Discover Humboldt: Driving the 40-Mile Backroad That Built Humboldt
On this week’s Discover Humboldt, Dock of the Humboldt Axe YouTube channel takes viewers on one of the county’s most scenic — and storied — backroads: the full 40-mile stretch of Kneeland Road from Freshwater to Bridgeville. What begins near the bay climbs into prairie, ranchland, and ridge-top vistas before dropping down to the Van Duzen River, tracing a route that once carried 1870s wagon traffic and pack trains between Eureka and Blocksburg.
“It’s about a 40 mile road and starts in Freshwater and ends down in Bridgeville,” Dock says at the outset.
After Freshwater, Dock climbs into Kneeland Prairie, where redwoods give way to wide-open grasslands and long views toward Humboldt Bay. Dock pauses at the Kneeland Cemetery where early ranching families set headstones over loved ones. He traces the area’s layered history — from tribes to homesteads established after the 1862 Homestead Act and beyond.
Later, Dock stands where pack trains once passed through in the 1870s as it was a key inland route before Highway 101 existed.
By the time he reaches Bridgeville, Dock shares the story of the 1879 storm that destroyed a bridge and swept away young Johnny Hail, and he notes how the current bridge, built in 1925, was designed by John Leonard, the same engineer who designed Fernbridge across the Eel River.
Standing near the river at the end of his drive, Dock points out the route, “is a significant piece of Humboldt history.”
For anyone inspired to make the drive themselves, he offers a practical reminder, “There’s nothing out there except for beauty, but have a full tank of gas.”
For those who love scenic backroads, local history, small towns, and Humboldt County exploration, Dock’s 40-mile journey offers all of it — along a road where, as he notes, there’s little in the way of services, but no shortage of beauty.
Earlier:
- Discover Humboldt: Redwoods, Friends, and Veterans Day Lights
- Discover Humboldt: Atmospheric River Hits Northern California Coast!
- Humboldt Axe: Custom Firefighter Axes for Guy Fieri’s Foundation
- Humboldt Axe: Mad Season Continues with Firewood Run into Six Rivers National Forest
- Discover Humboldt: ‘North Coast KING TIDES!’
- Discover Humboldt: ‘Tide Pools EXPLODING With Life at Agate Beach’
- Discover Humboldt: ‘Dangerous Surf After the Storm’
- Discover Humboldt: ‘Minibike Mayhem on the South Jetty Dunes’
- Discover Humboldt: ‘Humboldt OFF-ROAD on the South Spit Dunes’
- Discover Humboldt: Prairie Creek Redwoods
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I have always wanted to drive that one, but since using Bell Springs Cow-Path in the Winter of 16-17, I have resisted Winter Travel in Humboldt County…
Bellsprings isn’t bad unless it’s storming, and hardly any traffic these days but I guess it depends on what you drive.
Some of us were forced to drive that or work around through AP after the 36 slid out. Worth the drive reguardless.
I believe the full experience of the first overland road requires you take the Showers Pass route. Super beautiful alpine meadows up there.
It does not end at Brigeville. It goes on to Blocksburg, Alderpoint, Harris and Bellsprings.
…Rattlesnake Creek, Laytonville, Cahto, Strong Mountain. Sherwood, Willits…
Always my favorite drive in Humboldt. When I’ve brought family from elsewhere to Humboldt I’ve always taken them up that road.
To the east the interior is wide open to view, to places that they’ll never physically visit, but they get the idea of how vast the country is.
Why is it called an airport in Kneeland, when it’s only a landing strip? It doesn’t have a restaurant, shops, etc. Then again, I guess the Arcata airport in Mck doesn’t either.
Do you mean; California Redwood Coast-Humboldt County Airport?
gods, what a dumb name…
When the fog gets heavy along the bottom land, it’s the only landing strip available. Weavervile is about thirty minutes by air from here.
That road is a drive through museum
It always makes me smile to drive through the Fredrickson Ranch. Well the house and the barn. For some reason, it just tickles me.
Great video. I’ve always thought it would make a truly epic organized bike ride, with 40 miles of mostly gravel and over 8,000 feet of elevation gain.
Lovely.
This was one of the alternate roads to get by the slide on 36. The other, which connects to this one, is Redwood House Rd. Both of them are INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS and will never be driven by me again!
Eh ?
Just go slow.
Stay on your side of the road… (if possible).
Avoid the dust goblins and mud-demons.
And watch out for the other idiots.
Kinda surprised there weren’t more accidents on the Bridgeville-Strongs Station loop when Hwy 36 was closed.
One day drive the Salmon River from Somes Bar (Hwy 96) to Etna or Callahan (Hwy 3).
(heh heh)