When one enters the Elk Coast from the north, crossing the bridge at the Navarro River, they are entering an area known as North Greenwood. Greenwood refers to Elk's second name dating back to the 1800's as explained in the Elk history section. After crossing the bridge over the Navarro River, there will immediately be a turn off leading towards the ocean taking you past the old Navarro Inn by the Sea and to Navarro State Beach.

The old Navarro by the Sea Hotel was a flourishing resort years ago. Captain Fletcher, the first European to settle at the mouth of the Navarro River, built the inn in the 1860's for sailors from the lumber schooners that serviced Navarro Mill. The sailors often had to wait three days while their ships were being loaded at Navarro Landing.. Read an excellent historical piece on the Navarro by the Sea Hotel written by Hillary Adams, a historical expert on the area and a resident of North Greenwood.

Navarro Beach is home to camping, abalone diving, river sports, and many other activities. Managed by the California State Parks, the park has low fees due to it's privitive nature. The beach has an interesting history with respect to public access. Like many issues on the Elk Coast, the issue of public access was settled through legal action and was a locally intense issue for many years. Read a short summary of those turbulent years for Navarro Beach.

Before 1994 Navarro Beach was known as the last "free beach" in California. A beach where one could stay and camp without a fee. On past trips that I made to this beach it was always full of busses, campers, shacks and the like. Visitors such as myself were given stares meant to discourage new comers from coming into the beach. The State Wildlife Conservation Board, who had long maintained the beach, grew short of funds and patience for the condition of the beach. In 1996, they finalized a land transfer with the California Department of Parks and Recreation. This “swap” included enough money for the purchase of the Navarro-by-the-Sea Hotel. The eviction of residents dragged on with emotions high on both sides. Eventually homes were found for most and the beach became a State Park. Today there are many camping sites managed by the State of California in a clean, safe environment.

As one drives up the navarro grade and heads south into the Elk Coast, one first encounters Cameron Road heading east. Cameron Road is a 6 mile stretch that links up with Greenwood-Philo Road just 2 miles east of Elk. Cameron Road is all private land and home to private residences and timber lands.

Shortly south of Cameron Road you will see a cluster of homes on the west side of the highway on the ocean bluffs. This group of homes is known as Little Geyserville to the locals. The story goes that many of the residents here were originally from Oklahoma as was evidently the case in Geyserville at the time. The road going through these residences is the Old Highway One and snakes down the bluffs and comes in behind the old Navarro by the Sea Hotel. The road is not passable today.