Patrick's Point State Park - Palmer's Point(Cannonball Beach)

Located in the southern end of Patrick’s Point State Park, Patrick’s Point State Park - Palmer’s Point - also officially known as Cannonball Beach and Palmer’s Point Beach - is a rocky beach with some sandy parts. This beach is situated below steep oceanfront bluffs and has cool weather. Patrick’s Point State Park - Palmer’s Point does not have lifeguards. However, the area around this beach has picnic tables and barbeque spots. Dogs are not allowed on the beach.

Patrick’s Point State Park - Palmer’s Point offers many fun activities including beachcombing, sunbathing, tidepooling, hiking, wildlife watching, fishing, and picnicking. The water near Patrick’s Point State Park - Palmer’s Point is unsafe for recreational activities including swimming and surfing as the water here has dangerous waves, considerable depth, strong currents, and extremely cold temperatures. In addition, the water here also has severe undertows, making it look treacherously calm. We strongly recommend that you don’t leave children unattended anywhere near the water in Patrick’s Point State Park - Palmer’s Point as sneaker waves can pull people offshore. Depending on the time of the year, you can see many kinds of animals in the water near this beach including seals, sea lions, and migrating whales. Patrick’s Point State Park - Palmer’s Point also has interesting tidepools which can be explored during low tide - these tidepools are home to many wonderful creatures including sea stars and chiton. If you like birdwatching, you can see many kinds of shore birds around Patrick’s Point State Park - Palmer’s Point. You can also explore the interesting rock formations present around Patrick’s Point State Park - Palmer’s Point during low tide. If you are planning to fish in the water near Patrick’s Point State Park - Palmer’s Point, please make sure that you follow the local fishing regulations. Picnic tables present in the blufftop area above Patrick’s Point State Park - Palmer’s Point offer a memorable oceanfront picnicking experience and excellent Instagram-worthy views of the Pacific Ocean and the North California shoreline.

Patrick’s Point State Park is spread over one square mile. The park has hiking trails which offer a unique insight into the vibrant coastal biodiversity of Humboldt County. In addition, the state park also has a visitor center, a campground (which accommodates both tents and RVs), a native plant garden, and a reconstructed Native American Yurok village (known as the Sumêg Village). The Sumêg Village also organizes interesting Native American cultural ceremonies which offer a unique and memorable insight into the culture and beliefs of the local Indigenous people. As an interesting fact, portions of the 1997 film The Lost World: Jurassic Park were filmed in this state park. If you are planning to camp in Patrick’s Point State Park, you can visit the Patrick’s Point State Park’s webpage in the California Department of Parks and Recreation’s website for more helpful information regarding the camp rules and amenities. 

Getting to Patrick’s Point State Park - Palmer’s Point is easy - the paid parking lot for this beach is situated near the end of Palmer’s Point Road. Once you park here, you can easily access the beach via an access trail which has a stairway leading down to Patrick’s Point State Park - Palmer’s Point. We recommend wearing appropriate footwear while visiting Patrick’s Point State Park - Palmer’s Point as the beach has many large rocks. In addition, it is also important to note that this beach can also get foggy.

As an interesting fact, the beach reportedly received its alternative name - Cannonball Beach - as it has many cannonball-sized rocks.

There are many attractions near Patrick’s Point State Park - Palmer’s Point. Trinidad Memorial Lighthouse was built in the late 1940s and is a replica of another nearby lighthouse named Trinidad Head Lighthouse, which was constructed in 1871. The Trinidad Memorial Lighthouse also has an original Fresnel lens dating back to the 19th century, which was previously installed in the Trinidad Head Lighthouse. The Trinidad Civic Club organizes an annual ceremony on the lighthouse premises on Memorial Day to commemorate the lives of people who have died or have been buried at sea. Trinidad Museum offers interesting exhibitions that offer a unique insight into Trinidad’s vibrant history.  The museum also has a wide collection of Native American artifacts. In addition, the museum premises also have a native plant garden and a seasonal pond. The museum also hosts many interesting events throughout the year including lectures and discussions. If you are looking for another attraction near Patrick’s Point State Park - Palmer’s Point, Humboldt State University’s Telonicher Marine Lab is open to the public for tours throughout the week. Visitors can explore many interesting exhibits in the lab along with a unique touch tank. You can visit Telonicher Marine Lab’s webpage at Humboldt State University’s website for more information regarding the visiting hours.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Patrick’s Point State Park - Palmer’s Point. Moonstone Grill is an upscale restaurant which offers a pleasant oceanfront dining experience and serves excellent gourmet dishes. Seascape Restaurant offers delicious seafood. In addition, the restaurant also offers amazing breakfast dishes, salads, and sandwiches. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Patrick’s Point State Park - Palmer’s Point, the modestly priced Beachcomber Cafe offers delicious breakfast dishes, English muffins, sandwiches, salads, and soups.

If you are looking for a hotel near Patrick’s Point State Park - Palmer’s Point, there are many great nearby options. Lost Whale Inn offers many amenities including beautiful gardens, an outdoor hot tub, a sauna, complimentary breakfast, and afternoon tea and wine. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star View Crest Lodge which offers complimentary breakfast and is located conveniently close to some of the major landmarks in Humboldt County. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Patrick’s Point State Park - Palmer’s Point, the 2-Star Emerald Forest Cabins & RV offers accommodation in exquisite cabins. The hotel also offers many amenities including bike rentals, a playground and horseshoe pits, a video arcade, a store, and a laundry room.