California Coastal Access Guide, Seventh Edition

CALIFORNIA COASTAL ACCESS GUIDE

SEVENTH EDITION

Dedication

Dedicated to the memory of Peter M. Douglas (1942–2012), tireless champion of public coastal access, for his bold leadership in protecting California’s coast.

California Coastal Commission

COMMISSIONERS

Steve Kinsey, Chair    •    Jana Zimmer, Vice Chair

Dayna Bochco

Gregory Cox

Dr. Robert Garcia

Carole Groom

Erik Howell

Martha McClure

Wendy Mitchell

Mary K. Shallenberger

Effie Turnbull-Sanders

Mark Vargas

ALTERNATE COMMISSIONERS

Terry Bowman

Olga Diaz

Jeff Ducios

Belinda Faustinos

Sarah Glade Gurney

Steve Kram

Maricela Morales

Randy Pestor

Dr. Paul Song

EX OFFICIO MEMBERS

John Laird / Janelle Beland

Jennifer Lucchesi / Cy Oggins

Brian P. Kelly / Dale Jones

February 2014

CALIFORNIA COASTAL ACCESS GUIDE

SEVENTH EDITION

STATE OF CALIFORNIA

Edmund G. Brown, Jr., Governor

CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION

Charles Lester, Ph.D., J.D., Executive Director

Susan Hansch, Chief Deputy Director

Steve Scholl, Editor & Principal Writer

Erin Caughman, Designer & Co-Editor

Jonathan Van Coops, Mapping & GIS Program Manager

Gregory M. Benoit, Principal Cartographer

John Dixon, Ph.D., Staff Ecologist

Jonna Engel, Ph.D., Staff Ecologist

Lesley Ewing, P.E., Ph.D., Coastal Engineer

Mark Johnsson, Ph.D., Staff Geologist

Jo Ginsberg, Consulting Editor

Linda Locklin, Coastal Access Program Manager

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESS

University of California Press, one of the most distinguished university presses in the United States, enriches lives around the world by advancing scholarship in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Its activities are supported by the UC Press Foundation and by philanthropic contributions from individuals and institutions. For more information, visit www.ucpress.edu.

University of California Press

Oakland, California

© 2014 by the State of California, California Coastal Commission.

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in articles and reviews. For information, write to the Executive Director, California Coastal Commission, 45 Fremont Street, Suite 2000, San Francisco, California 94105.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

California coastal access guide / State of California, California Coastal

Commission.—Seventh edition, revised.

pages cm

Steve Scholl, Editor & Principal Writer.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-0-520-27817-2 (Paper : alk. paper)—

ISBN 978-0-520-95935-4 (e-book)

1. Pacific Coast (Calif.)—Guidebooks. 2. Recreation areas—California—Guidebooks. 3. Parks—California—Guidebooks. 4. California—Guidebooks. I. California Coastal Commission.

F868.P33C35 2014

917.9404’53’09146—dc23

2014008950

Printed in China.

19  18  17  16  15  14

10  9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1

The paper in this publication meets the minimum requirements of ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992 (R 1997) (Permanence of Paper).

Cover image: Treasure Island Park and Beach, Orange County

Photograph: Steve Scholl

Contents

State Map

Introduction

Using This Guide

Map Legend

Del Norte County

Humboldt County

Mendocino County

Sonoma County

Marin County

San Francisco County

San Mateo County

Santa Cruz County

Monterey County

San Luis Obispo County

Santa Barbara County

Ventura County

Los Angeles County

Orange County

San Diego County

Features

Explore the California Coastal Trail

Fishing (for Beginners)

Join a Beach Cleanup

Discover the Coast after Dark

Visit a Lighthouse

Board a Historic Ship

Look for Wildlife

Visit a Seaside Amusement Park

Go Horseback Riding

Enjoy Recreation on the Water

Get Away to an Island

Explore Your Watershed

Visit the Coast with Small Children

Camp Near the Shore

Afterword

Acknowledgments

Index

ac·cess n., liberty to approach

INTRODUCTION

Pacific Manor Beach, Pacifica, San Mateo County

The California Coastal Access Guide appeared in 1981. The first edition described 721 beaches, paths, and accessways along the state’s 1,271-mile-long coast. Preparation of the guide was carried out by the California Coastal Commission in response to the Legislature’s direction to inventory and map all of the state’s public coastal accessways.

This seventh edition of the California Coastal Access Guide has been revised, reformatted, and updated. Included here are descriptions of more than 1,150 points at which the public can gain access to the coast of California. Along with beaches and access paths are interpretive centers, boating facilities, nature preserves, maritime museums, and other coast-related facilities that serve visitors.

Continuing their work to increase opportunities for legal, safe access to the shoreline are the California Coastal Commission, State Coastal Conservancy, San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission, State Parks Department, local governments, and nonprofit land trusts. Each has a role to play in expanding opportunities for residents and visitors to enjoy and learn about California’s magnificent coast. This book is offered with the knowledge that a wide appreciation for the coast among Californians plays an important role in the protection of coastal resources.

More than a quarter of the California coastline, some 295 miles of shore, is encompassed within the state park system. Parks managed by federal, county, and city entities include many more miles of coast. The state of California owns all tidelands, submerged lands, and the beds of inland navigable waters, holding them for public trust uses that include fishing, navigation, commerce, nature preserves, swimming, boating, and walking. Tidelands consist of the area on a beach or rocky coastline that is between the mean high tide line and the mean low tide line. The California Constitution guarantees the public’s right of access to tidelands. The state of California (or other managing agency), however, may place restrictions on the time, place, and manner of use of tidelands.

Private property exists along the California coast in many locations, inland of the tidelands. The public generally does not have a right to cross private property without permission to get to tidelands, although easements and deed restrictions allow public use of some private shoreline properties. When using tidelands, members of the public should exercise caution when there is a potential for encroaching on private land. Land owners similarly should be cautious in questioning the public’s right to be on areas of the beach covered by public rights.

Keep in Mind

Additional information on public rights on certain beaches is available on the Access Program pages of the California Coastal Commission’s website at www.coastal.ca.gov.

This guide describes selected activities that might enhance a visit to the coast, with emphasis on active pursuits, learning opportunities, and perhaps unexpected activities. Introductory pages in each county chapter describe additional activities that are well suited to that locale. Separating the chapters are feature that provide additional suggestions of things to do. Coastal access sites mentioned in the county introductions and in feature articles are marked in boldface type; consult the index to find more information on each site. Use the index also to search for lighthouses, boat launches, fishing piers, and sites for other activities.

Campgrounds and hostels that provide lower-cost overnight accommodations are listed here; plenty of other guides are available that list other lodging opportunities. For more information about the resources of the state’s magnificent coast, including its wildlife and flora, geology, and historic communities, see the Coastal Commission’s companion series of four guidebooks, entitled Experience the California Coast.

Enjoy your visits to California’s spectacular coast. Keep safe along hazardous stretches of shoreline by observing posted restrictions. Remember that sleeper waves are always possible; do not turn your back on the ocean. When possible, swim near a lifeguard. Lifeguards patrol many parts of the coast year-round, although lifeguard towers on the sand (mostly in central and southern California) are generally staffed daily only during the summer. Natural conditions along the California coast are always changing, and the width of beaches and shape of bluffs can be altered by the seasonal movement of sand or by erosion. Further, coastal access facilities may be out of service or closed due to budget constraints. When planning any trip to the coast, check ahead of time to make sure that your destination is currently accessible.

Keep in Mind

Dogs on a leash no longer than six feet are allowed in some developed areas within state parks, including many picnic areas, paved roads, and campgrounds (if kept in a vehicle or tent), unless posted otherwise. Other than service animals, dogs are generally not allowed on state park trails or beaches; exceptions are noted in this guide.

Using This Guide

Coastal access points are listed from north to south. Each group of sites is accompanied by a map and a chart of key characteristics and amenities. The Facilities for Disabled chart category includes wheelchair-accessible restrooms, trails, campsites, or visitor centers; text descriptions note where restrooms are not wheelchair accessible. Use of some facilities may require assistance. The Easy for Strollers category indicates sites that are readily negotiated by visitors pushing strollers, those who walk with a cane, or others with limited mobility. The Fee category refers to a charge for entry, parking, or camping. Dog friendly sites are noted. Unless otherwise indicated, dogs must be leashed. Watch for posted restrictions, which may change. Most parks and recreational facilities maintain websites, but URL addresses change often; use any popular Internet search engine to look for more information about facilities in this guide.

Charts include the categories listed here.

Sandy Beach

Rocky Shore

Trail

Bicycle Trail

Campground

Beach Shower

Boating Facilities

Wildlife Viewing

Fishing

Dog Friendly

Children’s Playground

Visitor Center

Historic Structure

Facilities for Disabled

Easy for Strollers

Food or Drink

Restrooms

Parking

Fee

Map Legend

TRANSPORTATION

TRAILS AND BIKE WAYS

BOUNDARIES

SHORELINE AND HYDROGRAPHY

TOPOGRAPHY AND BATHYMETRY

NORTH ARROW AND BAR SCALE

MARINE PROTECTED AREAS

Marine Protected Areas along the California coast have been designated by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. For maps and information about fishing restrictions, see: www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/mpa or call: 831-649-2870.

DATA AND INFORMATION SOURCES

California Coastal Commission

California Department of Fish and Wildlife

California Spatial Information Library

U.S. Geological Survey

Protected open space data is from the California Protected Area Database (CPAD) provided by GreenInfo Network, 2013.

DEL NORTE COUNTY

Map

Introduction

Northern Del Norte County

Smith River Area

Crescent City

Crescent City Harbor

Crescent Beach to Lagoon Creek

Klamath River South

Photos

Del Norte County features 42 miles of ocean coastline, with broad sandy beaches, dunes, lakes, forest, and mountains. California’s largest rivers, after the Sacramento-San Joaquin system, reach the sea in Del Norte County.

Experience a wild and scenic river

The Smith River has never been dammed. It flows unimpeded from the mountains of the Coast Range through forests and across a broad coastal plain to the sea in northern Del Norte County. The clean waters and absence of dams has made the Smith River a significant fishing stream. The state’s record steelhead, weighing 27 pounds 4 ounces, was caught in the Smith River. King salmon also inhabit the river, and coastal cutthroat trout are taken during the summer. Kayaking on the Smith River is a popular activity.

Smith River County Park in northern Del Norte County

The Klamath River, somewhat larger than the Smith, is also a popular recreational resource. Fishing guide services are available at the town of Klamath, along with jet boat tours and river rafting excursions. The power of the Klamath was demonstrated by the disastrous flood of December 1964, which swept away the old townsite of Klamath, as well as the 1926 Douglas Memorial Bridge on Hwy. 101. Only the southern terminus of the bridge, on Klamath Beach Dr., remains. It serves as a lookout point, flanked by statues of two golden bears. Following the great flood, the new town of Klamath was established on higher ground east of Hwy. 101 and today is a small residential community and fishing resort, as well as home of the Yurok Tribe headquarters. The Yurok reservation extends 43 miles upstream from the river mouth, one mile on each side, although not all lands are under tribal control.

Go beachcombing

Del Norte County boasts miles of unspoiled beaches. Pelican State Beach and Tolowa Dunes State Park are wide, seemingly endless, and enhanced with driftwood and views of offshore rocks. South of Crescent City, much of the coast is steep, rugged, and forested. Remote cove beaches in Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park and Redwood National Park are reachable by trail only.

Camp in the forest

Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park offers family camping in a campground with amenities as well as more primitive sites for hike-in, bike-in, or equestrian use. Although camping in a redwood grove is available at a number of northern California sites, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park has an additional plus, the crystal clear Smith River. A lovely sand and cobble river beach is a stone’s throw from the state park campground. In and around Crescent City and at Klamath are numerous campgrounds and RV parks.

Visit a lighthouse

Del Norte County is home to two of California’s most dramatic lighthouses, both sited offshore. Crescent Lighthouse at Battery Point is relatively easy to get to, nevertheless. Tide permitting, the island can be reached by a short walk across the rocky beach and causeway. Built in 1856, the lighthouse is one of California’s earliest.

Crescent Lighthouse at Battery Point, offshore Crescent City

On a clear day, St. George Reef Lighthouse is visible offshore, some seven miles from Crescent City and four miles from the mainland. A visit to the St. George Reef Lighthouse, which has not been in service since 1975, is a more challenging adventure. A tour by helicopter is required; call: 707-464-7846. On St. George Reef, the lighthouse is perched on a rock barely larger than the light station itself. Its construction in its remote, wave-swept location required a tremendous effort following the wreck of the Brother Jonathan in 1865. In California’s worst maritime disaster, the Brother Jonathan struck uncharted rocks west of Crescent City and went down with the loss of 225 lives. Nineteen people reached shore in one of the lifeboats. In 1993 the sunken ship was found, and items from the ship were recovered; some may be seen at the Del Norte County Historical Society Museum at 577 H St. in Crescent City.

Other attractions

The Del Norte County Historical Society Museum has a splendid collection of Tolowa and Yurok Native American baskets along with other artifacts. Also on display is the first-order Fresnel lens that was once installed at the St. George Reef Lighthouse, as well as photographs from the aftermath of the 1964 tsunami that devastated Crescent City. Open 10 AM–4 PM, Mon.–Sat. from May to Sept. and fewer days during the winter; call: 707-464-3922.

Sixteen miles south of Crescent City along Hwy. 101 is a long-time roadside attraction, Trees of Mystery. The site is marked by a giant statue of Paul Bunyan with Babe the Blue Ox. Activities include gondola rides through the redwood forest canopy; call: 1-800-638-3389. Zipline rides through the redwood forest are available at a number of other locations in the county.

The annual Crescent City Triathlon includes a swim at Fred Endert Pool, a bike ride along the city’s shoreline, and a run around Beach Front Park, with adult and kids’ divisions; see: www.crescentcitytriathlon.com. Ocean World Aquarium, 304 S. Hwy. 101 in Crescent City, includes displays of undersea creatures, a touch tank, sea lion performances, and an opportunity to pet a live shark; call: 707-464-4900.

The community of Smith River is home to the Rowdy Creek Fish Hatchery, which is open to visitors on weekdays, 9 AM–4 PM; for a current schedule of spawning activities, call: 707-487-3443. Smith River is also the center of Easter lily agriculture. Nearly all the nation’s Easter lily bulbs, grown for forced bloom in spring, are raised here. The bulbs bloom naturally in summer, and the town has an annual Easter in July festival. For information on area attractions, visit the Crescent City-Del Norte Chamber of Commerce at Front and K streets in Crescent City, open daily, 9 AM–5 PM (weekdays only during winter), or call: 707-464-3174.

Smith River near campground in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

Del Norte County

Northern Del Norte County

PELICAN STATE BEACH: W. of Hwy. 101, .5 mi. S. of the Oregon border. Wide beach with abundant driftwood. From Hwy. 101, turn west on White Rock Loop; park on gravel road shoulder.

▪ Beachcombing

▪ Surf fishing

CLIFFORD KAMPH MEMORIAL PARK: W. of Hwy. 101, 2 mi. S. of the Oregon border. On a bluff overlooking the beach are a dozen campsites for tents only. Running water, picnic tables, barbecue grills, camp host. No fee for day use. Call: 707-464-7230.

SMITH RIVER COUNTY PARK: End, Mouth of Smith River Rd., Smith River. Stairs to a sand and pebble beach; on-street parking. The clear waters of the Smith River support many fish species, including coho and king salmon and steelhead trout.

▪ Expansive views upstream and out to sea

SMITH RIVER BOATING ACCESS: Fred Haight Dr. W. of Hwy. 101, 3 mi. S. of town of Smith River. Paved boat ramp, located between private residences, offers access to the lower reach of the Smith River.

KELLOGG BEACH: W. end of Kellogg Rd., 9 mi. S. of Smith River. A broad sandy ocean beach backed by grass-covered dunes. Street-legal vehicles allowed north of Kellogg Rd., on waveslope only; no vehicles allowed in dunes.

LAKE EARL WILDLIFE AREA/TOLOWA DUNES STATE PARK: W. of Lake Earl Dr. and Lower Lake Rd., 2 mi. N. of Crescent City. The wildlife area/state park complex includes over 10,000 acres. The Department of Fish and Wildlife center at 2591 Old Mill Rd., off Northcrest Dr., has trail maps and posted information. For Lake Earl Wildlife Area information, call: 707-445-6493. For information on Tolowa Dunes State Park, call Redwood National and State Parks visitor center: 707-465-7306. Leashed dogs are allowed on Cadra Point Loop Rd. only.

▪ Cadra Loop Trail, four miles long, starts at the Fish and Wildlife center and overlooks Lake Earl

▪ Trails to ocean beach start at end of Sand Hill Rd., off Old Mill Road

▪ Access to Lake Earl west of Teal Point via Kellogg Road

▪ Launch site for shallow-draft boats at the end of Lakeview Dr., off Lake Earl Drive

▪ Redwood Parks Association leads summertime field trips and guided hikes; call: 707-465-6191

POINT ST. GEORGE HERITAGE AREA: End of Radio Road. At the end of Radio Rd., which is the northerly extension of Pebble Beach Dr., a gravel trail leads north one-quarter mile to the shoreline. Low tide exposes a rocky reef. Other short paths lead from Radio Rd. across the bluff to the shore. Sensitive archaeological area; be respectful of the resources. For information, call Del Norte County Parks and Recreation: 707-464-7230.

Del Norte County

Smith River Area

RUBY VAN DEVENTER COUNTY PARK: North Bank Rd. (Hwy. 197), 2.5 mi. E. of Hwy. 101. Campground with 18 sites set in a redwood forest next to the Smith River. Restrooms and running water; fee for camping. Call: 707-464-7230.

▪ Swimming

▪ Kayaking

▪ Fishing

FLORENCE KELLER COUNTY PARK: Cunningham Ln., off Elk Valley Cross Rd. W. of Hwy. 101, 3 mi. N. of Crescent City. Campground has 50 campsites and accommodates tents and RVs up to 32 feet; running water available. Group picnic sites also available. Easy walking trails, one wheelchair accessible. Call: 707-464-7230.

JEDEDIAH SMITH REDWOODS STATE PARK: Hwy. 199, 5 mi. E. of Hwy. 101. The park encompasses some 10,000 acres, with six miles of Smith River frontage. In summer, daytime temperatures are often considerably warmer than at the nearby coast.

Redwood National and State Parks visitor center is opposite the campground entrance on Hwy. 199. A smaller visitor center is within the campground. Picnic areas overlook the river and a pebbly beach. Some park facilities are wheelchair accessible, including picnic areas, some campsites, the visitor center, and campfire center. Leashed dogs OK in the campground and picnic area. For park information, call: 707-465-7335.

Campground has 89 sites; hot showers available. Some campsites can accommodate trailers or RVs up to 36 feet; no hookups. To reserve campsites, call: 1-800-444-7275. Primitive campsites for hike-in, bike-in, or equestrian use are outside park boundaries along Little Bald Hills Trail.

▪ Hiking

▪ Self-guided nature trail starts near the campground

▪ Stout Grove, with old-growth redwood trees up to 340 feet in height, located one-half mile by trail from gravel Howland Hill Road

SMITH RIVER NATIONAL RECREATION AREA: Hwy. 199, 14 mi. E. of Hwy. 101. Adjoining Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park on the east is Smith River National Recreation Area with river frontage and over 65 miles of trails. Fee for camping. Dogs must be leashed within developed recreation areas. For the visitor center and ranger station, call: 707-457-3131.

▪ River rafting

▪ Mountain biking

▪ Hiking

▪ Myrtle Creek Trail starts at Hwy. 199 one mile east of Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park boundary

▪ Campgrounds at Big Flat, Grassy Flat, Panther Flat, and Patrick Creek; for reservable sites, call: 877-444-6777

Del Norte County

Crescent City

GARTH’S BEACH: Radio Rd., .3 mi. N.W. of Washington Blvd./Pebble Beach Dr. intersection. A sloping path leads from roadside parking to a curving sandy beach. Additional parking pull-outs with beach access located south of Washington Boulevard. Beach is sheltered by Point St. George and Castle Rock.

▪ Rocky shore at north end

PEBBLE BEACH ACCESS: Pebble Beach Dr. near Pacific Ave., Crescent City. Along Pebble Beach Dr. are several pull-outs with picnic tables and stairways to the beach. The Crescent City Coastal Trail runs along the shoreline, from Point St. George to Crescent City Harbor. Castle Rock, located due west, is a national wildlife refuge and the second largest seabird colony off the California coast.

PRESTON ISLAND: Pebble Beach Dr. and Condor St., Crescent City. More of a rocky spit than an island; accessible via a paved road down the bluff face.

▪ Beachcombing

▪ Tidepool exploring

▪ Fishing

BROTHER JONATHAN PARK/VISTA POINT: Pebble Beach Dr. and 9th St., Crescent City. Grassy park inland of Pebble Beach Dr. includes a playground and baseball and basketball facilities, as well as a memorial to those lost at sea in the 1865 shipwreck of the steamer Brother Jonathan. On the seaward side of Pebble Beach Dr. is a vista point with picnic tables and bench.

▪ Del Norte County Historical Society Museum at 577 H St. in Crescent City displays items recovered from the wreck of the Brother Jonathan

ACCESSWAYS AT THE ENDS OF 3RD, 5TH, AND 6TH STREETS: W. ends of 3rd, 5th, and 6th streets, Crescent City. Rocky beach can be reached by paths or stairways. There is parking at 3rd and 5th streets; no facilities.

PATH AT OCEANFRONT LODGE: Front and A streets, Crescent City. A short public path leads around the seaward side of the hotel to a narrow driftwood-strewn beach.

▪ Fine views of offshore rocks

▪ Excellent spot for taking sunset photos of Crescent Lighthouse at Battery Point

Del Norte County

Crescent City Harbor

CRESCENT LIGHTHOUSE AT BATTERY POINT: S. end of A St., Crescent City. The lighthouse is perched about 200 yards from shore and can be reached on foot only via a causeway at low tide. Open at 10 AM, tide permitting, daily from April–September and weekends from October–March; for specific tour hours, call: 707-464-3089. On a clear day, St. George Reef Lighthouse is visible some seven miles offshore. Picnic tables and rest-rooms at Battery Point Vista Area at foot of A Street.

NORTH COAST MARINE MAMMAL CENTER: 424 Howe Dr., Beach Front Park, Crescent City. Rescue and rehabilitation service for injured, orphaned, or sick marine mammals; gift shop. Call: 707-465-6265.

▪ When present for rehabilitation, harbor seals or sea lions may be viewed

B STREET PIER: Foot of B Street. Public fishing pier is 900 feet long. Parking and rest-rooms at the foot of A Street.

BEACH FRONT PARK: Between Front St. and Howe Dr., Crescent City. Sports fields, picnic areas, and huge lawns. Along Howe Dr. is a linear park along a sandy beach, incorporating the Crescent City Coastal Trail.

▪ Fred Endert indoor swimming pool with water slide at 1000 Play St.; fee charged

▪ Huge Kid Town play structure on Play Street

REDWOOD NATIONAL & STATE PARKS INFORMATION CENTER: 1111 2nd St., Crescent City. Maps, guidebooks, and information about Redwood National Park and area state parks. Open daily, 9 AM–5 PM, with shorter hours during winter; closed major holidays. Call: 707-465-7306.

CRESCENT CITY COASTAL TRAIL: Shoreline from Point St. George to Crescent City Harbor, Crescent City. Six-mile-long multi-use path extends the length of Crescent City. Good place to start is at parking area on Sunset Circle next to the Shoreline Campground entrance.

▪ Shoreline Campground has 189 RV/trailer campsites with hookups and also tent sites; call: 707-464-2473

▪ Elk Creek Nature Trail starts nearby, inland of Hwy. 101 at east end of 2nd Street

CRESCENT CITY HARBOR: W. of Hwy. 101 and Citizens Dock Rd., Crescent City. Both a working and a recreational harbor, Crescent City Harbor includes fishing facilities, marine services, boat repair services, boat hoist, fuel dock, ice, and a Coast Guard station. Fee applies for some services. Harbor District office is on Citizens Dock Rd.; call: 707-464-6174.

Off Anchor Way are a public two-lane boat ramp and access to Whaler Island, with panoramic views. A variety of visitor attractions are at the harbor.

▪ South Beach Outfitters has surfboards, kites, and rentals

▪ Charter boat fishing for salmon and rock cod on the Tally Ho II; call: 707-464-1236

▪ Bayside RV Park (707-464-9482) and Harbor RV Anchorage (707-464-1724) are within the harbor

Del Norte County

Crescent Beach to Lagoon Creek

CRESCENT BEACH: W. of Hwy. 101, 1 mi. S. of Crescent City. Very long, flat sandy beach. The end closest to Crescent City Harbor is a well-known surf break. Road-side parking.

CRESCENT BEACH PICNIC AREA: Enderts Beach Rd., .5 mi. S. of Hwy. 101. Picnic tables and barbecue pits set in a grassy area. Another picnic area is at the Crescent Beach Overlook at the south end of Enderts Beach Road.

▪ Crescent Beach Picnic Area and Crescent Beach Overlook are linked by a two-mile trail

▪ Last Chance Trail, part of the Coastal Trail, continues south from Crescent Beach Overlook

NICKEL CREEK CAMPGROUND: .5 mi. S. of end of Enderts Beach Road. Five primitive campsites overlook Enderts Beach; picnic tables, barbecue grills, and bear lockers. Stream water must be purified for drinking. Call: 707-465-7335.

ENDERTS BEACH: .5 mi. S. of end of Enderts Beach Rd., S. of Crescent City. Beach accessible via a somewhat steep trail from the end of Enderts Beach Road. Restrooms are at Nickel Creek Campground. Call: 707-465-7335.

MILL CREEK CAMPGROUND: 2.5 mi. E. of Hwy. 101, 7 mi. S. of Crescent City. There are 143 summer-only campsites. Hot showers. Trailers limited to 27 feet and RVs limited to 31 feet; RV dump station available. No hookups. Part of Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park. For campground information, call: 707-465-7335; for reservations, call: 1-800-444-7275.

▪ Campfire center

▪ Junior ranger programs

▪ Guided walks

▪ Hike or bike campsites (no reservations)

DEL NORTE COAST REDWOODS STATE PARK: E. and W. of Hwy. 101, 7 mi. S. of Crescent City. One of California’s largest state parks, with eight miles of wild shoreline, much of it accessible only by trails, and 25,000 acres in the Mill Creek watershed. Atypical of California’s coastal forest, the redwood trees here grow virtually down to the sea’s edge. Call: 707-465-7335.

▪ Damnation Creek Trail starts on west side of Hwy. 101 at mile marker 16 and takes a challenging course through old-growth redwoods

▪ Mill Creek day use area, east side of Hwy. 101, two miles south of Crescent City

WILSON CREEK BEACH: W. of Hwy. 101, 5.5 mi. N. of Klamath. Entrance to the parking area is off Hwy. 101, 50 yards south of Wilson Creek Bridge. On the beach are tidepools and abundant driftwood. At the south end of the beach the Yurok Loop Trail leads south to Lagoon Creek. Across Hwy. 101 from Wilson Creek Beach, the old Redwood National Park Hostel is closed, but a trail leads inland three miles to the DeMartin campsites; obtain required backcountry camping permit from any Redwood National Park visitor center.

LAGOON CREEK: W. of Hwy. 101, 5 mi. N. of Klamath. Freshwater lagoon, with picnic areas and trail access.

▪ Coastal Trail leads south four miles to the Klamath Overlook

Del Norte County

Klamath River South

KLAMATH OVERLOOK: 2.5 mi. W. of Hwy. 101 on Requa Rd./Patrick Murphy Memorial Drive. Picnic spot with elevated view of the Klamath River mouth.

▪ Four-mile-long Coastal Trail segment leads north to Lagoon Creek

▪ Gray whales may be seen during migration, November–early May

REQUA: Hwy. 101, 18.5 mi. S. of Crescent City. Requa has been inhabited for thousands of years. A large Yurok Indian village named Re’kwoi was located here until the residents were driven out by white settlers in the 1850s. The hamlet is now within the Yurok reservation.

▪ Historic Requa Inn, a century-old lodging establishment on Requa Rd.; call: 707-482-1425

KLAMATH RIVER: Hwy. 101, 19 mi. S. of Crescent City. California’s second-largest river.

▪ On the north bank, Yurok-owned Requa Resort RV Park is at the end of Mouth of Klamath Rd., off Requa Rd.; call: 707-482-1309

▪ On the south bank along Klamath Beach Rd., privately operated Klamath River RV Park (707-482-2091) and Kamp Klamath (707-482-0227)

▪ Klamath Beach Rd. leads along the river delta, with informal access to the beach

FLINT RIDGE CAMPGROUND: 1 mi. S. of Klamath River mouth off Coastal Drive. Hike-in primitive campground, one-quarter mile inland from Coastal Drive. Ten well-spaced campsites, each with picnic table, barbecue grill, and bear locker. No-fee permit required for back-country camping; inquire at any Redwood National Park visitor center. The Flint Ridge Trail connects the Flint Ridge Campground with the Klamath River near the old Douglas Memorial Bridge site on Klamath Beach Rd. at Alder Camp Rd., a distance of four-and-a-half miles. The Douglas Memorial Bridge was swept away in the disastrous flood of December 1964.

COASTAL TRAIL: S. of Klamath River mouth to Newton B. Drury Parkway. Coastal Drive was formerly an eight-mile narrow unpaved road; now most of it serves as a segment of the California Coastal Trail, with vehicles restricted to the north and south ends. RVs and trailers are prohibited. The route is perched high above the sea, with spectacular views.

▪ A pull-out on Coastal Drive one-half mile south of the Flint Ridge Trailhead overlooks an abandoned World War II-era radar station that was disguised as a farmhouse

▪ High Bluff Overlook at the end of Alder Camp Rd. has a picnic area and restrooms

▪ On the southern end of Coastal Drive, one mile off Newton B. Drury Parkway, a trail leads to Carruthers Cove

Clifford Kamph Memorial Park

Lake Earl Wildlife Area

Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

View from Brother Jonathan Vista Point

Beach Front Park, Kid Town

Crescent City Harbor, south side

Wilson Creek Beach tidepools

Lagoon Creek

Klamath River mouth, south bank

View from Coastal Drive

HUMBOLDT COUNTY

Map

Introduction

Northern Humboldt County

Redwood Creek to Big Lagoon

Patrick’s Point/Trinidad

Arcata Area

North Spit Humboldt Bay

Eureka

South Spit Humboldt Bay

Eel River Valley South

Mattole River and King Range

Shelter Cove

Photos

The steep cliffs and forests of Redwood National Park dominate the landscape in northern Humboldt County. The southern portion of the county is also characterized by steep ridges rising sharply from the ocean. On the west coast of the continental U.S., Humboldt County’s Cape Mendocino extends farther west into the Pacific than any other land area. Between these two rugged areas are the low-lying areas around Humboldt Bay and the fertile deltas at the mouths of the Mad and Eel Rivers. Many of the county’s urban services are found in the communities between Trinidad and Fortuna, including the county’s largest towns of Arcata and Eureka.

Hike a wilderness coast

The 35-mile-long Lost Coast in the southern part of Humboldt County is California’s largest coastal roadless area, without a shoreline road of any kind. Much of the area lies within the King Range National Conservation Area, managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Hiking and camping are possible along the Lost Coast Trail as well as on numerous inland trails and at road-accessible campgrounds that include Horse Mountain Creek Campground and Tolkan Campground.

Explore the redwood forest

Majestic coast redwood trees, the tallest living things on the planet, are protected at Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. The park, along with Redwood National Park and redwood parks in neighboring Del Norte County, has been designated as a World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve. The groves in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park have never been logged, and the redwoods that tower over visitors are up to 2,000 years old.

Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park

Also growing in the park’s