Arcata Community Forest

In 1955 Arcata dedicated this forest as the first municipally owned forest in California. It still does what it was set up to do: the city selectively harvests timber, the revenue funds the management, and the whole thing stays open to the public. Voters formalised the arrangement with a Multiple Use Management Plan in 1979.

What that means on the ground is second-growth coast redwood starting at the eastern edge of downtown and climbing to about 1,010 feet, threaded with roughly eleven miles of trails, service roads, bridges, stairways and corduroy roads over the ravines. Redwood Park at the east ends of 11th and 14th Streets is the main way in, and it has the restrooms, playground and picnic tables.

One quirk that trips up newcomers: the trail markers show numbers, not names. Trail 4, Trail 9, Trail 12. Carry the city's trail map or you'll be navigating by vibes.

Dogs are welcome on leash. Bikes are allowed on designated trails, with restrictions marked on the map. Night riding is prohibited — the forest closes sunset to sunrise, and the city is explicit that night use disrupts nocturnal wildlife.

It's a working forest, so timber operations can close sections. The city also asks people to stay off the trails when they're wet, which makes summer and early fall the better bet for trail conditions.

Camping is prohibited throughout Arcata's parks and forest lands.

The headwaters of several Arcata streams rise in here, which is part of why it was protected in the first place.