Eureka Waterfront Trail

Six and a third miles of paved bayfront cross Eureka end to end, and the city built it in pieces. That's the City of Eureka's figure; the county visitors bureau publishes 6.5 miles. Either way it runs continuously now, from the south end of town to Tydd Street on the eastern edge.

The Hikshari' Trail came first, opening in 2012 — 1.5 miles from Elk River Parkway along the bay to the foot of Truesdale Street. Phase A picks up there, running behind the Bayshore Mall to the Del Norte Street Fishing Pier, with outdoor fitness equipment along the way. Phase B follows Railroad Avenue and Waterfront Drive past the marina and the downtown Boardwalk. Phase C runs south of Highway 255 along north Humboldt Bay and Eureka Slough.

One structural detail on Phase C is worth knowing: the undercrossing beneath the Highway 101 bridge is, in the City's words, the only alternative route for pedestrians and non-motorized vehicles to cross U.S. 101 at that point. If you're on foot or two wheels and need to get across, that's the crossing.

Bird watching is a headline use, not an afterthought. Interpretive panels along the route cover migrant and vagrant species in the willow patches, marine life, railroad history and Wiyot village life. A boardwalk spans the salt marsh behind Blue Ox Millworks. Eight interactive artist benches are planned along the waterfront under a $90,000 California Arts Council grant.

Parking sits at Truesdale Avenue just south of the Bayshore Mall, on Hilfiker Lane and at Pound Road at the south end, plus nine further access points including the Herrick Avenue Park & Ride and Del Norte Street.

The City publishes no hours, fee, surface type, dog policy or accessibility detail for the trail. The regional link toward Arcata, the Humboldt Bay Trail South, is a separate 3.8-mile County of Humboldt project whose official page hasn't been updated to reflect current status.