Myrtletown: Trails, Wiyot History and Redwood Acres

The Eureka Waterfront Trail stretches from Myrtletown to the Elk River, passing through coastal prairies, dune landscapes, salt marshes and river habitats. The trail offers views of the bay, Eureka Slough and the mountains. Interpretive panels along the trail cover marshland restoration, bird species, the geology of Humboldt Bay, railroad history and Wiyot village life.

Trails, Scenery and Activities

The Humboldt Bay Trail consists of paved multi-use paths designed for walking, running, biking and rolling. It forms an important link in the regional Great Redwood Trail.

Nearby, the Redwood Acres Trail Unit in McKay Community Forest has about 2.5 miles of shaped and graded trails, along with about 0.5 miles of paved trails. McKay Community Forest is intended for walking, hiking, mountain biking, travel with approved mobility devices and horseback riding. If you want to compare trail surfaces, the Humboldt Bay Trail has paved multi-use paths, while the Redwood Acres Trail Unit also includes shaped and graded trails.

Nearby, McKay Community Forest lies where the residential and commercial areas of Myrtletown, Cutten and Ridgewood Heights meet. In 2025, the area of McKay Community Forest on Harris Street near Redwood Acres was open to public use and had a trail map, signage, and parking on Harris Street and in the Redwood Acres parking lots. If you plan to visit this area today, check current access in advance.

Wiyot History and Redwood Acres

At the northern end of Myrtletown, next to Eureka Slough, was the Wiyot village of ikatchipi. At least seven other Wiyot-use sites were located south of Eureka Slough; all but one were on higher ground above the wetlands.

Timber loading is also part of the area's history: a historic log-loading site was built north of the present-day eastern end of Park Street in Myrtletown, where logs could be unloaded directly into Freshwater Slough.

At Myrtletown's southern boundary, the Redwood Acres Fairgrounds opened in Eureka in 1937 as a local agricultural and racing venue. Stock-car racing has been a regular part of the Redwood Acres Raceway program since 1947. In 1956 and 1957, the raceway hosted two NASCAR Grand National races; the series is now known as the NASCAR Cup Series. In the late 1980s, the track was converted from dirt to asphalt. Redwood Acres also supports agriculture, livestock, fishing and environmental stewardship, and provides resources for agricultural education and activities.

How to Consider Myrtletown When Searching for Hotels

When choosing a destination, compare your interests: the Eureka Waterfront Trail, Humboldt Bay Trail and nearby McKay Community Forest offer opportunities to enjoy the scenery and get active; Wiyot local history and the racing history of Redwood Acres may appeal to other interests.

Explore more destinations: Redcrest, Orick, Redway, Loleta, Blue Lake, Whitethorn, Arcata, Fortuna

Return to the main travel overview: Humboldt.