The park's dense forests of spruce, hemlock, pine, fir and red alder stretch over an ocean headland with lovely wildflower-festooned meadows.

A dramatic shoreline ranging from broad sandy beaches to sheer cliffs that rise high above the Pacific Ocean offers great opportunities to explore tide pools, search for agates and driftwood, watch whales, sea lions and brilliant sunsets.

The park offers several miles of hiking trails, a recreated Yurok Village, a native plant garden, visitor center, three family campgrounds, 2 group camps, a camp for hikers and bicyclists, and 3 group picnic areas.

Patrick's Point State Park
Trinidad, CA 95570; 707-488-2169; Park Website;
Location: Alongsite Highway US-101, about 25 miles north of Eureka;

Patrick's Point has night and morning fog almost all year. During the summer it sometimes doesn't lift for days at a time although beautiful, crystal-clear days can often be enjoyed in spring and fall.

Rainfall averages about sixty inches a year, most of it falls between October and April.

Sumęg Village - Recreated Yurok Village
Consisting of traditional style family houses, a sweat house, changing houses, a redwood canoe, and a dance house. The village is used by the local Yuroks for education of their youth and to share their culture with the public. Adjacent to Sumęg Village is a native plant garden where you will find native plants that were used for baskets, food and medicine.

Native American Plant Garden
In 1997, this garden was established as a Native American plant garden which has plants that were used by the local Yuroks. The plantings in the garden are representative of the plants used for medicinal, basketry, substance, and ceremonial purposes. The Native American Plant Garden is located just east of and adjacent to the Yurok Indian Village.

Park Trails
No dogs on trails or beach - Six miles of trail lace throughout this diverse park, many with spectacular vistas. Hiking the Rim Trail you may see a harbor seal, sea lion and if you are lucky a gray whale. Octopus Tree Trail loops through a grove of old-growth Sitka spruce. Two all-access trails to coast overlooks are also available.

A couple of short, steep trails make it possible to reach the tops of Ceremonial Rock and Lookout Rock, old sea stacks that were left high and dry when the ocean receded. In some parts of the park, plant life is so luxuriant that hikers moving along the trail are sheltered and isolated by walls of vegetation.

Local Wilderness Outfitters
Recreational Adventure Guides:
Kayak Zak's - Guided Kayaking Trips

California Coastal National Monument
Established in 2000, the CCNM runs the entire length of the California coast and encompasses thousands of BLM administered islands, rocks, exposed reefs, and pinnacles above mean high tide. These provide forage and breeding grounds for significant populations of coastal birds and sea mammals.

Redwood National Park
The Redwood National and State Parks (RNSP) features an impressive diversity of nature. Considered as one of the most unique ecosystems on our planet where there is a serene balance between ancient coast redwood groves, gray whales, black bears, banana slugs and much more. Includes Del Norte, Jedediah Smith and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Parks.

Redwood Coast Wildlife:
Marine mammals such as sea lions and gray whales are among the most visible wildlife in the parks. Visitors are also likely to see Roosevelt elk browsing in the prairies. Pelicans, ospreys, and gulls are frequently spotted along the coast. Of course, tidepool creatures aren't likely to run very far at your approach, so anenomes and crabs are easy to spot too. While you're out watching wildlife at RNSP, remember that all wildlife is protected in the parks. Never feed or approach animals such as bears, mountain lions, elk, chipmunks, racoons, rabbits, or birds. Please treat the members of this natural community with respect.

Aleutian Goose Festival - Late MAR
Annual event since 1999 - features birding, nature and Indian cultural experiences that you will want to remember. Our birding, nature, and heritage celebration offers 80 events,