Confusion Hill — Attraction in Fort Bragg

Confusion Hill is one of Northern California's most delightfully eccentric and unforgettable roadside attractions, offering visitors a mix of wild fun, optical illusions, and a dose of mystery nestled in the heart of the redwoods. Located along the scenic Highway 101, this quirky stop invites you to step into a world where the laws of gravity and physics seem to take a vacation.

As soon as you arrive, you’re greeted by the towering trees of the redwood forest and the playful charm of Confusion Hill. The air buzzes with excitement, and the bright, whimsical signage hints at the adventure to come. It’s the kind of place where curiosity gets the better of you, and you find yourself grinning like a kid as you explore the site’s many oddities.

The Gravity House is the highlight of Confusion Hill—a tilted cabin where water flows uphill, objects roll against gravity, and you’ll question everything you thought you knew about balance. Walking through this house is like stepping into a funhouse on steroids. You’ll find yourself tilting at impossible angles, laughing uncontrollably as your sense of orientation is turned completely upside down. It’s an experience that will leave you scratching your head in amazement.

The World Famous Redwood Shoe House is another can’t-miss spot, combining the whimsy of roadside Americana with the majestic presence of the surrounding forest. It’s a fantastic photo opportunity and a reminder of the creativity and eccentricity that makes Confusion Hill so special.

For those who love a good story, the Mysterious Totem Pole and tales of Confusion Hill’s quirky history add an extra layer of intrigue. The site’s origins date back to the 1940s, and it has stood the test of time as a beloved landmark along the Redwood Coast. The gift shop even offers a selection of souvenirs that capture the magic of this unique destination.

Confusion Hill also offers the Mountain Train Ride, which takes you on a scenic journey through the redwoods. As you chug along the tracks, you’ll hear fascinating tidbits about the local history and geology, making this not just a fun experience but an educational one too. The train ride is perfect for families, and kids will love the combination of adventure and storytelling.

What sets Confusion Hill apart isn’t just the attractions themselves but the atmosphere. It feels like a place out of time—a nod to the golden age of roadside attractions when traveling was about the journey as much as the destination. The staff are warm, welcoming, and genuinely excited to share the magic of this place with visitors.

A trip to Confusion Hill is not just a stop along your journey—it’s an adventure in itself. It’s a place where reality bends, imagination soars, and laughter is guaranteed. Whether you’re traveling with family, friends, or solo, this quirky roadside gem is a must-see. Confusion Hill will leave you with lasting memories, plenty of stories to tell, and perhaps a little more wonder about the mysteries...

This review is over 2 years in the making. The picture is of me when my friend took me to this place.

We were driving up North in California to Humboldt University when we stopped here without giving much thought to it.

I expected just a distraction and to be honest I didn’t find the thought about stopping here even remotely enticing. That being said, my friend and I still talk about this experience after a couple of years because of our experience here..

After we had finished viewing everything, that was at best mildly interesting to me, we went to use the restrooms. I told my friend I would wait until he was done using the restroom for me to go use it next. I waited for him outside of the restroom and after a couple of minutes went by, an elderly man with a full set of white hair walked out of the restroom by me. I greeted the elderly man as he walked past me heading to the back entrance of the building on his way out.

I kept waiting and waiting for my friend to exit the restroom. After what seemed like 20 minutes went by, I called my friend and asked him if he was stuck in the restroom? He told me he walked right past me and had been waiting in the car for approximately 20 minutes.

Aside from the person working there, we were the only ones there at that time. I asked the lady if she had seen my friend that I came in with and she told me that he walked out approximately 20 minutes ago.

Something very strange happened for me to see and elderly man whom I interacted with instead of seeing my friend.

This location is very weird and it might alter visual perceptions based on my experience.

I told my friend about what happened and we jokingly say that we might have gotten stuck in Jacob’s Ladder, like the movie where they are stuck I time and that’s why I saw an elderly person instead of him.

So this place is definitely bizarre and worth the visit.

If you see me or my friend stuck there in time, please reach...

6/14/18

Five years after my first visit I made it back here and thankfully it was during regular business hours (which they've extended). We thought we were going to miss it after visiting the Chandelier Drive Thru Tree (a car was stuck IN the tree and it took forever to get through ourselves!) but thankfully, yelp hours were wrong and we had an extra hour before closing time.

Confusion Hill is definitely a neat stop! It's fun to walk around, there's a great gift shop, and you can even buy chipmunk food and feed the little critters running around. You can walk through at your own pace so take your time and enjoy all the fun spots they've set up. If you're there early enough there's a little train ride you can take too. Bring your camera!

6/4/13 - Four stars

SO COOL, EVEN AFTER HOURS

So if you miss the gate-closing cut-off like we did (everything closes early in these parts!!!), you can not walk around and explore and eat the good ice cream (for me!) and hot dogs (for him!). But there is still a lot to look at and this is right off the freeway so it's worth exiting. We enjoyed reading the information posted about the place and the construction during a recent hillslide, and we really liked looking around at the carvings in the parking lot and trees. Plus you can go inside the shoe! Awesome!!

This wasn't part of our original road trip plan but we saw a couple signs along the drive and I'm so glad we stopped - even though we didn't get to see it all. It'll be a reason to look forward to going back and seeing everything...