Humboldt Coast Self-Guided Tour Information for the Coastal Commission meeting of August 7-9, 2019 in Eureka

See Map 1

See Map 2

See Map 3

Prepared by District Office staff

Notes

 This self-guided tour highlights several points of interest in the region. There are numerous others not highlighted that also are well worth visiting! For additional ideas, see: Visitors Bureau: https://www.visitredwoods.com/ Arcata: https://www.arcatachamber.com/visitors Blue Lake: https://www.sunnybluelake.com/ Eureka: https://www.visiteureka.com/ Ferndale: https://www.visitferndale.com/ Fortuna: https://fortunachamber.com/visit-fortuna/ General: http://101things.com/humboldt/  Driving Highway 101 the length of Humboldt County takes over 2 hours (over 120 miles), so the guide offers flexibility for visitors with limited time.  The weather on the Humboldt Coast can be variable; layered clothing is recommended.  Cell phone reception is spotty to nonexistent in some areas.  Many roads are windy and rough (e.g., road to Shelter Cove, road to Fern Canyon), and gas stations are sparse in some parts (e.g., between Garberville and Fortuna). Be prepared!

We hope you enjoy your visit to the Humboldt Coast!

Founders Grove Ma-le’l Dunes Agate Beach (Avenue of the Giants) (Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge) (Patricks Point State Park) Map 1 Northern Coast

Del Norte County

1) Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park 1

2) Redwood National Park

3) Big Lagoon County Park

4) Patricks Point State Park

5) Trinidad Area

6) Clam Beach County Park 2

3

4 Humboldt County

5

6 Map 2 Humboldt Bay Area

8 7 7) Arcata Marsh & Wildlife Sanctuary

8) Ma-le’l Dunes

9) Eureka 9

10) North Spit 10

11) Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge

12) Ferndale

11 Humboldt County

12 Map 3 South County

13) Humboldt Redwoods State Park & Avenue of the Giants 13 14) Richardson Grove State Park

15) Shelter Cove

Humboldt County

14 15

Mendocino County Points of Interest (see maps for reference)

1) Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park The visitor center is about an hour drive north of Eureka via Highway 101. Take the Newton B. Drury Scenic Pkwy exit. Giant old-growth redwoods, spectacular Fern Canyon and Gold Bluffs Beach, and several herds of Roosevelt elk.

2) Redwood National Park The park extends into Del Norte Co., with the main visitor center about an hour drive north of Eureka just south of the unincorporated coastal community of Orick. Skunk Cabbage Coastal Trail and Lady Bird Johnson Grove are popular hiking trails.

3) Big Lagoon County Park Adjacent to Humboldt Lagoons State Park, this County park is located at the southern end of Big Lagoon about 40 minutes (31 miles) north of Eureka via Highway 101 (exit left onto Big Lagoon Park Rd., wind left past school, then turn right onto Big Lagoon Park Rd. and follow signs to day use area). $5 day-use fee per vehicle.

4) Patricks Point State Park Hunt for agates on Agate Beach, hike lush Sitka spruce forest, visit a reconstructed Yurok plank-house village. Thirty miles north of Eureka and six miles north of Trinidad via Highway 101 (exit 734, Patricks Point Dr.). Vehicle entrance fee charged.

5) Trinidad Area Twenty miles north of Eureka via Highway 101. Take the Trinidad exit, follow Main Street to Trinity Street, then right on Edwards down to the harbor area. Free parking is available at the harbor for access to Trinidad Bay, Trinidad Head, and Trinidad State Beach. There’s a 1.5-mile loop trail on the head that offers spectacular views in all directions. There are various other coastal access points north and south of the City (see attached Trinidad Coastal Land Trust trails map).

6) Clam Beach County Park & Little River State Beach Within a mile of each other, these beaches are 20 minutes (~17 miles) north of Eureka via Highway 101. Take the Central Ave./Clam Beach Drive exit. Broad sandy beach and dunes flanked by the Mad River mouth to the south and the Little River mouth to the north. Frontage road west of the highway connects the two parks. No fees for parking or day use. These beaches also provide access to the Hammond Coastal Trail.

7) Arcata Marsh & Wildlife Sanctuary Located 10 minutes (7 miles) north of Eureka. Over five miles of hiking and biking trails along the bay, marshes, sloughs, and the City’s innovative wastewater treatment ponds. No fees for parking or day use. The Interpretive Center is open most days from 9:00- 5:00. From Eureka head north on Highway 101, exit Samoa Blvd./Arcata and head west (second exit) to cross over the highway. Either turn left onto G Street to park at the Interpretive Center (569 G St.), or turn left onto I Street and park near the foot of I St. An alternate and slightly longer route from Eureka is via State Route 255. Head north on SR 255 about 9 miles, then turn right either on I St. or G St. per above.

Points of Interest (see maps for reference) 8) Ma-le’l Dunes Five miles northwest of Eureka via State Route 255 across Humboldt Bay (after passing the community of Manila, turn left onto Young Ln.), over 160 acres of public beaches, dunes, and wetlands cooperatively managed by the Bureau of Land Management (south entrance off of Young Ln.) and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (turn north off of Young). No fees. Open daily from sunrise till one hour after sunset. The northern entrance is open to vehicles Friday through Monday only. 9) Eureka Walk the Waterfront Trail (see enclosed trail map), cruise the bay on the Madaket (foot of C Street - https://humboldtbaymaritimemuseum.com/madaketmainpage.html), see the historical Carson Mansion (143 M St.), visit the Clark Historical Museum (240 E St.; open till 6 PM most days), wander various shops, cafes, and restaurants in Old Town.

10) North Spit It’s about a 15 minute drive from Eureka to the North Jetty at the navigational entrance to Humboldt Bay. Take SR 255 across the bay, then turn left onto New Navy Base Rd. Along the way is Samoa Beach; Samoa Boat Ramp and Campground; various industrial businesses; the unincorporated communities of Samoa, Fairhaven, and Finntown; and the Samoa Dunes Recreation Area managed by the BLM.

11) Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge The Refuge includes various units on different parts of Humboldt Bay, but the most accessible hiking trails (other than Ma-le’l Dunes) are located 20 minutes south of Eureka in the Salmon Creek Unit. From Eureka take Highway 101 south to Hookton Road. To access the visitor center, turn right onto Drive. Otherwise continue west on Hookton Road for about a mile before turning right to access the Hookton Slough Trailhead.

12) Ferndale Approximately 20 miles south of Eureka, in the rich agricultural lands of the Eel River Delta, the “Victorian Village” boasts abundant historic architecture and several shops and restaurants. Take Highway 101 South from Eureka about 13 miles to Ferndale exit (#692). Turn right, drive 0.5-mile, then turn right onto State Route 211 to cross over historic Fernbridge. Continue on SR 211 about 5 miles into Ferndale (Main St.).

Arcata Marsh & Wildlife Sanctuary Ferndale Points of Interest (see maps for reference)

13) Humboldt Redwoods State Park / Avenue of the Giants Avenue of the Giants is an approximately 30-mile-long scenic alternative to Highway 101 that extends from Phillipsville at the southern end to Pepperwood/Stafford at the northern end (with various connecting points to Highway 101 in between). The road winds through Humboldt Redwoods State Park, mostly parallel to Highway 101 and the South Fork of the Eel River. Drive all or a portion of the road to see spectacular old growth redwood forest and scenic river views. Popular hiking trails include Rockefeller Loop (off of Mattole Rd. near Bull Creek) Founder’s Grove (Avenue of the Giants mile marker 20.5), and several others.

14) Richardson Grove State Park Easy access off of Highway 101 approximately 70 miles south of Eureka north of Piercy. Spectacular old growth redwoods, hiking trails, and access to the .

15) Shelter Cove Approximately 45 minutes west of Redway/Garberville (2 hours south of Eureka), the community of Shelter Cove originated from a pre-Coastal Act subdivision (about 4,700 lots over 2,600 acres) that otherwise is surrounded by large tracts of federal and state wilderness areas and private timberlands. Existing development in the community includes various vacation rentals, a few inns, many single-family homes (about 600 residents), a few restaurants, a golf course, a store, a small airstrip, and fishing support facilities. The harbor, which is managed by the Humboldt Bay Harbor District, is an important boating access point for commercial fisheries. Beautiful Black Sands Beach, managed by the BLM, is at the north end of town. Four-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended for backcountry roads around Shelter Cove. Outside of Shelter Cove, the closest service area is Redway.

Shelter Cove (www.Californiacoastline.org)