Pot growing in these areas has been in decline for the last fifteen years, since medical legalization. And now, with full legalization, most of this pot is all being grown in industrial parks. And, in any case has nothing to do with railroading, and is mostly chum.

There is no likelihood of any traffic base to support any RR construction or restoration of service to Eureka, north of Cloverdale, from any direction (even the "proposed" "new" route to Redding), at any cost, including via the Eel River Canyon. So, a trail, ain't that bad of use, considering that reality.

Television shows aren't reality, and you're a hell of a lot safer anywhere in Humboldt County, than you are railfanning "rough" neighborhoods in Oakland or Stockton, if real crime statistics actually matter.