Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Getting to the beaches of Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge is easy – a free parking lot for Ma-le'l Dunes – North Unit is located near the end of North Ma-le'l Dunes Road. From this parking lot you need to walk on a hiking trail that will eventually lead to the beach in Ma-le'l Dunes - North Unit. It is important to note that North Ma-le'l Dunes Road is open only between Friday and Monday. From Tuesday to Thursday you need to walk north along the shoreline from the free parking lot of another separate area called Ma-le'l Dunes – South Unit (which is situated near the intersection between Young Lane and Vera Linda Lane) in order to get to the beach in Ma-le'l Dunes - North Unit. 

Located near the communities of Eureka and Arcata, Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge is a large federally-protected wildlife area that primarily conserves the wetland habitats for migratory water birds. The main part of the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge does not have a beach, but it manages two nearby sand dune fields named Lanphere Dunes and Ma-le’l Dunes–North Unit. These two sand dune fields have two separate unnamed beaches with brown sand.  

The beaches in Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge do not have lifeguards. However, the area near the beach in Ma-le’l Dunes – North Unit offers several amenities including picnic tables and restrooms. In addition, the area near the beach in Lanphere Dunes also offers hiking trails. Dogs are not allowed in any part of Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. 

The main part of Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge offers many fun activities including hiking, wildlife watching, hunting, boating, and kayaking. This part of the refuge also has hiking trails that offer a unique insight into the interesting local biodiversity. A designated waterfowl hunting area is available for use in this part of the refuge during hunting season from October to January.

The beaches in Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge offer many activities including hiking, wildlife-watching, sunbathing, and beachcombing. Water activities like surfing and swimming are unsafe in the water as the water near the beaches has dangerous currents and cold temperatures. You can also view many kinds of birds and animals in the area around the beaches in Lanphere and Ma-le’l Dunes including ospreys, porcupines, and foxes. You can also explore the interesting sand dunes present around these beaches via hiking trails. However, if you are planning to explore the area around Lanphere Dunes, please keep in mind that you need to have a permit or be a part of a guided tour for doing so. For more information regarding the guided tours conducted around Lanphere Dunes, you can call Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge at (707) 733-5406.

You can get to the beach in Lanphere Dunes by walking north along the shoreline from the beach in Ma-le'l Dunes - North Unit. It is important to note that these two beaches are situated within a 25-minute drive from the main portion of Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge (which is situated near 1020 Ranch Road in the community of Loleta).

There are many attractions near Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Table Bluff County Park is a recreational park that offers many fun activities including fishing, paragliding, and hiking. In addition, this factory also organizes interesting cheese tasting sessions. If you are looking for another attraction near Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Sequoia Park Zoo is the oldest zoo in California and has African lions, polar bears, wallaroos, kinkajous, and camels.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Gill’s By The Bay is a popular restaurant that offers Instagram-worthy views and fresh local seafood including smoked salmon and clam chowder. Humboldt Bay Bistro offers French home-cooked dishes, and amazing Californian cuisine. Cafe Waterfront offers fresh local seafood, steaks, and sandwiches.  If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge, the modestly priced The Greene Lily is 24 minutes away by car and features an outdoor dining area. In addition, the restaurant serves hearty breakfast and lunch dishes.

If you are looking for a hotel near Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge, there are many great nearby options. The 4-Star Gingerbread Mansion Inn offers fantastic Instagram-worthy views of the Eel River and also offers many amenities including a hot tub, a spa, a sauna, a garden with a sitting area, and complimentary breakfast & afternoon tea.  A more affordable hotel is the 3-StarHoliday Inn Express & Suites Eureka which has a hot tub, an indoor pool, and complimentary breakfast. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge, the 2-StarComfort Inn Humboldt Bay offers many amenities including two pools, a hot tub, and a complimentary breakfast.