wow...a literal redwood forest on the campus of Cal Poly Humboldt! we were visiting my kid and he was showing us around campus. adjacent to the baseball field we saw multiple paths that led into the forest. we dove in and explored..wow just wow!!! first of all we stumbled upon a disk golf course....no real path at this point. some people arrived who were playing so we got out of the way and found a body of water. green but gorgeous! there was a pathway at this point and we followed it ....eventually after so much Beauty we ended up at a grass clearing surrounded by giant trees. it was a park with so many people picnicking and playing lawn sports. then found another forest pathway back to campus. I'm not sure if we actually left campus or not but having this as a backyard is astonishing! read more

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Excuse all the typos on my earlier review. I have seen more horses on the trail this past year than any other year which explains some of the poop on the trails, I suppose with the exception of others. Also if you are interested in learning about the trails on Google maps or by using a map app by searching 'Arcata Trail system' and you can have a glimpse of how to navigate :-) read more

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Beautiful community forest recommended by a local! We were roadtripping with the pup and unfortunately most of the national parks are not super dog friendly. This community forest however, hidden up in the hills was a lovely walk through the trees. It was cool, moist and very quiet aside from some mountain bikers and a few other hikers. read more

Beautiful hiking with well-marked trails, close to town. Dog-friendly. Parking was easy on the two days we hiked here. Highly recommended!

Great place to take your dog. I came here with my husband and two dogs. They were totally into it. You are transported into another world. The pictures posted don't do it justice. From the city to the forest in two steps. Everything inside is green. Even the air seems green. Truly an emerald forest. To get there, you drive through the neighborhood near Humboldt University. There is a small parking area with less than 10 spaces. The sign recommends you back in since its along the street. We walked through and came out on the other side in a playground. So strange to have a forest in the middle of normal life. Reminded me of the movie "Troll." read more

Arcata Community Forest - Bridge - Parks Near Me

I had the opportunity to hike one of the trails located inside of the Arcata Community Forest - during a recent vacation to the Arcata/Eureka, CA area! To access the Arcata Community Forest - you enter "Redwood Park" and drive up to the parking lot - where there are interpretive signs and such - leading into the Forest. I hiked a fairly steep trail from the parking lot up into the woods - then worked my way back down the same trail! Impressive natural resource for a local community! Beautiful! If I lived in the area, I'd be exploring the entire forest! #ArcataCommunityForest read more

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Beautiful place to take a hike along the trails. Tranquil Just a short drive up the hill to a small parking area. read more

Arcata Community Forest - Parks Near Me

Back in the day, I wanted to go to school here. What I hadn't discovered at the time was this incredible slice of heaven next door . After picking up some lunch, we thought it might be nice to have it here. On our way to an opening with grass, we came upon a magnificent tree stump, begging for us to stay. And so we did. We ate and marveled at our surroundings. Lunch rocked. Highly recommended read more

Arcata Community Forest - Lunch! - Parks Near Me

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Wow this place was beautiful. I love how easy it was so get to and park. I will definitely visit again. It is well cared for.no trash or debris. This place is so peaceful. read more

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Wowza, definitely a MUST-SEE experience if you're in the area of Arcata! For starters, community forests aren't very common and it's very neat to see that the local community has the opportunity to manage their own natural resources. It's seriously like Arcata's back yard. Just imagine having 2,000+ acres of redwood forest minutes from your home. So cool! Secondly, these trees are a little younger than the ones you can find in other parts of northern California. As you walk along the trails, you'll notice that several of the bigger redwoods and their stumps have been burnt down and younger redwoods have started growing around and on top of the damage. Who knows when this fire took place and how it started, but it's badass to see the differences and to imagine how much time has passed. The forest overall is kept very clean, the trails were easy to follow, and my friends and I didn't run into too many people. Not running into another human while you're out there definitely makes the experience feel even more secluded. At the start of the forest you'll find a little park area with a swing set, bathrooms, etc. I only wish I had more time to get lost and explore. read more

This is a gem! Beautiful clean trails huge redwood canopies... and greenery all around! I'm so glad we came here! read more

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A great way to see some redwoods without having to make the drive to see THE Redwoods (although these trees are much younger - 75 to 100 years old). Worth making a drive through if you have time read more

Arcata Community Forest - Parks Near Me

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A hop and a skip from town. Highly recommend for a quick (or lengthy) trek if in the Arcata area. Locals and visitors alike frequent this gem. Several entrances to access the forest making this a favorite among locals who want variety and some change of scenery in their local nature hike. Heavily shaded underneath the tree canopies and several degrees cooler than outside the park so bring layers. We came in winter so it was just a bit brisk and we were dressed appropriately. A true escape from town with not a sound of traffic, which you wouldn't believe given the proximity. A few groups playing disc golf throughout the park but you only saw them for moments before they disappeared again due to the complex terrain. I could get lost here, in the best way possible. If you're into shinrin yoku (Japanese for forest bathing) this is an excellent and easily accessible spot for this area. read more

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Great place I've grown up around. There are multiple ways in and the parking is free, which is nice. The basketball hoops are super bouncy rims but pretty fun still. There is a mostly-vertical incline hike in there if you need a workout. The redwoods are a wonder of the world we see every day. read more

This place can transport you, it's amazing. It's a place with miles of trails winding all around breathtaking terrain. In the years I've been visiting the forest it's completely quiet except on 4/20 u can hear faint drumming & celebration in the background. The trails are designated for walking, biking & horseback riding. It's butts up against humboldt state uni so there are some people aimlessly & deliriously wondering around trying to get through the student grind. I usually bike here, it's got a great rhythm of flowing hills & just when u think u can't go any further there a small flat to catch your breath. This is a fantastic place to improve your biking & take risks because if u do fall the ground is mushy & full of soft fluffy ferns. There is some bird watching, frogs, slugs, & I've heard of the occasional big cats. read more

Arcata Community Forest - Spectacular mt biking - Parks Near Me

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WOW! Must see. Be prepared to walk up and down. It is well worth the effort. Best hike we did in on the redwood coast. read more

The community forest one of the great places in town to get out and walk among the giants, and its a part of and owned by the city of Arcata. You realize how small you really are walking through the Old growth and huge fell timbers, there are maintained trails everywhere and you can spend hours walking and hiking through some of the most amazing forest anywhere. There are open park areas, like at Redwood - where people can gather and enjoy the open area to sit in the sun, picnic tables and even a few pieces of playground jungle gym equipment for the kids to climb and slide on. It's usually quiet and the occasional hiker(s) you pass are usually friendly. Its dog friendly on lease, but some people tend to let their dogs run free ahead of them so caution to those who are not dog people to be aware. The trails are fairly wide and flat, though there are a few areas that are much more of a climb up and down, moderate hiking at the most. It's always 10 to 15 degrees cooler under the canopy than in the open, so a light jacket or sleeves may in order. Because of the density of the forest and our moderate climate there can be at times a fair amount of transient population living in within the forest, most are harmless - the trails are well traveled and there are hikers and people usually everywhere. If you walk up on a camp - smile and keep on your path no one will stop you, everyone I have ever encountered on my numerous hikes through our forest has been nothing but kind. This is a great community asset , and it is another cool thing that makes living behind the Redwood Curtain the awesome place it is. 00250 read more

An easy way to put it is you can walk or drive up to to any of a half-dozen entrances right in the middle of town, and start walking on a trail system with well over 10 miles of trails spread across dozens of options ranging from a casual stroll to a hilly 2+ hour hike. Some trails are road-sized, wide, and gravel, so they hold up well in the wet winters. Others are thin and steep, winding through the upper parts of the forest and gullies. You won't find any true old growth here apart from a few gnarled trees the loggers ignored, but there are aged, healthy second-growth Redwood with sun filtering through it like you'd see in a postcard, as well as spindly third-growth Redwood, damp, marshy valleys near sea level, and dense, dry spruce groves depending on which trail you take. For regulars the variety of entrances (there are at least 10 ways in depending on how you count) is particularly nice, because it means you can drive to a different entrance and get a very different walk without having to hike the same stretch of trail at the start and end of every trip. Tips: If it's your first time, take a map with you or download Avenza and grab the official Arcata map of the forest. There are a *lot* of trails and while you're not going to get so lost no one will ever find you, you can easily get confused enough to spend a lot more time walking than you intended, or turn a quick walk into a long hike. Google and Apple Maps both have the trails, but they're not marked (the trails have numbered signs at intersections) and you may not be able to get service in parts of the park, so they're not great tools for planning a walk. I've also been really pleased with how respectful other folks have been during the COVID-times; a couple of the major trails are actually wide enough to pass someone without getting within 6 feet of them, but I'd say well over half of the people I pass on most days pull up a mask as you walk by out of courtesy. Current research indicates that's probably overkill if quickly passing while outdoors, but even so I appreciate as a gesture of courtesy and "just in case". read more

The community redwood forest in Arcata was a gem. We passed the entrance to the park while staying in a nearby home. Our curiosity was rewarded when we came by for a hike on our last day in Arcata. We had initially planned to do some trail running that morning, but the amount of mud would have made that very difficult. We still enjoyed an amazing hike amongs the redwoods. If you're in Arcata do yourself a favor and check out this gem of a city park. read more

This is an absolutely beautiful park! Complete with hiking trails and picnic areas.Rustic landscape on the hiking trails trough California Redwoods One of my favorite places to hang out. Located near HSU the is plenty of parking and easily accessibility. read more

Arcata Community Forest - Parks Near Me

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This place is awesome. Great trails through an amazing forest. Make sure to print out a map to bring along. The advertised "maps available at the trailhead" are stapled to the board. read more

GORGEOUS and PEACEFUL!! Lots of trails that are easy to follow and range from easy to moderate...nothing too crazy. Very picturesque and just transports you to another world. Ahhhh! I love this place!!! Ok, in all fairness, every once in a while you may come across a bedroll in a tree stump or even a homeless person asleep...but whatever, they are usually harmless. Not necessary to freak out about it because it's just another human being trying to survive the best way they can...don't be a judgmental Jerk! But yeah, just go here to enjoy the easy access to the redwoods, ferns and little creeks that run through it...Looovvveee. read more

This is a seriously beautiful place. But do not park here. It's unfortunately not safe to leave your vehicle here and there's no security personnel at the park itself. Maybe park over on the university side. I've done this recently and haven't suffered another break-in. But it's just so beautiful. So it still gets 4 stars. read more

My favorite place to be. Beautiful redwoods. Wonderful trials. A nice sunny park with large grass area for dogs or people to run free! So much to see and explore! Love walking off the main trails and exploring fallen trees and hollowed out stumps. Awesome views. Tons of cute crossing bridges and small streams. Basketball court and picnic table area..small stage area where local theatre sometimes puts on plays. Always meet new and awesome people here! Tons of banana slugs to see!! Thankfull thwy mostly stay off the trail so you dont have to worry about lookn out for them when ur walking or jogging! Just an amazing and magical place to spend the day!! read more

Arcata Community Forest - Redwoods - Parks Near Me

Gorgeous trees, check. Trails galore, check. Vagrant people walking (or smoking) along the trail, check. The community forest of Arcata is a must see if visiting town and you want to stretch your legs. Yes, there are people that seem to reside in this community forest, but you can ignore and enjoy your walk amongst the beautiful trees. During the day, and I would suggest walking only during daylight, is common to see families walking, runners, hikers, and even a man walking his goat (no joke). The forest has a contiguous park, Redwood Park located at the east ends of 11th and 14th Streets. You can find restrooms and parking here. HSU is also right across the street on the northside. Community Forests are relatively rare in the western United States, so enjoy and treasure this one when you visit. Map of the forest: http://www.cityofarcata.org/sites/default/files/acf-trailsmap7-18-2014_200dpi.pdf read more

Super awesome hiking place right in town. The hike are pretty steep to so it was a great workout. Parking was a little t got but found a spot. read more

What can I say, it's a big old Redwood forest, so what's not to love. I guess the homeless guys camping in the stumps, but they have all been surprisingly friendly and coherent in the rare times I have come across and spoken with them. I guess they're just enjoying their time in the woods too. read more

Great place to get away from it all! Picnic area is great for BBQ's and parties. Large playground for kids. Trails in and around big trees. Last time I was there I spotted a grey fox at the edge of the woods! Close to the college and downtown. Only wish they could stop people from camping up there and trashing the place! read more

Bigger than you'd think and who doesn't love redwoods!? Seems unsafe tho. It's been taken over by hsu trash, a real bummer.

This is really a nice hidden gem. Came here for a quick brisk exercise session before checking out. Too bad i didn't get a chance to explore this park the 3 days i was in town more leisurely. It was hard to find on my GPS. My GPS sent me around and around and i was getting so frustrated, and finally, had to stop a local man taking his son to school to try to find the trailhead. Seems like mostly locals here. there is a laminated map stapled to the board near the entrance; however there are none for one to take (ran out?) So i didnt' wnat to get lost esp when i only had 1 hour to devote to my walk. So i walked along the main trail and went for abt 30 min and turned back. There are many numbers along as you walk but i was told they are NOT in sequential order. It's very tranquil & serene. I only saw 2 other cars parked when i parked (8am). And saw nobody during my walk about 2 miles into the park. When i turned back to return back (8:30-8:50)...i did see 3 or so parties and they all are local, who mostly bring their dogs out or walk in groups. If in the area, i'd love to return. No day use fee which is a plus. read more

Great hiking trails, both short and long. None of the trails are very flat though. It is beautiful back in here and it really is a special gem of the town. One of my favorite experiences was having sunrise Easter service here one year. They have a playground and kids camps over the summer. It seems like a great place to have a wedding since they have a community center type building up in the park area. The only beef with this place is the transient hippies who come out here and let their dogs do their # 2 business all over the field and don't pick it up. I've gotten feces on my shoes playing Frisbee :( read more

One of the best places I have been to. It truly does feel like you are in another world when you walk into it. Good place to meditate and collect your thoughts. Also great wildlife opportunities; my mom (an avid birdwatcher) went with me one time, and she was staring at a pileated woodpecker for so long that I think that the woodpecker must have been pretty creeped out. Also look for salamanders and banana slugs. read more

Awesome place to explore or spend a day. Very peaceful and the trees are just amazing. This would be a great place to take pictures if your into photography. Nice trails and amazingly quiet. And the smell of the trees really makes your feel as if your in a huge forest somewhere. read more

Nice trails! Short and sweet! Very peaceful, nice place to relax. Nice place to park, easy to get there, clear markings of the different trails, once on the trails it was easy to merge on to other trails. Friendly hikers ! read more

Absolutely spectacular! We thought that the name "Community Forest" suggested something akin to a neighborhood park but it is so much more! It's hard to believe it's just down the street from a bustling campus! The trails are easy and (at least when we went) not crowded at all. The "social trails" are great and the layout makes it unlikely that you'll get lost. There are many unique tree stumps and hollowed out logs that the kids enjoyed playing in. There is a nice little playground right outside the park too. Definitely check this place out next time you're in the area! read more

Beautiful redwoods, flowers etc. Lots of friendly fellow hikers, runners and bikers will pass you by. Some of the most striking natural beauty in California. read more