Our Mission The mission of California State Parks is Humboldt to provide for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological Part of the country’s Lagoons diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities largest lagoon system State Park for high-quality outdoor recreation. supports a rich variety of marsh plants, birds, and other animals California State Parks supports equal access. while providing Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who need assistance should contact the park at ample opportunity (707) 677-3570. If you need this publication in an alternate format, contact [email protected]. for recreation. CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS P.O. Box 942896 Sacramento, CA 94296-0001 For information call: (800) 777-0369. (916) 653-6995, outside the U.S. 711, TTY relay service www.parks.ca.gov

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Humboldt Lagoons State Park 115336 Highway 101 North Trinidad, CA 95570 (707) 677-3570

© 2011 California State Parks (Rev. 8/2015) V isitors to Humboldt Lagoons and language revitalization, viewing State Park see part of the largest Humboldt Lagoons State Park as part of lagoon system in the United States. their heritage. Lagoons are shallow, enclosed bodies NATURAL HISTORY of water along the coast—separated from the ocean by coastal strands or The Lagoons spits of land. Water flows in and out of Humboldt Lagoons State Park consists of the lagoons when it breaches (breaks four separate areas from south to north: Big through) these spits. Lagoon, Dry Lagoon, Stone Lagoon, and The park offers activities that Freshwater Lagoon. include fishing, swimming, hiking, Big Lagoon frequently breaches its sand picnicking, and kayaking. From the spit seasonally after heavy rains. Thousands flat, uncrowded beach and wetland Stone Lagoon of birds live or migrate through here, as areas, watch whales and migratory does a federally endangered fish, the birds make their way along the coast. First European Contact tidewater goby. Summers are usually mild, with morning The Yurok people’s first documented contact Dry Lagoon was once a fourth body of fog burning off by midday. Cool winters bring with non-Indians was in 1775, with the arrival water. Farmers drained it, but their attempts rain; weather changes frequently. of Spanish explorers at the nearby town of to grow crops failed. Dry Lagoon’s wetland T’surai (near present-day Trinidad). now attracts elk and scores of migrant birds. PARK HISTORY With the discovery of gold in 1850 along Stone Lagoon breaches its 1.5-mile Native People the Trinity River, the Yurok people’s way of ocean barrier much less frequently than Big The Yurok have lived here for generations, life nearly came to an end. Conflicts between Lagoon; years may elapse between breaks. inhabiting a coastal strip from Little River the Yurok and many Euro-Americans forced Six environmental campsites are available. in today’s Humboldt County to Del Norte the relocation of the Yurok to distant Watch for river otters or Roosevelt elk that County, and inland along the Klamath River. reservations. By the turn of the century, two- graze south of Stone Lagoon. Though some villages were seasonal, others thirds of the population Freshwater were permanent settlements where major had been decimated. Lagoon, co-managed ceremonies took place. Today, the Yurok tribe with Redwood From several Yurok villages within what is has made a remarkable National Park, is now Humboldt Lagoons State Park, people recovery. The most a fully enclosed fished for salmon, eel, trout, and steelhead, populous tribe in body of water. The as well as marine mammals and shellfish. California with more lagoon’s largemouth Canoes of hollowed-out redwood logs than 5,500 members, the bass, catfish, and carried the Yurok between villages and majority of Yurok live in cutthroat trout are food sources. A system of trails was also Del Norte and Humboldt joined by stocked established to connect far-flung settlements counties. The tribe has rainbow trout. across rugged terrain. actively pursued cultural Roosevelt elk Dry Lagoon supports both freshwater and at Big Lagoon and only artificial lures with brackish marsh. Landlocked Freshwater barbless hooks at Stone Lagoon. For full Lagoon is bounded by a narrow band of regulations and limits, visit www.wildlife. freshwater marsh. ca.gov/fishing. Native dune mats can be displaced Kayaking —All three “wet” lagoons allow by invasive exotic species such as kayaking. Freshwater Lagoon has the most jubata or pampas grass, iceplant, and protection from strong north winds. European beachgrass. State Parks Camping —Register to camp at Patrick’s has been restoring the dunes here for Point State Park—(707) 677-3570. The first- several years, resulting in a vibrant come, first-served lagoon campsites are dune mat community. Prairie balds, usually open from Memorial Day through small patches of herbaceous vegetation Labor Day. Stone Lagoon’s campground is found across Hwy. 101 from the visitor reachable only by boat. center, are dominated by various grasses Picnicking— Picnic at the visitor center and interspersed with Douglas iris, clumps of at Dry Lagoon day-use area. Pacific reed grass, and bracken fern. ACCESSIBLE FEATURES In the forest, coast redwood and salt­ There are no wheelchair-accessible spray-tolerant Sitka spruce thrive near activities yet at this park; however, the ocean among western hemlock and accessibility is continually improving. For grand fir. Red alder grows in riparian updates, visit http://access.parks.ca.gov. areas among large stands of willows. Wildlife As part of the Pacific Flyway, Humboldt Lagoons hosts more than 200 bird species, including endangered bald eagles, peregrine falcons, and threatened western snowy plovers. Black bears, herds of Roosevelt elk, and bobcats can be seen in the park. Watch for whales, dolphins, Plant Life and sea lions offshore. The coastal strand beaches within RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES Humboldt Lagoons support a dynamic Fishing —Licensed anglers may fish at coastal dune mat vegetation community. Big Lagoon, Freshwater Lagoon, and The lagoon margins of Big and Stone Stone Lagoon. Use only barbless hooks lagoons consist of brackish marsh, while Snowy plover OREQ-w AY Redwood Creek HW ay IG hw H ig 101 Humboldt Lagoons Picnic Area D H O te NEARBY STATE PARKS O ta to Orick, State Park W S d Klamath D l • Patrick’s Point State Park E O

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0 10 20 30 Km A a c i on Hwy. 101 n Eureka Arcata r 10 mph M Trinity o R f iv i e l r a Trinidad 95570 Fort Humboldt SHP to Santa Rosa Stone C Lagoon Stone (707) 677-3570 Legend HUMBOLDT Lagoon Boat-In Major Road LAGOONS Campground STATE PARK ia Paved Road C l alifor n i Ryan’s Cove ra PLEASE REMEMBER Coastal T Unpaved Road Sharp Point Stone Lagoon • All natural and cultural Trail Visitor Center features are protected by law Intermittent Stream and may not be disturbed. N Dry Dry Lagoon 101 Boating A Lagoon Walk-In • Watch out for afternoon winds E AY Campground W Boat-In Environmental C see H IG Campground detail H that may cause treacherous O map OD O Campground DW conditions, rogue waves, and RE Environmental Campground C ocean-side rip currents. I

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a i n r This park receives support in part o f i l a C through the nonprofit BIG LAGOON ek Redwood Parks Association, RANCHERIA Y re A C Big Lagoon W Maple GH 1111 Second Street, Crescent City, HI County HARRY A. D Park MERLO OO DW CA 95531 • (707) 464-9150 SRA RE 0 0.25 0.5 0.75 1 Mile 101 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 Kilometers www.redwoodparksassociation.org PATRICK’S POINT S TAT E to Patrick’s Point PARK State Park, Pitcher Creek Trinidad