 south of Orick, CA. Once there, write down your license plate number and go up to the counter and ask one of the rangers for a permit for Tall Trees Access Road. You'll need to provide the make, model, and plate number of your car. The permit is free, and th...

Explore Luffenholtz Beach Park

On a road trip with a friend in July of 2019, this beach came recommended to us. The tidepools, rocks cutting into the sea, and photography opportunities made it a spectacular stop. There are stairs down to the beach and we were the only ones at the park. If I remember correctly, it’s quite a narrow road to get here, so be cautious of oncoming traffic. Parking was free. Bring a picnic and soa...

Strawberry Rock Trail

To get there: From the south, take the Trinidad exit, from which you will take a slight left/ go straight onto Trinidad Frontage rd. From The north, get off at the Trinidad exit, cross under the freeway, and take a left on Trinidad Frontage rd. Once on Trinidad Frontage rd, go straight to the end, and park somewhere to the side of the road. The hike: At the trail head there's a gate blocking y...