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Free Traveling Guides » States » California » Northern California
Humboldt Lagoons State Park
The Humboldt Lagoons State Park is 40 miles (65 km) north of Eureka and 55 miles (90 km) south of Crescent City, right on Highway 101. The park is just south of Orick.
Humboldt Lagoons State Park is spread over an area of 2,000 acres (800 ha) of marshland and is home to over 200 species of birds.
The park is made up of a chain of four lagoons and is quite popular for windsurfing, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, bird watching, hiking and camping. The topography of park varies from broad flat marine terraces to rocky cliffs and beaches.
Humboldt Lagoon State Park has fresh and salt water marshes and all these are located between Patrick’s Point State Park and Redwood National Park.
Within the park one can find Big Lagoon, which is a haven for sailing and windsurfing. Then there is Stone Lagoon, popular for its canoeing and swimming. Freshwater Lagoon is a Mecca for fishing enthusiasts. Dry Lagoon, which was drained by early farmers in 1900s, is now home to a rich variety of marsh plants, birds and animals.
In the early days, many dairy ranches were built along the shores of Stone Lagoon. With the improvement of the highway, a motel/restaurant called the Little Red Hen was built right next to the lagoon. The Little Red Hen operated until 1979 and then it was remodeled first to house, then a museum, and finally the park office. This building now houses the Humboldt Visitor Center as well as a book store which is well worth a visit.
In Stone Lagoon, there are six environmental campsites that are accessible by foot or boat. Campers have to bring their own boats. Dry Lagoon also has six similar campsites and therefore a gate. Registration is a must either at the Visitor Center or at Patrick’s Point State Park, which is 10 miles south.
Whether you are visiting Humboldt Lagoons State Park in summer or winter, do not forget to bring warm clothes. Summers are damp and cool with coastal fog being quite common.
- Address: 17119 Avenue of the Giants, Weott, CA 95571
- Telephone: (707) 946-2409
- Hours: Always open, however some areas are day use only and some campgrounds are open seasonally
- Website: www.humboldtredwoods.org
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