Humboldt: Redwood Forests, Wetlands and Culture

Humboldt offers destinations among ancient coast redwoods, wetlands, waterfront trails and cultural institutions. Humboldt Redwoods State Park has 50 miles of roads and 60 miles of trails open to the public. Covering about 53,000 acres, it protects one of the world’s largest remaining continuous stands of old-growth coast redwoods. The forest and trail network give you concrete reference points when choosing excursions for your stay.

Redwood Forest and Wetlands

The Arcata Community Forest covers 2,350 acres of second-growth redwood forest in Humboldt County, California. A different landscape awaits at the Mad River Slough Wildlife Area: this 587-acre area was once part of the extensive tidal salt marshes and mudflats of Arcata Bay. Herons, egrets, various birds of prey and several species of shorebirds are observed there. Wildlife and bird watching, as well as nature photography, are possible activities here.

The scenic Avenue of the Giants is also among the nature experiences in Humboldt County. It provides access to numerous trailheads, picnic areas, rivers and groves of trees. This lets you incorporate the landscape into your trip in different ways—from trails through redwood stands to opportunities for observing wildlife in wetlands.

Trails for Different Kinds of Trips

The Shorebird Loop Trail in the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge is a 1.7-mile, flat, gravel-surfaced loop. Its amenities include an observation pavilion, a wetland deck, a raised platform, benches and interpretive panels. The Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail is considered family-friendly: this 1.5-mile loop runs through a mixed forest of redwoods and other tall conifers.

The Hammond Trail offers a different kind of route. This more than five-mile section of the California Coastal Trail is used for hiking, cycling and horseback riding, and runs from the Arcata Bottoms north to Clam Beach County Park in McKinleyville. In Arcata, a section of the Humboldt Bay Trail also passes through the Arcata Marsh & Wildlife Sanctuary. The different details about the loops, distances and routes can help you choose trips that suit your interests.

The 6.5-mile paved Eureka Waterfront Trail, also called the Hikshari’ Trail, runs along Humboldt Bay. Cycling, walking, inline skating and paddling are possible there. The Madaket is a passenger ferry that offers a guided, one-hour cruise covering 8.5 miles along the Eureka waterfront. As the service is seasonal, check in advance whether the cruise runs on your travel dates.

Cultural Sites and Experiences

Humboldt Lagoons State Park is located on the land of the Ner'-er-herh, the Coastal Yurok. The Chah-pekw O' Ket'-toh Visitor Center is the first tribally operated visitor center in California’s state park system.

In Eureka’s historic Old Town district, the Clarke Museum houses historical and cultural artifacts from Humboldt County. These include one of the largest collections relating to Indigenous cultures in Northern California, Victorian-style rooms with authentic furnishings, and Gold Rush memorabilia. At Blue Ox Millworks, visitors can watch antique woodworking machines in operation, tour a logging camp and learn about traditional boatbuilding methods. Check the visitor arrangements for Blue Ox Millworks before your trip.

Depending on the preferred starting point, the Humboldt Bay Oyster Tour by Humboldt Bay Oyster Tours can be booked as a motorboat tour from Woodley Island or as a kayak tour from Arcata Marsh. Participants learn about oyster aquaculture and its practices around Humboldt Bay. At the end, they receive twelve prepared oysters to sample at Humboldt Bay Provisions. Tour details may change, so check them in advance.

Plan Your Hotel Location and Travel

The destinations mentioned are spread across different parts of the county, so plan around specific starting points and connections.

At the Eureka stop, the Amtrak Thruway Bus connects Humboldt County to rail service from the nearest station on the route; there are no direct Amtrak trains to Humboldt County. Connections and schedules may change, so it is advisable to check them before traveling. The Humboldt Transit Authority provides fixed-route bus service and dial-a-ride services throughout Humboldt County. Routes extend from Trinidad south along Highway 101 to Benbow and Ukiah, and east along Highway 299 from Arcata to Blue Lake and Willow Creek. The service area mentioned also includes Arcata–Eureka Airport, as well as McKinleyville, Eureka and Fortuna. Check current routes and service areas before traveling.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Blue Lake, Carlotta, Whitethorn, Fields Landing, Trinidad, Myrtletown, Samoa, Redcrest, Loleta, Redway, Arcata, Garberville, Fortuna, Mckinleyville, Ferndale, Orick, Eureka.

For the parent travel overview: California.