Wilson Creek Beach(DeMartin Beach, Wilson Beach)

Located to the north of the town of Klamath, Wilson Creek Beach - also known as Wilson Beach - is a wide beach with dark gray sand and some rocky parts. This beach is situated at the northern end of a cove called the False Klamath Cove and is a part of a state park known as Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park. The Wilson Creek also flows through the beach into the Pacific Ocean. There is a historic ranch house behind this beach which was originally owned by the DeMartin Family. 

While Wilson Creek Beach does not have lifeguards, the beach has many amenities including picnic tables, fire pits, and barbecue spots. The beach also allows dogs on leash.

Wilson Creek Beach offers many fun activities including sunbathing, hiking, picnicking, wildlife watching, tide-pooling, fishing, surfing, and boating. Recreational aquatic activities including swimming, kitesurfing, and kayaking are highly unsafe in the water near Wilson Creek Beach due to its strong currents, dangerous waves, low temperature, and considerable depth. However, despite these hazardous conditions, many surfers often visit this beach as the water here offers thrilling surfing waves, especially in summers. However, if you are planning to surf here, we recommend being very careful and foregoing surfing here if you are a beginner. Depending on the time of the year, you can see many animals in the water near Wilson Creek Beach including seals, sea lions, dolphins, and migrating gray whales. You can also find many interesting tidepools at the northern end of this beach during low tide. This beach offers wonderful views of two rock formations False Klamath Rock and Wilson Rock which are present nearby. There are sandstone cliffsides near the northern end of this beach which are popular among rock climbers. However, if you are planning to rock climb here, we recommend being careful as the rocky areas around these cliffsides can inflict grave injuries. There is a hiking trail near this beach which offers fantastic Instagram-worthy views of the North California shoreline and the Pacific Ocean. As an interesting fact, according to the local Native American legends, the Klamath River earlier used to flow through the false Klamath Cove rather than its current location (which is present a few miles south of this cove). In addition, the area between Wilson Creek and the nearby Lagoon Creek has been often considered to be the boundary between the lands of Native American Yurok and Tolowa people.

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 Wilson Creek Beach is easy - this beach is located near the intersection of Wilson Creek Road and Redwood Highway (which is a part of United States Highway 101) and there is also a free parking lot nearby. However, we recommend visiting this beach wearing appropriate footwear as this beach is known to have lots of driftwood.

There are many attractions near Wilson Creek Beach. The Old Douglas Memorial Bridge Site is a remnant of the Douglas Memorial Bridge which was built in the 1920s and was irreparably damaged by a flood in 1964. This bridge was formerly a part of the Redwood Highway and its most remarkable features were the statues of California bears present along its edges. You can still see some of the statues present on the site even today. The Tour Thru tree (also known as Tour-Thru tree) is a giant redwood tree with a large tunnel running through it. This tree is a popular local attraction and many cars drive through the tunnel within this tree every year. In addition, the area around this tree has picnic tables, restrooms, and a gift shop and is also known to be home to many emu birds. If you are looking for another attraction near Wilson Creek Beach, the Klamath River Overlook offers magnificent views of the Klamath River mouth, the Pacific Ocean, and the northern California shoreline. This overlook also has picnic tables and interesting interpretive displays on the regional history and biodiversity. In addition, this overlook is also a great wildlife watching spot.  

If you get hungry, there are many restaurants near Wilson Creek Beach. The Historic Requa Inn hotel’s restaurant offers fantastic breakfast, lunch, and dinner dishes. Log Cabin Diner offers fantastic breakfast dishes including eggs, burritos, sandwiches, French toasts, and biscuits and gravy. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Wilson Creek Beach, the modestly priced Country Club Bar & Grill offers amazing burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, and fries.  

If you are looking for a hotel near Wilson Creek Beach, there are many great nearby options. The 3-Star Historic Requa Inn offers many amenities including a gazebo with river views, a hot tub, freshly baked cookies, a sunroom, a restaurant, and a lounge with a fireplace. A more affordable hotel is the 2-Star Holiday Inn Express Klamath - Redwood National Park Area which offers many amenities including complimentary breakfast and a pool. The hotel is situated adjacent to a casino with a restaurant. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Wilson Creek Beach, the modestly priced Ravenwood Motel & Suites offers many amenities including complimentary breakfast and a guest lounge which is available in the afternoon.