Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Patrick's Point State Park
4150 Patrick's Point Dr; per car $8)
, where sandy beaches abut rocky headlands. Five miles
north of Trinidad, with supereasy access to dramatic coastal bluffs, it's a best-bet for famil-
ies. Stroll scenic overlooks, climb giant rock formations, watch whales breach, gaze into
tidepools, or listen to barking sea lions and singing birds from this manicured park.
Sumêg
( daily)
is an authentic reproduction of a Yurok village, with hand-hewn red-
wood buildings where Native Americans gather for traditional ceremonies. In the native
plant garden you'll find species for making traditional baskets and medicines.
On
Agate Beach
look for stray bits of jade and sea-polished agate. Follow the signs to
tidepools, but tread lightly and obey regulations. The 2-mile
Rim Trail
, a old Yurok trail
around the bluffs, circles the point with access to huge rocky outcroppings. Don't miss
Wedding Rock
, one of the park's most romantic spots. Other trails lead around unusual
formations like
Ceremonial Rock
and
Lookout Rock
.
The park's three well-tended
campgrounds
( reservations 800-444-7275;
www.reserveamerica.com
;
tent & RV sites $35)
have coin-operated hot showers and very clean
bathrooms. Penn Creek and Abalone campgrounds are more sheltered than Agate Beach.
Humboldt Lagoons State Park
Stretching out for miles along the coast, Humboldt Lagoons has long, sandy beaches and a
string of coastal lagoons.
Big Lagoon
and the even prettier
Stone Lagoon
are both excel-
lent for kayaking and bird-watching. Sunsets are spectacular, with no artificial structures in
sight. Picnic at Stone Lagoon's north end. The Stone Lagoon Visitor Center, on Hwy 101,
has closed due to staffing shortages, but there's a toilet and a bulletin board displaying in-
formation.
A mile north,
Freshwater Lagoon
is also great for birding. South of Stone Lagoon, tiny
Dry Lagoon
(a freshwater marsh) has a fantastic
day hike
and good agate hunting. Park at
Dry Lagoon's picnic area and hike north on the unmarked trail to Stone Lagoon; the trail
skirts the southwestern shore and ends up at the ocean, passing through woods and marsh-
