Rural living in the redwood forests of Northern California
Alderpoint is deep in the redwood-covered mountains of southern Humboldt County in Northern California. Home to around 150 people, the town is surrounded by forests as far as the eye can see. Because of its remote locale, neighbors often rely on one another for help, whether it’s a downed tree after a heavy storm or a prolonged power outage. “It’s a very tightknit area. People take care of each other and look out for each other,” says Realtor Kim Quintal of Exp Realty’s Quintal Realty Group, who works out of nearby Fortuna.
The town has something of a checkered past. For many years, it was known as “Murder Mountain” because it was in the epicenter of California’s illegal cannabis growing operations. This illicit industry was run in part by violent drug traffickers who were involved in numerous disappearances and homicides in the area, including major cases like the disappearance of Garret Rodriguez in 2013 which later became the subject of a Netflix documentary series. California’s legalization of recreational marijuana in 2018 has largely destroyed the illegal grow operations in the area, however, and it’s seen a reduction in crime over past few years.
Dense forests, rolling hills and rivers
Alderpoint is surrounded by natural beauty on all sides. Low mountains rise up along the horizon line, and gravel roads wind their way into untouched forests full of redwoods, sequoias and Douglas fir trees. Black bears, raccoons, deer and foxes can be seen wandering through their natural habitats. Mountain lions are also present, but typically keep to themselves. The Eel River skirts around the edge of the town and is a popular spot for fishing for salmon and steelhead. Nearby campgrounds include Benbow State Recreation Area, which is about 20 miles away. There’s also Richardson Grove State Park, an 1,800-acre park that protects redwood groves with trees that are more than 300 feet tall.
Some of the wildlife like black bears and mountain lions are found in Alderpoint.
Richardson Grove State Park is just south of Alderpoint with walking trails through huge redwood
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Homes in the countryside
Homes in Alderpoint are situated on narrow, country roads with plenty of open space surrounding them. It’s not uncommon to see trucks and cars parked in the front yard alongside mature trees and bushes. Most of the houses here were built in the 1960s, 70s and 80s and include many ranch style homes, bungalows and cottages. Lot sizes range from as small as a quarter-acre to an acre or more. Kitchen and living room windows often showcase sweeping views of the mountains and forests outside town. Prices range from around $100,000 to $200,000 depending on the size and condition of the home.
Some of the homes in Alderpoint have some great views of the river valley.
A few homes in Alderpoint are ranch-style homes.
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Head to Garberville for shopping and dining
There are no shops, restaurants or markets in Alderpoint, so residents will have to make the trek across the mountain to Garberville. At around 1,800 residents, Garberville is the largest of southern Humboldt’s tiny townships. Its main commercial strip is Redwood Drive where residents can dine at restaurants like the Eel River Café, stop for coffee and pastries at Getti-Up or grocery shop at Ray’s Food Place. There’s also a weekly farmers’ market that takes place every Friday and features fresh produce, food vendors and artisan wares.
For a great classic burger, try Garberville’s Eel River Café, near Alderpoint.
Garberville’s Café Bellini serves great breakfast and lunch near Alderpoint.
The nearest grocery store near Alderpoint is Garberville’s Ray’s Food Place.
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Public schools in Redway and Miranda
Students will need to commute on winding mountain roads to get to school. The town is zoned for Redway Elementary School, about 20 miles away. Middle and high school students can attend Miranda Junior High School and South Fork High School, which are 31 miles west in the town of Miranda. All three schools earn B-minus ratings from Niche. South Fork High is known for its athletics programs, including a well-ranked varsity football squad.
Redway Elementary School is one of the top schools in the area.
The courses a Miranda Junior High encourage critical thinking and creativity.
South Fork High School offers exceptional educational options.
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Take the backroads to State Route 101
State Route 101, also known as the Pacific Coast Highway, is the nearest major roadway to Alderpoint. To get there, residents take Alderpoint Road for 17 miles to Garberville through the countryside. It’s about a 40-minute drive. From Garberville, it’s 65 miles to Eureka, the largest city in Humboldt County, and about 150 miles to Santa Rosa, the nearest major metro area. Jerold Phelps Community Hospital, also in Garberville, is the closest medical center.
The Alderpoint Bridge spans across the Eel River in Alderpoint.
There is only one 2-laned road to access the community of Alderpoint.
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Increased risk of wildfires
Alderpoint is an area that’s at a high risk for wildfires. There have been several major fires in the area, including the August Complex fire in August 2020 that burned more than 1 million acres and destroyed more than 900 homes.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
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an experienced agent in this area.
Parks in this Area
Humboldt Redwoods State Park
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
11
Median Year Built
1977
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,331
Significantly below the national average
1,924
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
11,325
Distribution of Home Values
Source: Public Records
Interested in learning more about homes in this neighborhood?
Reach out to
Hannah Winans,
an experienced agent in this area.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
15
Median Age
40
Population under 18
26.7%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
20%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$32,500
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$39,625
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
100%
Above the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
10%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
0%
% Population in Labor Force
63.6%
Area Factors
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
0/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
