Stone Lagoon (Chah-Pekw O'Ket'-toh)
41.2306, -124.1028
- Nearest town
- Trinidad
- Map status
- Verified pin
- Visit conditions
- Check before travel
- Research reviewed
- Aug 17, 2026
Field guide
Know before you go
- Visitor center
- Chah-pekw O' Ket'-toh, 15336 Highway 101, Trinidad — the first tribally operated visitor center in the California state park system
- Center hours
- Listed Mon–Sat 9:30am–4pm as of November 2023. Confirm on (707) 488-2700
- Day-use hours
- Sunrise to sunset
- Fee
- Free. No entrance or parking fees. Kayak and paddleboard rental rates aren't published on parks.ca.gov — ask the center or check its online shop
- Ocean barrier
- 1.5 miles of sand; breaches infrequently, with years between breaks
- Camping
- Six boat-in environmental sites, first come first served, no reservations. Register in person 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 states no season
- Paddling
- Carry-down boat access; kayak and paddleboard rentals include life vest, paddle with strap and dry bag
- Fishing
- Artificial lures with barbless hooks. California license required at 16 and over
- Hiking
- California Coastal Trail north to Ryan's Cove and back, 4.5 miles round trip
- Dogs
- Prohibited in campsites, on trails and in dune areas; not to be left unattended. Service animals excepted
- Accessibility
- Visitor center is ADA accessible with a lagoon-view deck; beach wheelchair available on request
- Facilities
- Interpretive exhibits, restrooms, picnicking, carry-down boat access
- Wildlife
- River otters and grazing Roosevelt elk; park-wide, over 200 bird species
- Access
- Paved, directly off U.S. Highway 101 between Trinidad and Orick
- Safety
- Afternoon winds can create treacherous conditions, rogue waves and ocean-side rip currents. Do not approach elk
The place
About Stone Lagoon (Chah-Pekw O'Ket'-toh)
A mile and a half of sand is all that separates Stone Lagoon from the Pacific, and it breaks rarely — State Parks describes years between breaches. That's what makes this a lagoon you can paddle rather than a bay you can't.
On 1 June 2020 the Yurok Tribe began operating the visitor center here, under what the Tribe describes as the first Joint Powers Authority agreement ever struck between the California Department of Parks and Recreation and a tribal government. It was announced with a five-year term, signed by Yurok Chairman Joseph L. James and North Coast Redwoods District Superintendent Victor Bjelajac. Nothing has been published about what has happened to the agreement since. The renovated Chah-pekw O' Ket'-toh Visitor Center held its grand opening on 7 April 2022 — both dates circulate, and both are right, for different events.
Yurok families lived in villages including Chah-pekw and Cho-chkwee beside this lagoon until Gold Rush settler violence; today's Yurok citizens descend from the survivors who stayed. Cultural Resources Director and Tribal Heritage Preservation Officer Rosie Clayburn manages the center, staffed with Yurok interpreters.
The building sits directly on Highway 101 at 15336, with free parking, a deck over the water and ADA access. A beach wheelchair can be checked out on (707) 488-2700. Published hours are Monday to Saturday, 9:30am to 4pm, from a November 2023 sheet — call first.
Kayaks and paddleboards rent here, each with a life vest, a paddle with a strap and a dry bag.
Paddle in the morning. Afternoon wind is what turns this lagoon dangerous.
Same area
Explore nearby
Local planning questions
Frequently asked
Who runs the Stone Lagoon visitor center?
The Yurok Tribe. It began operating the center on 1 June 2020 under a Joint Powers Authority agreement with the California Department of Parks and Recreation — the first agreement of its kind between State Parks and a tribal government. The renovated center reopened with a grand opening on 7 April 2022.
Can you kayak on Stone Lagoon?
Yes. It's one of the park's three paddleable lagoons, with carry-down boat access, and kayaks and paddleboards rent at the visitor center — each rental comes with a life vest, a paddle with a strap and a dry bag. Rates aren't published by State Parks, so contact the center. Go early: afternoon winds are the documented hazard here.
How do you camp at Stone Lagoon?
By boat, and only by boat. There are six environmental campsites accessible only by water, run first come first served with no reservations, and you register in person at the Sue-meg State Park kiosk, (707) 677-3570. The 2015 park brochure describes them as open Memorial Day through Labor Day; the newer info sheet omits a season.
Is there a fee at Stone Lagoon?
No. State Parks lists the park as free with no entrance or parking fees, and parking at the visitor center is free. Boat rentals and a fishing license are the only costs, and rental pricing isn't published online.
Are dogs allowed at Stone Lagoon?
Not in campsites, on trails or in dune areas, and dogs can't be left unattended anywhere in the park. Service animals are excepted. State Parks doesn't publish a separate policy for the visitor center grounds.
Official and supporting sources
- Humboldt Lagoons State Park
- Chah-pekw O' Ket'-toh Visitor Center
- Park info sheet (November 2023)
- Park brochure (2015)
- Yurok Tribe announcement (May 2020)
- Visit Yurok Country — kayaking at Chah-pekw O' Ket'-toh
- Research source — lostcoastoutpost.com
Research reconciled 2026-08-17. Closures, fees, permits and hours can change.