Trinidad: Coastal Scenery and History

Trinidad brings together coastal scenery, hiking trails, and history. At Trinidad Head, a lighthouse meets a loop trail; along the coast, activities range from tidepooling to kayaking. The Trinidad Museum adds Yurok traditions and the history of the village of Tsurai to these themes. If you plan to take a lighthouse tour, check the monthly schedule in advance.

Lighthouse and Local History

The Trinidad Head Lighthouse was first commissioned in 1871 and remains an important navigational aid for mariners. Lighthouse tours are offered on the first Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to noon. The Trinidad Museum is located in a restored 1899 home belonging to the Sangster-Watkins-Underwood family and includes five exhibition rooms. Yurok traditions are on display there. Native plant gardens and historic gardens surround the museum. Trinidad was the site of the first human settlement on the Northern California coast, the Yurok village of Tsurai.

The two years refer to different things: 1871 marks the lighthouse's first commissioning, while 1899 is the year the house that now holds the museum was built.

Hike at Trinidad Head

The Trinidad Head Trail is an easy to moderate loop hike of about an hour, with a few uphill sections. Both the approximate duration and the inclines are relevant when planning your visit. A summit cross on Trinidad Head bears the year 1775 and is designated a historic landmark. The trail offers opportunities to watch sunsets and see gray whales and other marine mammals.

Beaches and Waterfront Trails

Trinidad State Beach is a long sandy beach north of Trinidad Harbor and the pier. The beach park offers restrooms, picnic areas, parking, trails, an open grassy area, and a spruce forest. Indian Beach is suitable for tidepooling and kayaking. College Cove features interesting rock formations, tide pools, seasonal wildflowers, and a natural arch at its northern end. The beach is reached by a short hike through the forest and across open cliffs.

The two routes differ in the time they take: the Trinidad Head Trail takes about an hour, while reaching College Cove Beach requires a short hike. This provides an approximate duration for a hike and a brief description of the beach access route.

Nature and Local Products

A sea bird colony with twelve species and more than 100,000 breeding birds lives on rocks off the coast of Trinidad. Katy’s Smokehouse offers smoked salmon and tins of albacore for sale. So, alongside coastal scenery and history, a guide to Trinidad also includes a specific place to shop for local products.

Discover more destinations: Redway, Eureka, Orick, Whitethorn, Loleta, Garberville, Blue Lake and Ferndale.

For the broader travel overview: Humboldt.