Put on your waterproof shoes and head over to the Humboldt Bay Wildlife Refuge. Located on the southernmost end of Humboldt Bay, the Wildlife Refuge is a great place to walk flat land trails, see wildlife, and explore wetland habitats. Typically, the best time to view the wildlife is at dawn and dusk but will depend on the tide levels. If you are new to bird watching, beginners can sign out a backpack kit with binoculars, birding guides, and other educational materials.
Humboldt Bay Wildlife Refuge
1020 Visitor Center Access Road, Loleta, CA 95551 (707) 733-5406
Loleta
The sleepy town of Loleta is nestled among the verdant hills and pastures just south of Eureka. Known in times past as Swauger’s’s Station, Loleta was founded in the 1800s as a railway depot during the boom days of the local dairy industry. The “downtown” features buildings erected in the town’s heyday. Now, Loleta is home to a sunny suburb, as well as two Native American reservations: The Table Bluff Wiyot Reservation and the Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria, which boasts a casino, restaurant and family entertainment center (bowling, anyone?). Loleta also offers access to the Crab Park estuary, the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge and stunning views of the South Jetty atop Table Bluff just five 5 miles west. Fun fact: Loleta and the now-crumbling historic Creamery Building were also the film locations of the 1982 campy cult classic Halloween III: Season of the Witch.
