Backroads to Spirit Camp
Highway 128 closed at Navarro River?
Here is your backup plan for the drive from San Francisco.
Most of the year, the drive to Spirit Camp is one of the best warm-ups you could ask for. Highway 128 winds you through Anderson Valley, past vineyards and apple orchards, then drops you into a cathedral of redwoods along the Navarro River before popping you out at the ocean.
And then, a few times each winter, the Navarro decides it wants the road back.
This is your backup plan. It's short, it's simple, and the detour only adds about 10 to 15 minutes. Bookmark it, screenshot it, or send it to whoever is driving.
Why Highway 128 closes
In winter, a sandbar builds up where the Navarro River meets the ocean. When heavy rain lines up with a high tide, the river has nowhere to go. It backs up and spills over the low stretch of Highway 128 that runs right alongside it.
When that happens, Caltrans closes 128 from Highway 1 to just west of the little town of Navarro, right at Flynn Creek Road. Closures usually last a day or two.
The good news: you can drive right up to the start of the closure and turn onto the detour. No backtracking.
Step 1: Check before you leave
Highway 128 is a state highway, so Caltrans posts the live updates. Check the morning you leave, and again at your last stop with cell service (Cloverdale or Boonville).
Highway 128 live status (Caltrans): roads.dot.ca.gov/?roadnumber=128
Live map of every closure on your route: Caltrans QuickMap (also available as a free app)
By phone: 1-800-427-7623, then enter 128
County roads (the detour roads are county roads): Mendocino County Road Closures
If 128 says CLOSED near Navarro, take one of the detours below.
Your usual route (for reference)
US-101 North to Cloverdale. Highway 128 West through Boonville, Philo, and Navarro, all the way to the coast. Highway 1 North for a few minutes to Albion. Turn right onto Albion Little River Road and follow it to Spirit Camp at 4640 Albion Little River Road.
Detour 1: Flynn Creek Road (our first choice)
👉 Open Detour 1 in Google Maps
This is the official Caltrans detour and the simplest option.
Drive 101 North and 128 West like normal, through Boonville, Philo, and the town of Navarro.
Just past Navarro, right where the closure starts, turn right onto Flynn Creek Road.
Follow Flynn Creek Road to the tiny town of Comptche. Turn west onto Comptche-Ukiah Road, toward the coast.
Turn onto Albion Little River Road and follow it to Spirit Camp at 4640.
A heads up: Flynn Creek Road is narrower and curvier than 128. Take it slow, use the turnouts, and enjoy the forest.
Detour 2: Philo-Greenwood Road and Cameron Road
👉 Open Detour 2 in Google Maps
A good second option, especially if Flynn Creek Road has its own hiccup (like a tree down after a windy night).
Drive 101 North and 128 West through Boonville and Philo.
A few miles past Philo, near Hendy Woods State Park, turn left onto Philo-Greenwood Road.
Climb up onto the ridge, then turn right onto Cameron Road.
Cameron Road brings you down to Highway 1, just south of the Navarro River bridge. Turn right (north) onto Highway 1.
Continue north a few minutes to Albion. Turn right onto Albion Little River Road and follow it to Spirit Camp at 4640.
Why we steer you away from Highway 1 in winter
Yes, you could take Highway 1 all the way up the coast from Jenner. In summer, we say GO. It's one of the most stunning drives in the country, so just budget a couple of extra hours for all the pulling over to gasp at the ocean.
In winter, it's a different story. The coast road gets hit with slides, flooding near Point Arena, and slow one-lane stretches, often during the same storms that close 128. It can turn a three-hour drive into a very long day. Stick with 101 and 128 and use the detours above.
Good to know on the road
Cell service gets spotty in Anderson Valley and mostly disappears on the detour roads. Download an offline map of the area before you leave (both Google Maps and Apple Maps can do this), and screenshot this page.
Fill up in Cloverdale or Boonville. Gas and snacks get scarce after that.
Aim to arrive before dark. Winding roads, rain, and deer are a lot more fun to navigate in daylight.
Never drive through water on the road. It's often deeper and faster than it looks. Turn around and take a detour.
Watch for storm debris. Branches (and sometimes whole trees) come down after windy nights. Drive slower than you think you need to.
More than one road can close at once. Big storms sometimes close 128, Highway 1, and other routes on the same day. Check QuickMap for your whole route, not just 128.
Optional alerts: for Mendocino County emergency alerts during your trip, text MendoAlerts to 888777. Unsubscribe when you get home.
Your retreat lead is your best source
We stay in close touch with your retreat lead about road conditions, and we pass along every update as soon as we have it. So if you're wondering whether the road is open, whether to leave earlier, or whether arrival times have shifted, your retreat lead is the person to ask.
One small tip: grab your retreat lead's phone number before you hit the road. If you're running late, a quick text lets the group know you're safe and on your way.
For everything else about getting ready, check out our Guest Guide and the rest of our Travel Guides.
The redwoods have been here for a very long time. They'll wait for you. Drive slow, enjoy the detour, and we'll see you at camp.
Big tree hugs,
Julian
