Our third camping trip in the 2015 camping season was at Patrick’s Point State Park. Patrick’s Point is a tree and meadow-covered headland with high cliffs overlooking spectacular coastline. The park is filled with so many sights for nature lovers including: Agate Beach, tide pools, animals, trees, hikes, and even a reconstructed Native American Village.
Patrick’s Point State Park – July 2015
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Location: Located about 25 miles north of Eureka in the heart of Northern California’s coastal redwoods.
Amenities: Flushing toilets and showers.
Cell Service: Yes
Pets: Allowed for no additional charge. Not allowed on trails and beaches though.
Site: Abalone Campground – Site 66. Sites worth reserving are along the rim trail so you an hear the ocean. The larger sites along the rim trail are Sites 63, 64 (largest but not private as the back of the site is pretty close to the trail), and 66. The rest of the sites along the trail tend to be a bit small so only one tent can fit comfortably. Another large site is 27; however, it is along the main road so you can hear cars instead of the ocean. Sites worth getting adjacent to each other (if not on the rim trail) are 77 and 79, 76 and 78. There are some sites that require steps to get to and from the car (Sites 55, 67, 70, 71, 72). These should be avoided if possible. The rest of the sites tend to be not private, small, or along the road.
Pros: The campground is centrally located along the coast of Humboldt County and is one of the prettiest Northern California has to offer. Most sites are private and are nestled amongst large trees. There are three main campgrounds: Abalone (best), Agate (beach), and Penn Creek (small tent-only sites). Although there are quite a few sites in the Abalone campground, it was extremely quiet and because of all the trees protects campsites from the dreaded morning fog!! The campground offers many hikes and coastal activities including: a walk on the Rim Trail, Ceremonial Rock, Lookout Rock, and Wedding Rock. A steep trail leads to Agate Beach, where you can collect drift wood and rounded pebbles. Another steep trail leads to an area for exploring tide pools at Palmar’s Point. You will most likely see seals around Palmer’s Point and maybe catch a glimpse of whales and dolphins. Also within the campground is a small Native American Plant Garden and the recreated Sumeg Village. Patrick’s Point is a short drive to Trinidad, where you can explore the beautiful beach of Trinidad Beach. Nearby cities include: Arcata, Eureka, and further out Fortuna and Ferndale. There are a few breweries in the area, lots of beaches, and other parks to visit, which make the campground an ideal home-base for exploring!
Cons: The campground is full of lush ferns and trees. Unfortunately, stagnant water and small breezes brought scents of “fishiness” to our campsite. It quite possibly could have been a dead animal decomposing but either way…it was an unpleasant smell. Thankfully, it wasn’t a constant smell. Tide pools were pretty difficult to get to. The trail to the tide pools was pretty steep and the beach was pretty rocky so may not be suitable for young kids or mature adults. We didn’t see any bears but they do live within the park so campers have to be proactive and put all food away. Raccoons wander at night on the prowl for food…we had a few visitors scoping out our campsite only to leave empty-handed!! 🙂