Wedding Rock |
Six miles of hiking trails thread through the park. With acres of dense forest stretching over an ocean headland, stroll under a canopy of spruce, hemlock, pine, fir and red alder trees. Wildflower meadows offer spectacular vistas. The Rim Trail, which follows an old Indian path over the park’s rocky promontories, provides spectacular views of the coast and serves as a great lookout for whale watching. The Octopus Tree Trail takes you through a grove of old-growth Sitka spruce.
Hike along the broad beaches and explore tidepools, cast a fishing rod, search for agates and driftwood, spot sea lions and gaze at magnificent sunsets. Short, steep hikes will take you to the tops of Ceremonial Rock and Lookout Rock, while Wedding Rock and Patrick’s Point offer breathtaking ocean vistas. History buffs will enjoy the re-created Yurok Village that includes traditional Native American family houses, a sweat house, changing houses, a redwood canoe and a dance house. There is even a native plant garden.
If you can’t bear to leave the park and want to spend one more day, pitch a tent at one of the many campsites. There are also three group picnic areas. Patrick’s Point State Park is located 25 miles north of Eureka off Hwy 101. Reservations are recommended for camping. For more information, call (707) 677-3570.