South of town off Hwy 101, this beach has excellent camping, but can get very crowded and is a favorite with traveling homeless folks; keep a close eye on your valuables. Pitch your tent in the dunes (look for natural windbreaks). Facilities include pit toilets, cold water, picnic tables and fire rings.
Clam Beach State Campground
North Coast & Redwoods
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
28.85 MILES
Famous for some of the world's best virgin redwood groves and unspoiled coastline, this 14,000-acre section of Redwood National & State Parks has…
20.34 MILES
This park is the southernmost of a patchwork of state and federally administered lands under the umbrella of Redwood National & State Parks. After picking…
15.19 MILES
A 67-acre old-growth redwood grove is a surprising green gem in the middle of a residential neighborhood. It has biking and hiking trails, a children’s…
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Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge
19.69 MILES
This pristine wildlife refuge protects wetland habitats for more than 200 species of resident birds and their feathered friends migrating annually along…
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9.91 MILES
Coastal bluffs jut out to sea at this 640-acre state park, where sandy beaches abut rocky headlands. Easy access to dramatic coastline makes this is a…
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Arcata Marsh & Wildlife Sanctuary
9.08 MILES
On the shores of Humboldt Bay, this sanctuary has 5 miles of walking and biking trails, plus outstanding birding. The Redwood Region Audubon Society…
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13.5 MILES
The best community historical museum on this stretch of the coast houses a set of typically musty relics – needlework hankies and paintings of the area’s…
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8.62 MILES
The university on the northeastern side of town holds the Campus Center for Appropriate Technology (CCAT), a world leader in developing sustainable…
Nearby North Coast & Redwoods attractions
1. HSU Telonicher Marine Laboratory
4.78 MILES
Near Edwards St, this marine lab has a self-guided tour that leads to a touch tank, several aquariums (look for the red octopus) and an enormous whale jaw…
4.89 MILES
This small museum is a good place to learn about the indigenous communities of California's northern coast with a sizable collection of Yurok baskets and…
8.62 MILES
The university on the northeastern side of town holds the Campus Center for Appropriate Technology (CCAT), a world leader in developing sustainable…
8.71 MILES
This 1914 movie theater is reputed to be the oldest in the US. It reopened under independent ownership in 2016 after a period of closure and now screens…
8.77 MILES
This handsome 1915 building was designed by a well known San Francisco architect of the time, W H Weeks. Built as a hotel, the first guests were…
8.83 MILES
Across from Arcata Plaza, the creaking halls of this 1857 mercantile building have received a handsome upgrade and now lead to restaurants, some tasteful…
7. Arcata Marsh & Wildlife Sanctuary
9.08 MILES
On the shores of Humboldt Bay, this sanctuary has 5 miles of walking and biking trails, plus outstanding birding. The Redwood Region Audubon Society…
9.91 MILES
Coastal bluffs jut out to sea at this 640-acre state park, where sandy beaches abut rocky headlands. Easy access to dramatic coastline makes this is a…