Sharp Point Via Dry Lagoon

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Difficulty: Moderate
Length: 7.1 miles / 11.4 km
Duration: Half day

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Overview: Tucked away along the isolated coast of Del Norte County between the villages of Trinidad and Orick lies the largest lagoon system in the continental United States. This hike will explore Sharp Point separating Stone Lagoon to the north and Dry Lagoon to the south. It's a segment of the California Coastal Trail, hosts a paddle-in campground and supports a number of vegetation communities.

About the lagoons:
The lagoons are shallow, landlocked bodies of water along the coast which are separated from the sea by coastal spits of land. Seawater only flows in and out of the lagoons when it breaks through the spits, generally during winter storm seasons.

In the early 1900's, Dry Lagoon was drained by early farmers in an attempt to grow several types of crops, none of which proved economically viable. Today, Dry Lagoon supports a wetland environment that attracts migratory birds. Additionally, several dairy ranches were established along the shores of Stone Lagoon.

At Stone Lagoon the park’s visitor center on HWY 101 was formerly a local motel-restaurant called the "Little Red Hen." This business operated until 1979. Today the restaurant has been remodeled into a museum/bookstore and the park office. Picnic tables, restrooms, and boat launching are all available here.

Plant Life:
The coastal beaches within Humboldt Lagoons support healthy coastal dune vegetation. The edges of both Big and Stone lagoons contain brackish marshes; Dry Lagoon supports both freshwater and a brackish marsh. The landlocked Freshwater Lagoon is surrounded by a narrow strip of freshwater marshlands.

In the park's forests are Coast Redwood, Sitka Spruce, Western Hemlock, Fir, Red Alder and large stands of Willows.

Wildlife:
Humboldt Lagoons is part of the Pacific Flyway, hosting more than 200 bird species which include: bald eagles, peregrine falcons and threatened Western snowy plovers. Black bear, Roosevelt elk herds and bobcats can be seen throughout the park. Offshore, whales, dolphins and sea lions can be encountered.

The lagoons are open for fishing and exploration by boat; primarily small power boats, canoes, kayaks, paddle-boards, and even shallow keeled sailboats. Kayak Zak’s, a local vendor who's super helpful and friendly, provides kayak rentals and tours.

Along the beaches we have access to six miles of both bird and whale watching.

The local supporting Non-Profit:
North Coast Redwood Interpretive Association
Patrick’s Point State Park
4150 Patrick’s Point Drive
Trinidad. CA 95570
(707)488-2169

Tips: Address:
15336 Highway 101
Trinidad, CA 95570

Telephone:
707-488-2169

Location/ Directions
Humboldt Lagoons is located 40 miles north of Eureka and 55 miles south of Crescent City on Highway 101. (Latitude/Longitude: 41.1900 / -124.1206)

Visitor Center Operating Hours:
Open daily 10am to 3pm if staffing allows from June to September (Due to low staffing calling ahead would be best)

Day-use Areas:
Sunrise to sunset year-round

Seasonal Camping:
Camping is seasonal and offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Contact the park directly for information.

Seasons/Climate/Recommended Clothing
Coastal/Temperate. Summer is foggy, cool and damp, with temperatures averaging 50-60 degrees. Winter temperatures average 40-50 degrees with a 60" annual rainfall occurring mostly November - May. Spring and Fall are typically very nice.
Bring warm/layered clothing.

Dogs: Not are welcome for camping or in dune area.

Points of Interest

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Visitor Center

Park offices, museum, and bookstore. The site also hosts picnicking and a boat ramp.

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Entrance Road

Entrance to Sharp Point and Dry Lagoon on HWY 101.

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Parking

Parking at Dry Lagoon. Restroom and limited picnic seating available.

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Trail Head

The hike starts as a beach walk at the southerly end of Dry Lagoon.

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Sharp Point Trail

As the beach pinches out at the southerly base of the point, keep an eye out for both trail signage and the actual trail up onto the point.

The initial trail is pretty obvious- it looks like it's capable of handling the park's 4x4 trucks. This season it's been brushed very cleanly as a broad, single-vehicle wide road. The route follows an easy up-grade as the trail gains elevation around the easterly side of Sharp Point. Vegetation up to the point will be through brush and generally low lying vegetation.

There will be no significant trails on the seaward side of the point.

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View

As you round the first significant gully there will be sweeping views out over Dry Lagoon and the beach.

Shortly up the trail tree cover will provide shade but will unfortunately start blocking the view.

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View

Rounding the southern hill of Sharp Point under heavy tree cover and on a broad avenue of a trail, we'll finally start to get a view across a valley splitting the point north from south.

The point where the trail doubles back on the other side of the valley is located about half way to the Stone Lagoon beach.

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Bridge

A neat little A-Frame bridge.

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Junction-Stone Lagoon Boat-In Campground

The trail forks. The lower trail heads down to the Stone Lagoon Boat-In Campground.

It's a short walk, so take a few minutes to go down and take a look. There's a nice lagoon and picnic area.

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Bridge

A short bridge, more like a boardwalk, crosses a boggy creek area just outside the campground area entrance.

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Camp Junction

The area around the campground outhouse naturally serves as the primary intersection for the entire campground. This is also the only restroom facility on this trail.

A few general notes:

1. The campground is easily accessible by both boaters and hikers.

2. There are at least three spots where the lagoon can be accessed though only one doesn't require climbing.

3. Many of the campsite identification posts are gone. My guess is that they either rotted with age or were used as firewood.

4. By and large the individual campsites appear dry with decent drainage.

5. All are outfitted with fire pits and bear lockers. There appear to be picnic tables in the campground for all the sites though some seem to have been moved.

6. Most of the sites are quite roomy and the smallest would be somewhat tight with a 3-4 man tent.

7. A couple of the sites are somewhat interconnected and lose out on privacy but would be great for larger parties of campers.

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Steps to Beach

Access to the campground lagoon and a great little beach for pulling out canoes and kayaks. Definitely not a "sand beach" it's a great sheltered cove and has a lot of potential for fishing.

Overlooking the cove is an elevated platform with picnic bench, shade, and secure rings for tying boats. It also looks like it would be dry in any high-water conditions during severe winter storms.

This location also appears to be the only established water access in the campground. The others, far more work and erosion promoting "volunteer trails", or rather climbs down embankments.

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Return to Junction

Return to the Coastal Trail. Take the unmarked upper trail to Stone Lagoon's southerly shoreline access and beach.

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View

The first vista of Stone Lagoon.

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Vista

The first real vista point overlooking Stone Lagoon.

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Shoreline

The trail drops down to the shore at Stone Lagoon. The hike from this point becomes a cross country jaunt along the shoreline. There will be periodic short trails to follow.

This portion of the trail includes rocky shore, grasses, and many of the terrain features associated with wetlands area. An easy and attractive walk.

Turning the hike into a loop with a return along Sharp Point's shoreline isn't really an option - the point itself is a cliff face dropping into the ocean.