Explore the best rated trails in Fortuna, CA. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Humboldt Bay Trail North and Dennis Wendt Memorial Trail. With more than 6 trails covering 19 miles you’re bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
The Humboldt Bay Trail North begins at the Arcata Skate Park at the intersection of Foster Avenue and Sunset Avenue and continues south past Samoa Boulevard for 4.5 miles. This path is what is known...
The trail begins on Sandy Prairie Road, just north of its intersection with Drake Hill Road, and heads north, passing by open fields and farmlands as well industrial areas. The trail remains close to...
The Dennis Wendt Memorial Trail is the brainchild on Sean Swanson, a Fortuna resident, who had been working with the homeless population who previously lived along the idle corridor, helping them...
The Mid-Town Trail connects numerous neighborhoods in the community of McKinleyville on California's north coast. Morris Elementary School is also nearby from Bates Road. The paved trail is a great...
Northern California's Eureka Waterfront Trail is located along the shore of Humboldt Bay, stretching 6.5 miles from the former Eureka Holmes Lumber Mill site to Tydd Street on the eastern edge of the...
Undulating along the Northern California coastline, the 5.5-mile Hammond Trail provides adventure, history and beautiful vistas. Constructed along a portion of the abandoned Little River and Hammond...
The Humboldt Bay Trail North begins at the Arcata Skate Park at the intersection of Foster Avenue and Sunset Avenue and continues south past Samoa Boulevard for 4.5 miles. This path is what is known...
Northern California's Eureka Waterfront Trail is located along the shore of Humboldt Bay, stretching 6.5 miles from the former Eureka Holmes Lumber Mill site to Tydd Street on the eastern edge of the...
The Mid-Town Trail connects numerous neighborhoods in the community of McKinleyville on California's north coast. Morris Elementary School is also nearby from Bates Road. The paved trail is a great...
The Dennis Wendt Memorial Trail is the brainchild on Sean Swanson, a Fortuna resident, who had been working with the homeless population who previously lived along the idle corridor, helping them...
The trail begins on Sandy Prairie Road, just north of its intersection with Drake Hill Road, and heads north, passing by open fields and farmlands as well industrial areas. The trail remains close to...
Undulating along the Northern California coastline, the 5.5-mile Hammond Trail provides adventure, history and beautiful vistas. Constructed along a portion of the abandoned Little River and Hammond...
The Mid-Town Trail connects numerous neighborhoods in the community of McKinleyville on California's north coast. Morris Elementary School is also nearby from Bates Road. The paved trail is a great...
Northern California's Eureka Waterfront Trail is located along the shore of Humboldt Bay, stretching 6.5 miles from the former Eureka Holmes Lumber Mill site to Tydd Street on the eastern edge of the...
The trail begins on Sandy Prairie Road, just north of its intersection with Drake Hill Road, and heads north, passing by open fields and farmlands as well industrial areas. The trail remains close to...
The Humboldt Bay Trail North begins at the Arcata Skate Park at the intersection of Foster Avenue and Sunset Avenue and continues south past Samoa Boulevard for 4.5 miles. This path is what is known...
Undulating along the Northern California coastline, the 5.5-mile Hammond Trail provides adventure, history and beautiful vistas. Constructed along a portion of the abandoned Little River and Hammond...
The Dennis Wendt Memorial Trail is the brainchild on Sean Swanson, a Fortuna resident, who had been working with the homeless population who previously lived along the idle corridor, helping them...
Great for dog walks and bike rides . I heard there is river access but I haven’t done too much exploring yet .
Beautiful walk from Humboldt Bay Aquatic Center to Freshwater Slough and back. About 3 miles round trip. Fun bridges. Old train trestle. Great signage of natural and cultural history. Vista/picnic bump outs with landscape art including metalworks benches and castes of Wiyot stools like the ones in the Humboldt State University Native Forum breezeway.
We took bicycles and parked the car at a small lot in the middle of the trail; Murray Road east until it dead-ends almost in the ocean.
It was an absolutely gorgeous day with blue skies, sunshine and warm, but not hot. We took many beautiful pictures!
Suggestions: Take light snacks and water. Do not bother stopping at the campground restrooms on the north end of the trail - they are just pits, smelly and flies. Best restrooms were at the park south of the middle where we parked; very clean and tidy, without foul smells. Where the trail meets in the middle, it is a residential area and the owners on both sides of the trail sign have absolutely wonderful, colorful flowers in their front yards. We took our time, stopping to "smell the roses" so to speak, and just enjoy the outdoors and scenery. There were people of all ages on the trail, biking, jogging, walking and in strollers. It is a wide path and easy to navigate. I grew up in Humboldt County and this was the first time I had been on this trail - they don't have trails like this in SE Florida, where I now reside. :-)
This is a wonderful trail ! Next to the northern trailhead is a restaurant, and other retail in just walking distance. The trail itself is very peaceful with wonderful views of waterways. Many artistic benches are along the trail, as well as numerous bike racks for locking your bike. Some areas of the trail are shaded with trees, and other areas are more open. Lots of folks enjoying the trail from children to adults. I like the informative signs along the trail educating users about the history, and ecosystem! A must visit trail in Eureka!
It's a pleasant short trail for the surrounding residents. It connects up with city streets that have bike lanes. Is nearby a school allowing children to use the trail as an active transportation corridor. Numerous access points along the trail. Speaking with others, my only complaint - would be to update the bollards along the trail. Installing a more updated design, and more visible at night with reflective features. Otherwise a wonderful resource for the residents of the area!
A wonderful trail! At the south end eter from the Arcata side, you are greeted by the Mad river. Enjoy the Arcata bottom area, before entering the Hammond trail.
Now in Mckinleyville, a short hill after the mad river bridge, then it is flat for a long ways. Not too long up the trail you will reach Hiller park - picnic tables, kids playground, single track trails, batting cage, baseball fields, bathrooms, and probably more.
Just north of the the park it's a pleasant area with lots of tree coverage. Shortly you'll begin to see ocean views. The farther north you go the more intense, and closer the ocean access becomes. Most areas of the trail will have tree coverage.
A few hills exist along the entire trail, but they are very manageable. You also have numerous access points with parking areas, if you prefer to drive then walk segments of the trail.
The far north end is Clam beach, you have full access to the beach from this area. Actually from Hiller park you can access the mouth of the Mad river, but you need to be more familiar with the area, to know what single track trails access the area off of the Hammond trail.
One segment of the trail north of Clam beach, the trail is gravel. Though a short segment everything else is paved. Be prepared for a bit of a hill in that gravel area, but it offers a wonderful overview vista of the ocean, and you can even find a bench halfway up the hill. North of the gravel it's flat and a bit windy with dunes to your west. It's en exciting stretch as you know you're reaching Clam beach.
My experience is riding a bicycle from downtown Arcata, and sometimes all the way up to Clam beach, then back. Not matter how often, or far I ride the bicycle, it's always a wonderful, and relaxing ride. At Hiller road just south of Hiller park head east to the main part of town. If you would like drinks, food, ice cream, etc. You'll find all you need at the foot of Hiller, just a short ride!
Enjoy the coastline!
The Hammond is now a break-free trail with the Southern and Northern sections fused. Traveling mostly on a freshly paved asphalt trail, the new section does include a small distance on a lightly trafficked road. New signs have been placed along the trail to help users navigate the section as well. Photos and downloadable data of the new section should be posted shortly.
"August 1st: We accessed the trail at the South end as it starts up the bridge approach. The view from bridge was great. Other than the bridge, the only hill of any size came immediately after leaving the bridge ramp and passing 6 million cows waiting to be milked. The farmer let them loose on the trail right just as we passed. We made it up the steep hill in record time as the cows were heading for the barn! On the way back – cow plop city! The rest of the paved trail is a pleasant ride through nice neighborhoods and past palatial homes. The paving ends at the beach but continues on as hard-paced gravel."
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