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Trinidad
CAPPING A STRING OF gorgeous
seaside settings along the Humboldt
Coast is Trinidad. Clinging to the rocky
coastline, the town of 300 homes looks
out on Trinidad Harbor, dotted with
seabirds, fishing boats and kayaks. The
pier extends out into the bay, over which
looms Trinidad Head and bluffs lined
with trails. Beaches to the north and
south are also a big draw.
You could charter a boat ride on the
harbor, go tide-pooling on Indian beach
or climb the steps to Memorial Lighthouse.
Or, you could meander the trails
of Elk Head to gaze at dolphins and
humpback whales passing by.
“The ocean is the big thing,” says City
Councilmember and HSU alum Julie
Fulkerson. Other Fulkerson favorites include
visiting the ancient Yurok Village
of Tsurai and sampling wines at Moonstone
Crossing’s new tasting room.
In addition, HSU’s Telonicher Marine
Laboratory conducts oceanographic and
biological research in town. It maintains
invertebrates for study, conducts dives
and operates the Coral Sea, the university’s
oceangoing research vessel berthed
in Eureka. The lab offers tours, too.
humboldt.edu/marinelab
Kayak Kulture
SOMETIMES IT SEEMS THAT every
other vehicle in Arcata is equipped with
a fully loaded kayak. It’s not clear when
kayaking became The Thing To Do, but
it is. The appeal is multifold: Kayaking
is high exertion but low impact, you
can make it as easy or as hard as you
want, and it takes you directly into
Humboldt’s most stunning scenery.
Sea kayaking is Helen Wilson’s passion,
and as president of Explore North
Coast, her enthusiasm is contagious.
She says a good starting point for the
neophyte is Trinidad Harbor. “It’s a gentle
place to launch. Open ocean, but very
protected.” The sea life is stunning too,
with tidepool denizens such as starfish
and anemones emerging at low tide.
She says Hookton Slough on the
south end of Humboldt Bay is good for
a leisurely trek and for sighting migrating
geese. And Big Lagoon to the north
offers an ocean-like setting with warm,
calm water and a sandy bottom. “It’s
perfect for skill development, exercise
or just playing,” Wilson says.
There are many more paddle-perfect
spots. For those who want a lesson or two,
check with HSU’s Center Activities.
explorenorthcoast.net
humboldt.edu/centeractivities
Take Me to the River
HUMBOLDT COUNTY’S CREEKS,
STREAMS and rivers are the bioregion’s
bloodstream, linking forests to ocean. They
also connect outdoors-folk to recreation,
and every curve seems to be someone’s
favorite place for swimming, kayaking or
just lounging on a hot summer day.
Rivers range from the mighty to the
minuscule, each with its own personality.
The Klamath, Eel, Trinity and Mad
are the big-league rivers. Smaller waterways
include the Van Duzen, Mattole,
Salmon, Elk, Bear and Little rivers.
Few know Humboldt’s rivers as well
as Smokey Pittman. An HSU-trained
geomorphologist, Pittman came to
Humboldt State in 1990 to get his master’s
degree and never left. He is drawn
to the waterways for his work and pleasure.
“We have tons of rivers that exist
in their natural state,” he says.
Still, some rivers require repair. Margaret
Lang, a professor of environmental
resources engineering at HSU, performs
restoration projects throughout
the region with the help of her students.
Computer-optimized culverts restore
salmonid access, helping to reinstate
free flows for the fish.
28 HUMBOLDT MAGAZINE | Spring 2010