---

Preface | TOC | Section 1 | Section 2 | Section 3 | Section 4 | Section 5
Appendix A | Appendix B | Appendix C | Appendix D | Appendix E
Appendix F | Appendix G | Tables | Illustrations | Trails Map

---

Section Three: The Trails

Introduction

3.2 - Community Trails

Regional Trails

Orick | Trinidad-Westhaven | McKinleyville-Fieldbrook | Blue Lake | Willow Creek
Arcata | Eureka | Loleta | Ferndale | Fortuna-Carlotta | Garberville

Illustrations

• Redwood Creek Levee Trail (Trail #1) Horse/hike/bike (Class IV) 2.9 miles
  • Using the Redwood Creek Levee on each bank, this trail would serve Orick residents as well as tourists wishing to gain access to the coast or Redwood National Park. The trail would run on both sides of Redwood Creek and serve as part of the coastal trail when fording near the mouth of the Creek is not possible. Above the Highway 101 bridge, the dike trail would lead to the Redwood Creek Trail within the national park. of particular importance is the improvement of the south dike under the bridge to provide a safe trail for equestrians an well as children going to Orick School. The trail would also form a segment of the proposed trail linking the Coastal Trail with the Trinity mountain Trail (Ref. 3.4).

3.2.2 Trinidad-Westhaven Area

• Strawberry Rock Trail (Trail #2) Hike Permit 4 miles round trip
  • Starting from the end of the Trinidad Frontage Road on the east side of Highway 101, follow the trail through second growth redwoods to reach Strawberry Rock. An. easy trail leads up the north side to the top where an excellent view awaits of the coastline and coastal terraces. A trail permit is required.

• 6th Avenue Trail (Trail #3) Hike 0.2 miles
  • From the end of 6th Avenue in Westhaven follow the Coastal Access Trail leading to Scenic Drive.

• Moonstone Access Trail (Trail #4) Hike/horse 1.2 miles
  • This short trail would start at the Westhaven Post office and continue down the hill under the freeway to the coastal trail on Scenic Drive. The trail then continues to Moonstone Beach County Park and access to beaches and trails to the south.

• Trinidad Coastal Bikeway (Trail #5) Bike 0.5 miles
  • This freeway alternate route starts from Highway 101 at the Patrick's Point Drive turnoff and follows .Patrick's Point Drive to Trinidad. From Trinidad, continue south along Scenic Drive until Highway 101 is reached above Moonstone-Clam Beach.

3.2.3 McKinleyville-Fieldbrook Area

Of all Humboldt County communities, McKinleyville residents have expressed the need for trails, particularly equestrian trails, far more than residents in other areas. An extensive trails network was proposed in the 1973 McKinleyville Recreation Plan for equestrians, hikers, and bicyclists. in addition, McKinleyville trails or suitable trail areas have been indicated in other County documents. The system of trails proposed here is, by and large, a composite of trails previously recommended. A McKinleyville detail map is shown on the trail map in the back pocket of this document.

• Hammond Trail (Trail #6) Hike/horse/bike 6.3 miles
  • Following the historic Hammond Lumber Company railroad grade, the trail would begin at the Mad River Railroad Bridge and extend north to Fischer Road until the old railroad grade is reached just south of Hiller Road. The trail would then follow the railroad grade all the way to Clam Reach County Park. From the Clam Beach staging area, the Coastal Trail would continue north along the beach. many loop route potentials would be possible by returning on trails 6, 8, 10, or 12.

• Dows Prairie Trail (Trail #7) Hike/horse/bike 4.3 miles
  • From Little River Beach State Park, cross the freeway to Little River Drive to the Crannel-Dows Prairie Road turnoff. Follow Dows Prairie Road to the junction of Norton Road and the dirt road east of the golf course. Follow either the dirt road to the Fieldbrook Corridor (Trail #25) or Norton Road to the Central Avenue Trail (Trail #12). The Dows Prairie Trail also provides access to the Baird Road, Clam Beach, and Strawberry Creek Trails (Trail #'s 9, 10, 11).

• South Fork Corridor (Trail #x) Hike/horse/bike (Class IV) Permit 5.5 miles
  • From the Dows Prairie Trail follow Crannel Road to Louisiana Pacific Timber Company land. Trail Permit Required. Follow a designated route until the South Fork Little River Spur Road is reached and proceed to the Louisiana Pacific gate at the north end of the Fieldbrook valley. Follow the "backtrack" road to the Fieldbrook corridor (Trail #24). When the South Fork Corridor Trail is closed, an alternate route would be available to the Fieldbrook Corridor by following Trails 7 and 8 or 10.

• Baird Road Trail (Trail #8) Hike/horse/bike (Class IV) Permit 2.5 miles
  • From Dows Prairie Trail follow Baird Road to the Forest Service Nursery (proposed interpretive site in 1973 McKinleyville Recreation Plan) or the Anchor Tree Farm Road (Permit Trail) leading to Fieldbrook.

• Clam Beach Trail (Trail #9) Hike/horse/bike 0.9 miles
  • Follows Clam Reach Road from Dows Prairie Trail to the Central Avenue Trail and Clam Beach County Park.

• Strawberry Creek Trail (Trail #10) Horse/hike 2.8 miles
  • From the Dows Prairie Trail follow Arthur Avenue running next to Strawberry Creek. The trail ends at the Fieldbrook Corridor Trail.

• Central Avenue Trail (Trail #11) Horse/hike/bike 5.9 miles
  • Clam Beach County Park staging area to Bella Vista Hill. This major trial would provide local residents with a safe access route to forest and coastal trails, the McKinleyville shopping district, County bus stops, and local schools.

• Airport Road Trail (Trail #12) Hike/horse 0.9 miles
  • Central Avenue Trail to the Hamond Trail via Airport and Lets Roads.

• North Widow White Creek Trail (Trail #13) Hike/horse 0.9 miles
  • Central Avenue Trail near Murray Road to the Hammond Trail. Follow North Widow White Creek until trail veers to hit the Fieldbrook Corridor/ Murray Road Trail leading to the Hammond Trail.

• South Widow White Creek Trail (Trail #14) Hike/horse 2.4 miles
  • This stream trail corridor would extend from the Simpson Trails to the junction of the North Widow White Creek and Fieldbrook Corridor (Murray Road) Trails. This important route would serve as the only continuous non-road east-west equestrian-hiking trail connecting hillside riding trails with the coast.

• McKinleyville Avenue Bikeway (Trail #15) 1.0 miles
  • Fieldbrook Corridor (Murray Road) to the Hiller Road Trail. School access route to McKinleyville High and Morris Elementary Schools.

• Railroad Drive Trail (Trail #16) Bike/hike 0.5 miles
  • McKinleyville Avenue Bikeway to the Central Avenue Trail. School access route to McKinleyville Elementry and the Seventh Day Adventist Schools.

• Hiller Road Trail (Trail #17) Hike/horse/bike 1.0 miles
  • Central Avenue Trail to Hammond Trail. Would serve as the major east-west on-street route providing access to the Hammond Trail an well as business transportation access to the McKinleyville Shopping District and county bus stop.

• School Road Bikeway (Trail #18) Bike 1.0 miles
  • Hammond Trail at Fisher Road to the Central Avenue Trail.

• Mill Creek Trail (Trail #29) Hike 0.1 miles
  • This short trail would go from the Central Avenue Trail just slightly down Kill Crook to a small waterfall.

• Azalea Hill Trail (Trail #20) Hike/horse/bike 2.5 miles
  • From Central Avenue Trail follows Sutter Road to Azalea Avenue to the Had River where it is possible during low water to hike or ride horseback on the river bar. Provides access to a short trail In Azalea Reserve State Park.

• Calville Trail (Trail #21) Hike/horse/bike 0.6 miles
  • Trail provides access from the Azalea Hill Trail to Simpson Trails. Prom the Azalea Hill Trail on Sutter Road, follow Park Street to "A" Avenue to the Second Road Trail.

• Second Road Trail (Trail #22) Hike/horse 0.8 miles
  • Existing well used trail from Central Avenue through the proposed Ekland Subdivision land to Second Road leading directly to the Simpson Trails access gate.

• Simpson (Trail #23) Hike/horse 1.3 miles
  • This Simpson Timber Company land has long been used for horseback riding and hiking. Trail Permit Required. Access to these trails from Murry -Fieldbrook Roud and 2nd Road. From the end of the Second Road Trail, a gate allows access to trails in this area. Two additional access gates are located along the Fieldbrook Corridor. From the Simpson Trails, users may take the South Widow White Creek Trail to the Coast.

• Fieldbrook Corridor (Trail #24) Hike/horse/bike 10.0 miles
  • Serving primarily an a recreational loop route, this trail would begin at the Hammond Trail and follow the general route of the Murray Fieldbrook Road to its and near the Mad River. This trail would provide a trail connection to two Simpson Trail access gates and the Strawberry Creek and South Fork Trails. During low water, it is possible to hike or ride on the river and allowing for longer distance rides and loop trips via the Azalea Hill Trail. Bicyclists can cross the river during summer months via the summer bridge off Glendale Road to the Warren Creek Bikeway.

3.2.4 Blue Lake Area

• Glendale Bikeway (Trail #25) Bike 3.3 miles
  • This freeway alternate route begins at the Glendale Drive exit near Fieldbrook valley and continues to the Glendale Drive exit at Blue Lake.

• Sweasey Dam Trail (Trail #26) Hike/horse/bike (Class IV) Permit 1.3 miles round trip
  • From the Mad River Bridge on Hatchery Road, follow the north levee along the river until the Simpson-Mad River logging Road is reached. Follow either the road (trail permit required) or the river bar to the Old Sweasey Dam.

• Butler Valley Bikeway Loop (Trail #27) Bike 30.0 mile
  • From blue Lake, follow Maple Creek Road to Butler Valley Road near Maple Creek. Follow Butler Valley Road follow Kneeland Road for the downhill ride to the Freshwater Bikeway leading to the Old Arcata Road Bikeway.

• Lord Ellis Bikeway Loop (Trail #28) Bike 9 mile loop
  • From Blue Lake From the North Fork Mad River Bridge on Highway 299, follow old 299 to Lord Ellis Summit for the downhill return on new 299 (Ref. 3.5.4.1).

3.2.5 Willow Creek Area

• Community Fitness Trail (Trail #29) Hike/Jog 0.3 miles
  • There is currently a long range plan to develop a community recreation site in the area of the Willow Creek Rodeo Grounds. A short parcours fitness trail may be established on the preimeter of the site.

3.2.6 Arcata Area (Map 3.2)

• Mad River Beach Trail (Trail #30) Horse/hike/bike 4.3 miles
  • Serving to connect the County trail system with the City of Arcata bike system, a bike route would start at Janes Road and follow both Upper Bay Road and Heindon-Iverson Roads to Had River Road leading to the beach. This trail route joins the Hammond Trail at the old railroad bridge and ends at Mad River Beach County Park. This route serves as a key link for connecting McKinleyville and Arcata with a non-freeway bike route. Prom the railroad bridge, a multipurpose horse-bike trail in addition to the bike route would continue to the beach.

• Warren Creek Bikeway (Trail #31) Partial Class IV 2.5 miles
  • From the Glendale Drive Bikeway, follow a dirt road to the river where a bridge is annually installed during summer months only. Proceed to Warren Creek Road and on to West End Road. The county bikeway ends at the Arcata City Limit.

• Bayviev Levee Trail (Trail #32) Hike 5.0 miles
  • This route would give county residents the unique opportunity to view Humboldt Bay from an off-road bayside trail. Starting at Highway 101 at Jacoby Creek Slough, the trail would lead through the salt marsh past the Arcata oxidation ponds, past Jolly Giant Creek along the levee to Samoa Blvd. A connector trail from the levee to the beach would allow for extended trail trips north to the Hammond Trail and south along Samoa beach.

• Warren Creek Bikeway (Trail #33) Bike (Partial Class IV) 2.5 miles
  • From the Glendale Drive Bikeway, follow a dirt road to the river where a bridge is annually installed during the summer months only. Proceed to Warren Creek Road and on to the West End Road. The county bikeway ends at the Arcata City Limits.

• Old Arcata Road-Myrtle Avenue Bikeway (Trail #34) 10.0 miles
  • This major route extends from Arcata to Myrtle Avenue and the Eureka City Limits. Shoulder designation on this route would greatly enhance conditions for recreation and transportation. In addition, safer school access would be provided to Jacoby Creek, Freshwater Worthington, and Lafayette Elementary Schools.

• Sunny Brae Bikeway (Trail #35) 3.5 miles
  • From Old Arcata Road Bikeway, follow Sunny Bras Lane to Buttermilk Lane to Golf Course Road returning to old Arcata Bikeway at Jacoby Creek School.

• Bayside Cutoff Bikeway (Trail #36) 0.5 miles
  • Old Arcata Road Bikeway to Highway 101.

3.2.7 Eureka Area (Map 3.3)

• Indianola Bikeway (Trail #37) 0.5 miles
  • Old Arcata Bikeway to Highway 101.

• Freshwater Bikeway (Trail #38) 3.3 miles
  • Old Arcata Road past Freshwater and Garfield Schools to Freshwater County Park. The Butler Valley Bike Loop continues from this bikeway to Blue Lake via Kneeland and Maple Creek.

• Lucas Street Bikeway (Trail #39) 0.3 miles
  • School access route between Harrison and Myrtle Avenues.

• Cutten Trail (Trail #40) Bike/horse/hike 8.1 miles
  • From old Arcata-Myrtle Bikeway, follow Hubbard Lane to Harris Street to the Eureka City Limits. Route continues along Harris to "W" Street to Walnut Drive. Follow Walnut which turns into Ridgewood Drive to Elk River Road to Highway 101 or loop back to the Eureka City Limit via the Harrick Avenue Bikeway. Much of this route serves as a school access route to Cutten, Glen Paul, Winship Jr. High, and Ridgewood Schools.

• Campton Bikeway (Trail #41) 1.4 miles
  • Cutten Bikeway to Eureka City Limits on Campton Road.

• Herrick Avenue Bikeway (Trail #42) 20.0 miles
  • Elk River Road to the Eureka City Limits. School access to Pine Hill School.

• Meyers Road Trail (Trail #43) Bike/hike 0.1 miles
  • School access route on Meyers Road between Gatliff and Herrick Avenue near Pine Hill school.

• Elk River Spit Trail (Trail #44) Hike 1.8 miles
  • Access from Tooby Road near the Humboldt Hill freeway exit. As with the Arcata Bayview Levee Trail, this trail also provides bayview access to an area rich in wildlife.

• Humboldt Hill Trail (Trail #45) Horse/bike/hike 1.7 miles
  • This existing trail follows Humboldt Hill Road to the top. An eight foot (8") asphalt multipurpose trail exists along the east shoulder of the road.

3.2.8 Loleta Area

• Tompkins Hill Bikeway (Trail #46) 3.0 miles
• College of the Redwoods access route from Highway 101 on the north to the Hookton Road interchange. Provides access to the Bel River Drive and Table Bluff Bikeways.

• Eel River Drive Bikeway (Trail #47) 5.5 miles
  • From the Hookton Road interchange, follow Eel River Drive past Loleta to Fernbridge Drive to Highway 101.

• Table Bluff Bikeway Loop (Trail #48) 8.2 miles
  • Route begins at the Bel River Drive Bikeway and follows Hookton Road to the South Jetty and Table Bluff County Park. Return loop ride via Copenhagen Road.

3.2.9 Ferndale Area

• Ferndale-Blue Slide Bikeway (Trail #49) 17.0 miles
  • Starting at Fernbridge, follow Highway I to Ferndale. continue out of town an Bluff Street to Grizzley Bluff Road to the Blue Slide Road ending in Rio Dell. Return loop possible via Highway 101.

• Centerville Beach Bikeway (Trail #50) 5.0 miles
  • Ferndale to Centerville Beach County Park via Centerville Road.

• Wildcat Bikeway Loop (Trail #51) 100.0 mile loop
  • This rugged bike route beginning in Ferndale would follow the Mattole Road through the spectacular scenery of Cape Mendocino and the Mattole River valley. This demanding recreational loop passes the small communities of Petrolia and Honeydew and meets Highway 101 at the Rockefeller Forest in Humboldt Redwoods State Park. Return via Highway 101 to Rio Dell and the Ferndale-Blue Slide Bikeway. Overnight camping is available at A.W. Way County Park new Honeydew.

3.2.10 Fortuna-Carlotta Area

• Rohnerville Bikeway (Trial #52) Bike 2.0 miles
  • Rohnerville Road from Fortuna City Limits to Hydesville.

• Carlotta Trail (Trail #xx) Horse/hike/bike 2.0 miles
  • This route would utilize the abandoned Northwestern Pacific Railroad grade to provide an off-highway school access trail an well am a trail for convenience shopping and community recreation. Trail would begin near the Carlotta Post Office and extend past Cuddeback Elementary School to the trail's end at Arnold's Market. (An alternate to development of the railroad grade would be shoulder widening along Highway 36, but children would still have to walk or bike next to high speed auto and truck traffic).

3.2.11 Garberville Area

• Redwood Drive Bikeway (Trail #53) 5.0 miles
  • Serving as a transportation and recreation bikeway, route begins at the Redway Exit on Highway 101 and follows Redwood Drive through Redway to Garberville and back to the freeway.

• Sprowel Creek Bikeway (Trail #54) 1.0 miles
  • Garberville to Tooby County Park.

• Benbow Bikeway (Trail #55) 3.1 miles
  • Benbow Drive from Oakcrest Drive on the north to Highway 101 on the south.

• Briceland Bikeway (Trail #56) 11.6 miles
• Redway to Briceland via the Briceland-Thorn Road. Eel River Bridge to Redway should receive initial attention due to particularly narrow road conditions. Route serves recreation and student access needs to Redway School.

• Mendocino County Trails Proposals (Trail #57) Horse/Hike
  • Three trails are proposed in the Mendocino County Equestrian and Hiking Trail Plan which extend to the county line along three roads, namely Bell Springs Road, Briceland-Thorn Road, and the Chamise Mountain Road. Bell Springs Road is proposed as a portion of the Trinity Mountain Trail Corridor (Refs. 3.5.2.2 and Trail #61). The Briceland-Thorn Road and Chamise Mountain Road were not suggested as trails by Southern Humboldt residents. However, these trails have been included into the plan to indicate where Mendocino County Trails would potentially enter Humboldt County.