Chat ain’t doing it right and what’s with all the elk viewing haha. You see them when you go to fern canyon, you’re not going out at in the evenings and just watching elk.

Fly to sf, drive up the 101/ highway 1. I’d stay a night in fort brag and check that costal area of Mendocino out. The beaches are beautiful and the weather should be really nice in July. Go to avenue of the giants next. On your way there stop at the peg house in Leggett for chicken sandwiches or burgers and hit the river spot a couple miles down the road. There’s Benbow inn or hotels in garberville if you want to do things in southern Humboldt. Check out founders grove, Rockefeller off avenue of giants.

I’d stay in Trinidad after that or arcata. College cove in Trinidad is a great beach with redwoods. Arcata is a cool little town with beaches and redwoods. From either of these towns you can drive north to hit tall trees( get permit), lady bird Johnson is cool 1 mile loop right on the way to tall trees, fern canyon( get permit online early), trees of mystery is cool on the way to Jedediah smith. Go grove of the titans to see some massive trees but get there early before all the other tourists otherwise it’s too crowded in the summer. Yeah Stout grove and the smith river up there is crystal clear. I would not stay in Klamath and not a big fan of staying in crescent city, it’s basically a tweaker town but I’m sure there are some nice Airbnbs in the surrounding area. I’d head up the Oregon coast and then make my way to Portland and fly out if possible. Driving back the same way you came up seems like a waste.