About Humboldt Lagoons State Park

Humboldt Lagoons State Park lies on the sandy, windswept edge of ocean and forest. Formed by the clash of two tectonic plates, it's part of the largest lagoon system in the United States. Ranger Maurice Morningstar calls it 'a string of pearls that lets you look back in time and see a process that continues today.' Forty miles north of Eureka, the park includes Big Lagoon, Stone Lagoon, and Freshwater Lagoon, as well as Dry Lagoon, which is now a marsh, bordered by dunes, forests, prairies, and coastal scrub. With such varied habitats, wildlife thrives. On a single visit, you can see whales and elk, trout and salmon, pelicans and woodpeckers. Visitors can hike the California Coastal Trail and paddle, swim, and fish at the lagoons. There's even a paddle-in and hike-in campground in the forest at Ryan's Cove'and kayaks and paddleboards for rent at Stone Lagoon Visitor Center. In May or early June, take a short drive up Stagecoach Hill to see the blaze of color along Azalea Nature Trail.