Damnation Creek Beach(Del Norte Coast Redwoods)

Located to the south of Crescent City, Damnation Creek Trail Beach is a narrow and long rocky beach with interesting rock formations. This beach is situated below steep oceanfront bluffs and is a part of a state park known as Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park. There is a pyramid-shaped rock arch that is just offshore near the southern part of the beach. The Damnation Creek flows through the beach into the Pacific Ocean. 

Damnation Creek Trail Beach does not have lifeguards or any other amenities, so plan your trip accordingly. 

Damnation Creek Trail Beach offers many fun activities including beachcombing, sunbathing, tide-pooling, hiking, and wildlife watching. The water near this beach is unsuitable for recreational aquatic activities including surfing and swimming as the water near this beach is known to have frequent rip currents, dangerous waves, and cold temperatures. Depending on the time of the year, you can see many kinds of animals in the water near Damnation Creek Trail Beach including seals, sea lions, and migrating gray whales. If you like tide-pooling, there are many tidepools in Damnation Creek Trail Beach which are home to sea anemones, crabs, and sea stars. The rock formations present around Damnation Creek Trail Beach offer some great Instagram-worthy photos.  

Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park has interesting hiking and biking trails that you can use to explore the vibrant biodiversity and rich history of Del Norte County. This state park is home to many animals including Roosevelt elks, mountain lions, bobcats, bears, snakes, and lizards. This state park is also home to many kinds of birds including Steller's jays, hawks, and the endangered marbled murrelets and northern spotted owls. This state park also has a campground called the Mill Creek Campground which accommodates both tents and RVs. If you are planning to camp in Mill Creek Campground, you can call the California Department of Parks and Recreation at (800) 444-7275 or you can visit Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park’s web page on the California Department of Parks and Recreation’s website for more details.

Getting to Damnation Creek Trail Beach is hard - if you are driving, the trailhead for Damnation Creek Trail (which is the access trail for this beach) is situated near 15978 Redwood Highway / United States Highway 101. There is a free parking lot near this trailhead, which is easily identifiable via a signpost. Damnation Creek Trail offers a grueling downhill hike through dense forests to Damnation Creek Trail Beach. It is important to note that the final bridge on this trail is currently broken and the rest of the trail beyond this bridge is officially closed. However, many intrepid hikers often try to cross this dilapidated bridge (which is unsafe) or hike around the ravine below it to get to Damnation Creek Trail Beach. If you are traveling via bicycle, you can access Damnation Creek Trail Beach via the Last Chance Section of the California Coastal Trail. This trail starts at Enderts Beach, which is six miles away from Damnation Creek Trail Beach. We recommend visiting Damnation Creek Trail Beach during low tide as during high tide this beach is almost completely submerged. 

There are many attractions near Damnation Creek Trail Beach.  The Crescent Beach Overlook offers fantastic Instagram-worthy views of the Pacific Ocean and the Crescent City shoreline. This spot also has picnic tables and interpretive displays on the local history and geology. Ocean World has interesting marine exhibits that are home to many kinds of animals including seals, sea lions, sharks, and ray fishes. This aquarium also has exhibits highlighting tidepools. In addition, visitors can also pet sharks and witness amazing seal/sea lion shows here. If you are looking for another attraction near Damnation Creek Trail Beach, Battery Point Lighthouse and Museum is an important local historical landmark and has a lighthouse dating back to the 19th century. The lighthouse and its museum offer a unique insight into the rich history of northern California. It is important to note that this lighthouse and the museum are only accessible during low tides as they are located slightly offshore. In addition, the lighthouse and the museum are open to the public daily from April through September and on weekends from October through March.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Damnation Creek Trail Beach. Chart Room offers a pleasant oceanfront dining experience. In addition, the restaurant serves delicious pasta, seafood, steaks, soups, and breakfast dishes. Harvest Cafe offers delicious lunch, breakfast, and dinner dishes that are made from the freshest organic ingredients. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Damnation Creek Trail Beach, the modestly priced Los Compadres Mexican Restaurant offers fantastic tacos, burritos, and enchiladas.

If you are looking for a hotel near Damnation Creek Trail Beach, there are many great nearby options. The 3-Star Best Western Plus Northwoods Inn offers many amenities including a pool, restaurant, complimentary breakfast, and fitness center. A more affordable hotel is the 2-Star Anchor Beach Inn Crescent City which offers many amenities including complimentary breakfast and a hot tub. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Damnation Creek Trail Beach, the modestly priced Motel Trees is located conveniently close to some of the major landmarks in Klamath. This motel also offers a seasonal restaurant and complimentary breakfast.