OU TDOOR ACTIVITIES FISHING
Fortuna Riverwalk Trail. Photo by Amy Kumler
GOLFING Redwood Empire Golf and Country Club A private club that welcomes members of other clubs. A clubhouse serving breakfast and lunch is the perfect end to a day of golfing. For information, call (707) 725-5194. Benbow Valley Golf Course Public golf course located near Garberville. This nine-hole golf course features two sets of tees allowing golfers to play 18 holes. There is a putting green and sand trap where you can hone your putting and chipping skills. For information, call (707) 923-2777 or visit benbowrv.com.
WALKING, HIKING AND BIKING TRAILS Gene Lucas Community Center Trail Take a walk around the backside of the property to experience protected wetlands. Leashed dogs are welcome. Riverwalk Trail Enjoy an easy stroll or bike ride alongside the Eel River on Riverwalk Drive. Rohner Park Trail Nearly two miles of forest trails featuring second growth redwoods, wild shrubs, and herbs including evergreen huckleberry, red
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huckleberry, salal, oxalis, Clintonia lily, and many other species. Humboldt Redwoods State Park has hundreds of miles of trails • Founders Grove Nature Loop Trail • Rockefeller Loop Trail • Bull Creek Trail North • Canoe Creek Trail Hammond Coastal Trail Enjoy a hike, bike ride, or jog along this fivemile stretch of trail that runs along a portion of the historic Little River and Hammond Railroad property from Arcata to Clam Beach. The Arcata side of the trail starts by crossing over the Mad River at the location of an old railroad bridge, first installed in 1905. Enjoy gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean and Mad River. Off Highway 101. For information, call (707) 445-7651 or visit humboldtgov.org/2761/Hammond-trail.
HORSEBACK RIDING Johnston Stables , 6766 CA-36, Carlotta, (707) 683-6817 Korobi Stables, 2316 Sandy Prairie Rd, Fortuna, (707) 496-6004
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The Eel River Valley and nearby beaches have some of the best fishing if you know when and where to fish. The Eel River is known worldwide for incredible steelhead and salmon fishing with a backdrop of old growth redwood forest. There are many access points for bank fishing or to launch a boat for drifting. The best time to catch Chinook salmon is in late October until December and steelhead fishing is usually best from November to March. The Eel River is generally open year round for fishing but is often subject to low flow closures after October if there has not been enough rain to bring the river levels up. Ocean fishing is also an option nearby and is productive for salmon, halibut, rockfish and crab. Our local guides are top notch and can set you up with different types of fishing adventures ranging from drifting the Eel River for steelhead or salmon to kayaking or charter fishing offshore for rockfish and lingcod. Make sure to reach out in advance to plan your trip! You can pick up bait and tackle at the family-owned outdoor store Sport & Cycle, located at 495 S. Fortuna Blvd. in Midtowne Plaza (725-9405). Loleta Eric’s Guide Service – Ocean and River Trips, Eric Stockwell, (707) 845-0400, loletaeric.com Sea Hawk Sport Fishing - Ocean, Jake Mitchell, 707-223-1600, seahawksporfishing.com John Klar Sport Fishing – River, (707) 498-1707, scratchhandicap@yahoo. com, johnklar.com Fishing the North Coast – River, Kenny Priest, 707-496-8671, fishingthenorthcoast.com/guide-service
