The Hiouchi Motel in Hiouchi, California, sits in one of the best locations for exploring Del Norte County‘s old-growth forests and river canyons. You’re positioned right at the edge of three major outdoor areas—the Smith River National Recreation Area, Redwood National Park, and Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park—making it an ideal base if you want to spend your days hiking among massive trees and swimming in cold rivers. The motel is just 8 miles east of Crescent City and 19 miles east of Brookings, Oregon, so you can access town amenities without feeling too far from the quiet redwood country.

The rooms are straightforward and comfortable, which is what you need when you’re tired from a day of exploring with your dog. The staff welcomes dogs here, and that matters when you’re traveling through an area where your dog will be spending serious time on trails and in the water. You’ll want to dry them off somewhere, and having a motel that accepts them without hassle takes one thing off your mind.

The real draw is what’s around you. From here, you can hit the Smith River for swimming, drive into Jedediah Smith Redwoods to walk among trees that have been standing for thousands of years, or explore the various trailheads scattered throughout the region. The area isn’t crowded like the more famous redwood spots further south, so you’ll often have trails mostly to yourself. Dogs tend to love it here—the forest is cool even in summer, there’s water everywhere, and they can run on many of the paths without dealing with massive crowds.

This is a practical, no-frills place to sleep while you spend your days in one of California’s most impressive stretches of old-growth forest. If you’re planning to base yourself in the area for more than a night or two, the location makes real sense.