Humboldt Lagoons State Park
41.2265, -124.0847
- Nearest town
- Trinidad
- Map status
- Verified pin
- Visit conditions
- Check before travel
- Research reviewed
- Aug 17, 2026
Field guide
Know before you go
- The lagoons
- Big (O'Ket'-toh), Dry (Cho'ch-kwee), Stone (Chah-Pekw O'Ket'-toh), Freshwater (See-goh-noy' O'ket'-ue'r)
- Location
- 15336 U.S. Highway 101, Trinidad — 40 miles north of Eureka, 55 miles south of Crescent City
- Hours
- Day-use areas sunrise to sunset
- Fee
- Free. No entrance or parking fees
- Visitor center
- Chah-pekw O' Ket'-toh, operated by the Yurok Tribe. Listed Mon–Sat 9:30am–4pm as of November 2023 — confirm before you go
- Hiking
- California Coastal Trail north to Ryan's Cove, 4.5 miles round trip. Stagecoach Hill / Azalea Nature Trail is named but not measured
- Camping
- Six boat-in environmental sites at Stone Lagoon, first come first served. Register at the Sue-meg State Park kiosk, (707) 677-3570
- Camping season
- The 2015 brochure says Memorial Day through Labor Day; the 2023 info sheet gives no season. Worth a call
- Dry Lagoon Campground
- Listed as temporarily closed on the November 2023 info sheet. No current closure is posted online
- Paddling
- Big, Stone and Freshwater are the wet lagoons. Freshwater has the best wind protection
- Fishing
- California license required at 16 and over. Barbless hooks at Big Lagoon; artificial lures with barbless hooks at Stone. Freshwater holds largemouth bass, catfish, cutthroat and stocked rainbow trout
- Dogs
- Prohibited in campsites, on trails and in dune areas, and may not be left unattended. Service animals excepted
- Accessibility
- The visitor center is ADA accessible and a beach wheelchair is available — call (707) 488-2700
- Facilities
- Restrooms, drinking water, picnic areas, carry-down boat access and boat ramps, kayak and paddleboard rentals at the visitor center
- Boat parking
- 10 spaces for vehicles with trailers, 2 carry-down access points
- Wildlife
- Over 200 bird species, including bald eagles, peregrine falcons and threatened western snowy plovers. Roosevelt elk, black bears, bobcats, river otters, whales, dolphins, sea lions. Big Lagoon holds the endangered tidewater goby
- Safety
- Afternoon winds can turn conditions treacherous; rogue waves and rip currents on the ocean side. Check tide tables to avoid being trapped
The place
About Humboldt Lagoons State Park
Four lagoons, one park: Big, Dry, Stone and Freshwater, strung along Highway 101 between Trinidad and Orick, 40 miles north of Eureka. State Parks calls the system they belong to the largest in the United States. The Yurok names are O'Ket'-toh, Cho'ch-kwee, Chah-Pekw O'Ket'-toh and See-goh-noy' O'ket'-ue'r, and this is Ner'-er'-nerh coastal Yurok land — occupied for generations before 1775 contact, and cut apart after the 1850 gold discovery forced relocation and killed roughly two thirds of the population.
Each lagoon behaves differently. Big Lagoon breaches seasonally after heavy rain. Stone Lagoon's 1.5-mile sand barrier breaks years apart. Freshwater is fully enclosed, which makes it the one to paddle when the wind is up. Dry Lagoon was drained by farmers who failed at growing anything and is now marsh.
Entry is free and so is parking. Day-use areas run sunrise to sunset.
The Chah-pekw O' Ket'-toh Visitor Center on 101 is run by the Yurok Tribe — the first tribally operated visitor center in the California state park system. It's ADA accessible and keeps a beach wheelchair you can check out by calling (707) 488-2700. Published hours of Monday to Saturday, 9:30am to 4pm, date from November 2023, so call ahead.
Camping is six boat-in sites at Stone Lagoon, first come first served, registered in person at the Sue-meg State Park kiosk, (707) 677-3570. Dry Lagoon Campground was listed as temporarily closed on that same 2023 sheet and nothing has been posted since.
Bring a fishing license if you're 16 or older. Barbless hooks at Big Lagoon, artificial lures with barbless hooks at Stone.
Roosevelt elk graze the lagoon edges. Don't approach them, for any reason.
Same area
Explore nearby
Local planning questions
Frequently asked
How much does it cost to visit Humboldt Lagoons State Park?
Nothing. State Parks lists the park as free with no entrance or parking fees. A California fishing license is the only thing you'll need to buy, and only if you're 16 or older and planning to fish.
Can you camp at Humboldt Lagoons?
Yes, at Stone Lagoon — six environmental campsites reachable only by boat, first come first served, with no reservations taken. You register in person at the Sue-meg State Park kiosk, (707) 677-3570. The 2015 brochure describes the sites as open Memorial Day through Labor Day, but the newer info sheet doesn't state a season, so confirm. Dry Lagoon Campground was listed as temporarily closed in November 2023.
Are dogs allowed at Humboldt Lagoons State Park?
Not in campsites, on trails or in dune areas, and they can't be left unattended anywhere in the park. Service animals are excepted. The dune restriction matters here — western snowy plovers are a threatened species nesting on this coast.
Which lagoon is best for kayaking?
Freshwater Lagoon, if wind is a concern — State Parks names it as offering the best wind protection, and it's fully enclosed. Big and Stone are also open to paddling. Kayak and paddleboard rentals are available at the Stone Lagoon visitor center. Afternoon winds can make all of them rough.
Is the visitor center open?
The Chah-pekw O' Ket'-toh Visitor Center is listed as open Monday through Saturday, 9:30am to 4pm, but that comes from a State Parks info sheet dated November 2023. Call (707) 488-2700 to confirm before making the drive.
Official and supporting sources
- Official site
- Park info sheet (November 2023)
- Park brochure (2015)
- Park posts and closures
- California Division of Boating and Waterways facility record
Research reconciled 2026-08-17. Closures, fees, permits and hours can change.