The Towns of Humboldt County
Use this page to navigate around the county and choose your base of operations.
Orick—North Coast/Redwood National Park
Trinidad—North Coast
Willow Creek—Rivers & Mountains
McKinleyville—North Central County
Arcata—Central County
Eureka—Central County
Ferndale—Eel River Valley/The Lost Coast
Loleta--Humboldt Wildllife Refuge
Fortuna---South Central
Rio Dell & Scotia—Eel River Valley
Garberville—South County/Redwoods
Shelter Cove—The Lost Coast/South County
Orick: Gateway to Redwood National Park
- Located on Highway 101 about 40 miles north of Eureka.
- Jumping-off point for Redwood National Park attractions including Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, Fern Canyon, Newton Drury Scenic Parkway, Bald Hills Road, Lady Bird Johnson Grove, Elk Meadow & Trillium Falls, Lost Man Creek, Redwood Creek and more.
- Visitor information at the Thomas Kuchel Information Center, Highway 101, one mile south.
- Overnight lodging including motels, B&Bs and vacation rental cabins, RV parks.
- Picnic supplies, gasoline and unique redwood burl & chainsaw sculpture artwork.
- Located on Highway 101, about 20 miles north of Eureka, set amid miles of beaches and stunning coastline, Trinidad is a picturesque fishing village.
- A convenient base for touring Redwood National Park, Patrick’s Point State Park and the beaches, trails and lagoons of northern Humboldt County.
- Attractions: Trinidad Head (hiking trails and views), Trinidad State Beach, Telonicher Marine Lab, Trinidad Memorial Lighthouse, Trinidad Pier, fishing charters and a casino.
- Chamber of Commerce visitor information kiosk near Post Office & Murphy's Market.
- Overnight lodging includes B&Bs, numerous vacation home rentals, and many RV parks and cabins along Patrick’s Point Drive. Groceries and dining in town.
Trinidad Chamber of Commerce Trinidad City Hall
Willow Creek: River Fun & Mountain Sun
- Located on the Trinity River, at the junction of Highways 299 and 96 about one hour east of Highway 101, Willow Creek is the gateway to Six Rivers National Forest.
- Headquarters for Trinity River fishing and whitewater rafting and backcountry touring.
- Attractions: China Flat/Bigfoot Museum, wineries, golf and farm stands.
- Chamber of Commerce visitor center at Highway 299 and Highway 96.
- Overnight lodging includes motels and vacation cabins. Groceries, supplies, guides and equipment rentals available in town.
Willow Creek Chamber of Commerce
Arcata: For the Young at Heart
- Located at the northern end of Humboldt Bay, near the junction of Highways 101 and 299.
- Convenient location for touring Redwood National Park and northern & eastern Humboldt County.
- California Welcome Center (Hwy. 101, Giuntoli exit) with regional visitor information.
- Attractions: Arcata Plaza, Natural History Museum, Arcata Marsh & Wildlife Sanctuary, Arcata Community Forest and Farmers Market.
- Home of Humboldt State University and Humboldt Crabs Baseball.
- Hotels, motels, B&Bs, vacation rentals, dining. Coffee houses & bookshops at plaza.
Arcata Chamber of Commerce Arcata Main Street Arcata City Hall
Eureka: The Victorian Seaport
- Centrally located on Humboldt Bay, less than one hour from Redwood National Park, Humboldt Redwoods State Park, Six Rivers National Forest and most of Humboldt County.
- Eureka is an “open air museum” of Victorian architecture, with hundreds of beautifully preserved and restored residential and commercial buildings.
- Old Town Eureka is a National Register Historic District with shops, restaurants, galleries and museums. The Eureka Boardwalk has views of fishing boats and wildlife.
- Attractions: Fort Humboldt State Historic Park, Morris Graves Museum of Art, Carson Mansion, Sequoia Park & Zoo, Blue Ox Millworks and Samoa Cookhouse
- Chamber of Commerce visitor center at 2112 S. Broadway (Highway 101) at Hawthorne.
- Hotels, motels, B&Bs, vacation rentals and excellent dining, especially in Old Town.
Eureka Chamber of Commerce Eureka Main Street Eureka City Hall
Ferndale: The Victorian Village or “Cream City”
- Located in the farmland of the Eel River Delta, five miles from Highway 101.
- A charming, historic town, where a visit is like taking a step back in time.
- Northern gateway to the Lost Coast; local beaches and country roads & farms.
- Attractions: Ferndale Museum, Kinetic Sculpture Museum, Ferndale Cemetery, Fern Cottage and Humboldt County Fairgrounds.
- Visitor information in the Ferndale Art & Cultural Center, 580 Main Street.
- Bed & Breakfast inns, fine dining and wonderful shopping on Main Street Ferndale.
Ferndale Chamber of Commerce Ferndale City Hall
Loleta: Lo Le Tah are three Wiyot Indian words meaning "A pleasant place at the end of the water."
- Loleta has one of the most scenic vistas of the lower Eel River Valley. You can view dairy farms, livestock ranches, and the Pacific Ocean.
- It is also home to the renowned Loleta Cheese Factory and former Bank of Loleta building (358 Main Street), which was added to the California Historic Buildings list in 1985.
- Attractions: Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge & the Eel River Wildlife Area ,
Table Bluff and Crab Park offering hiking, bird watching, and other recreational activities.
- Many good choices for lodging and dining. Also known for great antique shopping.
- Located on Highway 101 near the junction of Highway 36 (to Red Bluff). 30 minutes north of Humboldt Redwoods State Park.
- An all-American town with nostalgic
- A convenient base for touring the Avenue of the Giants and Humboldt Redwoods State Park, Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park, and the towns of Ferndale, Loleta, Rio Dell & Scotia.
- Attractions:
- Chamber of Commerce visitor information at
Fortuna Chamber of Commerce Fortuna City Hall
Garberville: Gateway to the Redwoods
- Located on Highway 101, just north of the county line, Garberville is the gateway to Humboldt Redwoods State Park, Avenue of the Giants and the Lost Coast.
- Convenient to Richardson Grove State Park, Benbow State Recreation Area, and fishing, swimming, rafting & more on the South Fork of the Eel River.
- Good shopping for picnic and camping supplies, gasoline, etc.
- In summer, Garberville has a much warmer climate than that of Humboldt’s coastal towns.
- Chamber of Commerce visitor information at 782 Redwood Drive.
- Overnight lodging includes several motels and the historic Benbow Inn.
Garberville/Redway Chamber of Commerce
McKinleyville: Rural Charm with Modern Convenience
- Located just off Highway 101, ten miles north of Eureka.
- Location of the Eureka-Arcata airport (ACV) with connections to Sacramento, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Salt Lake City.
- Attractions: Clam Beach, Azalea Reserve, Hiller Park and a large portion of the Hammond Trail (coastal walking, biking and equestrian trail).
- Excellent services including grocery shopping, restaurants, hardware and K-Mart.
- Lodging at airport (Holiday Inn Express), dining on Central Avenue.
McKinleyville Chamber of Commerce
Rio Dell & Scotia: Timber History
- Located on Highway 101, about five miles south of Fortuna.
- Scotia was an original “company town” built around the redwood sawmills. Rio Dell grew up across the Eel River, and was originally called Wildwood.
- Attractions: Scotia museum and Scotia Freshwater Aquarium.
- Lodging at the historic Scotia Inn and the Humboldt Gables motel.
Rio Dell/Scotia Chamber of Commerce Rio Dell City Hall
Shelter Cove: Splendid Isolation
- Located on the rugged Lost Coast, reached by a steep, twisty drive from Garberville/Redway via the Briceland-Shelter Cove Road.
- An isolated community of scenic splendor, ideally situated for enjoying the solitude and majestic beauty of the Lost Coast.
- Attractions: Black Sand Beach, Cape Mendocino Lighthouse, Mal Coombs Park, Golf Course and Fishing Charters.
- Overnight lodging including B&Bs and motels with sweeping views. Dining in town.