EUREKA SLOUGH BOAT RAMP: E. end of 3rd St. off Hwy. 101, Eureka. Small concrete public ramp for hand-launching of boats, behind the Target store. Difficult access at low tide.
SAMOA BRIDGE LAUNCHING FACILITY: Waterfront Dr., under the Samoa Bridge, Eureka. Launch ramp for trailered or small boats beneath the Hwy. 255 bridge. Waterfront park with paths extends west to L Street.
WOODLEY ISLAND MARINA: Off Hwy. 255, Eureka. Woodley Island is part nature preserve and part marina, shared between recreational and commercial boats. There are 237 berths, guest slips, one- and two-ton boat hoists, and sewage pumpout facilities. No boat ramp, but canoes and kayaks can be launched. Call: 707-443-0801.
▪ Sportfishing charters
▪ Kayak and standup paddle-board rentals at Humboats; call: 707-443-5157
EUREKA BOARDWALK: Waterfront from C St. to F St., Eureka. Pedestrian esplanade overlooks the water and the Woodley Island Marina. At the foot of C St. is a fisherman’s terminal; for seasonal harbor cruises on the Madaket call: 707-445-1910. Old Town attractions are nearby.
EUREKA PUBLIC MARINA: Waterfront Dr., Eureka. Waterfront Dr., along with 2nd St. and Railroad Ave., extends along Eureka’s bayfront from Old Town to the Del Norte St. Pier. Public marina has berths for 140 vessels, fish cleaning station, and paved paths along the water. The Wharfinger Building is used for community events. Call: 707-268-1973.
▪ Boat ramp open 24 hours; no fee
▪ Fishing access at the end of Commercial St., when vessels not berthed there
DEL NORTE STREET PIER: Foot of Del Norte St., off Hwy. 101, Eureka. Public fishing pier; picnic tables and views of the waterfront. Trail opposite Railroad Ave. extends south through Palco Marsh to Bayshore Mall parking area, at the end of Bayshore Way off Hwy. 101.
FORT HUMBOLDT STATE HISTORIC PARK: 3431 Fort Ave., off Hwy. 101, Eureka. Exhibits about the history of this 19th century military post; the Native American Wiyot, Hupa, and Yurok peoples; and the logging industry. Museum and paths are generally wheelchair accessible. Picnic areas have views of Humboldt Bay. Open daily, 8 AM–5 PM; call: 707-445-6567.
ELK RIVER ACCESS AREA: From W. end of Truesdale St. to Pound Rd., W. of Hwy. 101, Eureka. Parking, picnic area, and restrooms are at the end of Truesdale St. near the mouth of the Elk River. The multi-use Hikshari’ Trail leads south past the end of Hilfiker Ln., where there is additional parking, and through the Elk River Wildlife Sanctuary. Inland of Hwy. 101 is the Elk River Wildlife Area; take Elk River Rd. east. Call: 707-445-6493.
EUREKA SLOUGH/DEAD MOUSE MARSH: E. end of Park St., Eureka. Trails lead along dikes through saltmarsh and freshwater marsh; good birding.
Humboldt County
South Spit Humboldt Bay
KING SALMON: Off Buhne Dr., W. of Hwy. 101, 1 mi. N. of Fields Landing. Sandy bay beach and dunes are west of Buhne Dr.; public access continues along the shoreline from west of the former powerplant to the old railroad tracks. RV and trailer camping and fishing and marina services available at two privately operated facilities, Johnny’s Marina and RV Park (707-442-2284) and E-Z Landing Mobile Home Park (707-442-1118).
FIELDS LANDING COUNTY PARK: Foot of Railroad Ave., Fields Landing. Concrete boat ramp, picnic tables, and restrooms. Kayaks can be launched here.
HUMBOLDT BAY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE: Humboldt South Bay, W. of Hwy. 101. Use the Hookton Rd. exit off Hwy. 101. West of the highway take Ranch Rd. to the visitor center; open daily except federal holidays, 8 AM–5 PM. Call: 707-733-5406.
▪ Shorebird Loop Trail, less than two miles long, starts at the visitor center
▪ Waterfowl hunting seasonally by permit only
▪ Hookton Slough Unit, off Hookton Rd., has trails and non-motorized boat launch
EEL RIVER WILDLIFE AREA/OCEAN RANCH UNIT: Table Bluff Rd. off Hookton Rd., W. of Hwy. 101, Loleta. Wildlife viewing and waterfowl, coot, and snipe hunting; seasonal closures in effect. Day use only; managed by the Dept. of Fish and Wildlife. Call: 707-445-6493.
TABLE BLUFF: End of Table Bluff Rd. off Hookton Rd., 5 mi. W. of Hwy. 101, Loleta. High bluff offers spectacular views of Humboldt Bay, the South Spit, and the ocean. The Lighthouse Ranch property on the bluff has picnic tables. Roadside parking.
MIKE THOMPSON WILDLIFE AREA/SOUTH SPIT: End of Table Bluff Rd. off Hookton Rd., 5 mi. W. of Hwy. 101, Loleta. Long sandy beach and dune field, with picnic tables, fire rings, and restrooms at both ends of the spit. Pedestrian paths to the beach are spaced along the spit. The area is open one hour before sunrise; the gate is locked one hour after sunset. No camping allowed. Dogs must be leashed from Mar. 1–Sept. 15. Call: 707-825-2300.
▪ Off-road vehicles allowed on beach waveslope only via designated access corridors, with seasonal closures during western snowy plover breeding season, March–September
▪ Fishing at the jetty, but use caution; waves can be dangerously large
▪ Seasonal waterfowl hunting on east side of South Jetty Road
Humboldt County
Eel River Valley South
EEL RIVER WILDLIFE AREA/CANNIBAL ISLAND UNIT: W. end of Cannibal Island Rd., 4 mi. from Loleta. Hunting and wildlife viewing; seasonal closures in effect. Managed by the Dept. of Fish and Wildlife; call: 707-445-6493.
EEL RIVER AND DELTA: W. of Hwy. 101 at Fernbridge. A maze of river channels and sloughs, suited for kayaking, fishing, hunting, and wildlife observation. Signs and facilities are scarce; private farmlands are all around.
▪ North of the river, Pedrazzini Boat Ramp for small boats is off Cannibal Island Road
▪ South of the river, public river access is available at the ends of Camp Weott and Dillon roads and from Tappendorf Ln. and Sandy Prairie Rd. near Fortuna
CRAB COUNTY PARK: W. end of Cannibal Island Rd., 4 mi. from Loleta. Paths lead along the water for fishing, equestrian use, and wildlife viewing; harbor seals haul out on the spit across the channel. Due to sometimes turbulent water, kayak launching may be better at Pedrazzini Boat Ramp upstream. Call: 707-445-7651.
HUMBOLDT COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS CAMPGROUND: 5th St. between Van Ness and Arlington avenues, Ferndale. Up to 100 RV sites plus grassy area for tent campers. Electrical and water hookups, showers; no picnic tables. First-come, first-served except during the county fair in August; call: 707-786-9511.
SOUNDING SEAS/EEL RIVER ESTUARY PRESERVE: Shoreline N. of Centerville Beach County Park. Two-and-a-half miles of ocean beach and dunes. Hike north along the sand from Centerville Beach County Park; no off-highway vehicle use. Managed by The Wildlands Conservancy; for docent-led