The hook
An 1870s dive bar in the La Honda redwoods, dark and creaky and unbothered, that's been watering loggers, bikers, hippies, and cyclists for 150 years.
01Why it's worth it
Apple Jack's has been pouring drinks in the tiny redwood town of La Honda since the 1870s, and it feels every bit of it: low ceilings, carved-up wood, a woodstove, dollar bills stapled everywhere, and the kind of dim, timeless dive-bar hush that no one designs on purpose. It sits right on Highway 84 in what was Ken Kesey's old territory, so it carries the ghosts of the Pranksters, the Hells Angels, and the local music scene that swirled through these hills in the '60s. Today it's a mix of grizzled locals, motorcyclists, and road cyclists cooling off mid-climb. It's not a destination on its own; it's the perfect character-filled pause on a ride over the mountains.
02How to experience it
It's on La Honda Road (Highway 84), a natural mid-ride stop between the Skyline climb and the coast. Have a beer, soak up the century of grime and stories, and pair it with the Kesey history just up the road.