Clam Beach

Clam Beach is one of the very few places in California where you can camp directly on the beach. Nine or so sandy sites sit behind the dunes with fire rings and picnic tables, first-come first-served, no reservations accepted, ever. The county is unambiguous about that.

Day use is free. Humboldt County charges day-use fees at four parks and this isn't one of them.

The beach runs continuously north into Little River State Beach for about five miles of flat, wide sand — good for walking, kite flying and building things, with a long shallow wave slope that people surf. Dogs can run off leash on the wave slope under voice command, and on leash on the dry sand. Horses are welcome. So are bikes, because the Hammond Trail has its northern terminus right here.

The name is literal. Pacific razor clams bed here, and the regulations are unusual: state code splits the beach into even-year and odd-year sections either side of the south parking lot trailhead. Before you plan a trip around it, check the current status — the entire Humboldt County razor clam fishery has been closed since May 2, 2024 for domoic acid, and had not reopened at the time of writing. Del Norte reopened in July 2025.

Water quality gets monitored April through October, and the county advises avoiding water contact for at least three days after heavy rain. A 2021 study traced bacteria at the beach itself to birds, and upstream Strawberry Creek to cattle.

Sneaker waves and rip currents are the serious hazard. The water is cold enough to disable your limbs in minutes.