Dry Lagoon

Some of the most diverse areas in the state are along the coast, and thanks to the large California Coastal Trail project, you and Fido will be able to enjoy a lot of these habitats. The Dry Lagoon Trail shows off rocky beaches, wetlands, mountains, lagoons, and forests, and follows through two state parks over boardwalks, gravel, and compacted dirt trails.

You and Fido will need to park at a small parking area near Humboldt Lagoons State Park beach, which provides a circular parking lot that has trash bins and restrooms. The trail begins in the northern section of the parking lot and wanders off between the rocky and sandy beach and Dry Lagoon. The lagoon used to be vibrant and full of water, but was drained in the 1800s by farmers.

Today the area has got lots of its life back, and houses a wide variety of wildlife including deer, foxes, beavers, and over 200 species of birds. After two miles, you'll leave the beach and enter thick forests, with Coast Redwood, Sitka Spruce, Fir, Red Alder, and Western Hemlock forests that have been warped by the salty air. Landmarks include a wooden suspension bridge that travels over a creek, and diverging trails that lead to Sharp Point, a cliffside coastal viewpoint that is great for whale watching, and another trail that leads to Stone Lagoon, which allows small-powered boating and fishing.

After another mile, you'll reach the end of the trail. At this most northern point of the trail, you'll get a pretty view of Stone Lake. With the sea to the east and mountains rising up to the sky to the north, this area offers all the sights you could ever want to see. Despite some small inclines, the path is pretty even and travels back easily through the swampland, giving hikers a second chance to see wildlife and natural vegetation.

The area is overrun with new and old species of trees, animals, and sights to enjoy, and one hike through the area won't even begin to explore all of it. Be prepared to make a second trip with your pup!