Patrick’s Point

PARK: Patrick’s Point
LOCATION: Located 25 miles north of Eureka California, and 56 miles south of Crescent City.
SIZE: 640 acres.
NATURAL SETTING: Patrick’s Point is a tree- and meadow-covered headland with a broad sandy beach to the north. Although the park is in California’s coastal redwood country, the dense forests are made up of spruce, hemlock, pine, fir and red alder that stretch over the headland. Several “sea stacks” or tall islands that have been formed off of the point from surf-induced erosion stand offshore. Trails wind down to the water where if you bring your fishing pole you can expect to catch ling cod, greenlings, sea trout and rock cod. This park offers great opportunities to explore tide pools, search for agates and driftwood, watch whales and sea lions.
AMENITIES: The park offers several miles of hiking trails, a recreated Yurok Village, a native plant garden, visitor center, three family campgrounds totaling 124 campsites, two group camps, a camp for hikers and bicyclists, and three group picnic areas.
WHAT TO EXPECT: 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 are more frequent in spring and fall. Rainfall averages about 60 inches a year, most of it falls between October and April. A crowd can develop here due to a relatively easy commute and a long left point. However, the strength of the wave and potentially dangerous conditions are what should be of most concern.  
WHAT MAKES IT GREAT: The total package for an outdoors camping trip. It is relatively accessible with great trails and amenities.  A must: hike in the Octopus Trees Grove, one of the few remaining old-growth Sitka spruce stands in California.