Humboldt Lagoons State Park
Trinidad, CA
Humboldt Lagoons State Park strings together Freshwater, Stone, Dry, and Big Lagoon behind a narrow barrier beach along Highway 101, each one a little different, some open to boats, some kept quiet for wildlife. The ocean beach runs the full length on the other side of the dunes, reached by short trails from several pullouts along the highway.
A genuinely unusual string of coastal lagoons in one park, though the beach access is scattered across several unmarked pullouts rather than one obvious entrance.
How we score beachesStone Lagoon's visitor center on the east side is the easiest place to get oriented before picking which lagoon and beach access to actually visit.
Free parking is available at pullouts along Highway 101; a boat ramp sits at the north end of Freshwater Lagoon.
Short trails cross the dune barrier from the highway side to the ocean beach; conditions vary by access point.
Dogs are allowed on a leash but are not permitted in campsites, on trails, or in the dune areas along the shoreline.
Fall and winter bring the biggest waterfowl numbers to the lagoons, while summer keeps the marine layer common to this stretch of coast. Water stays cold year round.
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