Outdoor Activities

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 golfi ng. 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 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 fi vemile 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, fi rst installed in 1905. Enjoy gorgeous views of the Pacifi c 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

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

FISHING

The Eel River Valley and nearby beaches have some of the best fi shing if you know when and where to fi sh. The Eel River is known worldwide for incredible steelhead and salmon fi shing with a backdrop of old growth redwood forest. There are many access points for bank fi shing or to launch a boat for drifting. The best time to catch Chinook salmon is in late October until December and steelhead fi shing is usually best from November to March. The Eel River is generally open year round for fi shing but is often subject to low fl ow closures after October if there has not been enough rain to bring the river levels up. Ocean fi shing is also an option nearby and is productive for salmon, halibut, rockfi sh and crab. Our local guides are top notch and can set you up with diff erent types of fi shing adventures ranging from drifting the Eel River for steelhead or salmon to kayaking or charter fi shing off shore for rockfi sh 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, seahawksporfi shing.com

John Klar Sport Fishing – River, (707) 498-1707, scratchhandicap@yahoo. com, johnklar.com

Fishing the North Coast – River, Kenny Priest, 707-496-8671, fi shingthenorthcoast.com/guide-service

BIRD WATCHING

Redwood Region Audubon Society off ers birding and other natural history trips at the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary. For information, call (707) 822-5666 or visit rras.org.

HUMBOLDT BAY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

The refuge boasts Aleutian cackling geese, Pacifi c brant, terns, cormorants, pelicans, egrets, herons, and migratory songbirds such as warblers, sparrows, and swallows. The park off ers two interpretive trails, Shorebird Loop and Hookton Slough, where you can view seasonal wetlands, freshwater marsh, shorebirds, waterfowl, and harbor seals. For information, call (707) 733-5406.

TENT/RV CAMPING

Riverwalk RV Park, 2189 Riverwalk Dr, Fortuna, (707) 725-3359

Humboldt County Fairgrounds, 1250 5th Street, Ferndale, (707) 786-9511

Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park, 16949 Highway 36, Carlotta, (800) 444-7275

Van Duzen County Park, 12 miles east on Hwy 36, Carlotta, (707) 445-7651

Redcrest Resort & Gift Shop, 26459 Avenue of the Giants, Redcrest, (707) 722-4208

Ancient Redwoods RV Park, 28101 Avenue of the Giants, Redcrest, (707) 722-4396

Benbow KOA, 7000 Benbow Drive, Garberville, (707) 923-2777 There are several campgrounds located inside Humboldt Redwoods State Park. For more information, call (707) 946-2263.

SWIMMING

The South Fork of the Eel River sits along the eastern edge of Humboldt Redwoods State Park. Here you will fi nd a slow-moving stream that provides natural pools and swimming holes. Inside Van Duzen County Park is Swimmers Delight and Pamplin Grove. For more information, call 946-2263.

Rohner Park Trail

CANOEING/KAYAKING

There are several river access points just south of Fortuna. • High Rock • Dyerville Bar • Lansdale Bar • Alexander Bar • Gould Bar

WHALE WATCHING

Optimum viewing months are SeptemberJanuary and March-June. Early morning hours are the best. The southern migratory season is September - January as the whales make their way to Baja. Between March and June, whales return to their northern waters. Lost Coast Table Bluff , just south of Humboldt Bay at Hookton Rd in Loleta off ers 4.5 miles of beaches where you can observe hang gliders, surfers, and whales.

GARDENS

Humboldt Botanical Garden

From Hwy 101 take exit 698 to the north College of the Redwoods entrance where you will see signs leading you to the garden. For information, call (707) 442-5139 or visit hbgf.org.

The Gardens are constructed on a 44.5 acre site adjacent to the College of the Redwoods and features eight themed gardens, hiking trails, plus picnic tables and benches. The garden is a great place to see native plant species, take a nature walk, or experience the fresh air and natural beauty of the area. Leashed dogs allowed. Summer hours: (Apr-Oct) Wed-Sun 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Winter hours: (Nov-Mar) Wed-Sat 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, Sun 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. River Lodge Garden 1800 Riverwalk Dr

The River Lodge garden off ers a variety of native plants and a gazebo for relaxing and enjoying the fresh air with views of the Eel River. Fortuna Community Garden 1200 Ross Hill Rd

The community garden began nine years ago when a local resident contacted Seventh-day Adventist Community Services and presented the idea to them. Many years later and with the support of the community, the garden has expanded and now provides for the families who participate in it as well as providing food for St. Joseph’s Catholic Food Pantry and the Seventhday Adventist Community Service’s food pantry.

SPORTING EVENTS

Humboldt Crabs Baseball

Founded in 1945, the Humboldt Crabs are the oldest, continuously operated, collegiate, independent, wood-bat, summer baseball team in the country, celebrating their 77th year in 2021. The Crabs’ roster is made up of NCAA eligible collegiate players mostly from the West Coast. The team plays at the F Street ballpark in Arcata from June until early August. For information, call (707) 826-2333 or visit humboldtcrabs.com.