RECREATION & NATURE
Ocean Beaches
Del Norte County is well known for its fabulous stretch of pristine coastline. Sandy beaches perfect for beachcombing, tidepools for exploring and bluffs that are perfect for whale watching. In Crescent City, there are three surfing beaches right off the road with varying levels of difficulty. And don’t forget about the exciting surf fishing! You’ll find our locals out catching their dinner when the fish are running and in season. Three spots popular among the surfing, paddleboard and kayak community:
South Beach – located right next to Highway 101, this beach is perfect for beginner surfing and standup paddleboards. South Beach’s sandy bottom makes it a good spot for body surfing. The further south you go down the beach, the more difficult it becomes. South Beach is also perfect for kite flying and walking since it stretches to Crescent Beach, at the Redwood National and State Parks border.
Pebble Beach – located on Pebble Beach Drive, this beach is geared more for intermediate surfing. Pullouts and stairs make for easy access. As its name suggests, Pebble Beach is filled with ocean-rolled pebbles and agates for the rockhound in all of us. The beautiful Castle Rock Wildlife Refuge with its seal lion and elephant seal rookery can be viewed from pullouts and is popular with kayakers during calm seas, although no landing on the Rock is allowed.
Garth’s Beach – located at the northern edge of Pebble Beach Drive, this beach is for the advanced surfer as this spot can be dangerous during certain tides and months. Access is available from the bluffs along Point Saint George Road.
Other popular beaches include Klamath Beach, Enderts Beach, Kellogg Beach and Pelican Bay Beach, each with its own unique personality. Always be sure to check the tide tables and weather conditions before interacting with the mighty Pacific Ocean. Never turn your back to the sea and keep children and pets nearby.
For a complete list of Del Norte County beaches, check out https://visitdelnortecounty.com/see/beaches/
OCEAN FISHING SEASONS
Rockfish
May 15 - October 15
Ocean Salmon and Pacific Halibut
Varies year-to-year.
Dungeness Crab
November - July
Redtail Surfperch
Open year-round.
For the most up-to-date information, visit www.wildlife.ca.gov
RIVERS
By Smith River Alliance
The region is home to two nationally significant wild rivers, the Smith and the Klamath. Combined, they encompass nearly one thousand stream miles in the National Wild and Scenic River System. These Wild and Scenic designations preserve natural, cultural and recreational values in a free-flowing condition for the enjoyment of present and future generations, making these watersheds an unparalleled destination for river-oriented recreation.
Both rivers are known for their salmon, steelhead and many other fish species. See below for fishing seasons, and please contact local outfitters for guiding assistance.
The Smith River’s crystal clear water is a magnet for swimmers in the summer and fishing and river runners year-round. One hundred forty-one miles of the South Fork Smith and its tributaries have been designated as Heritage and Wild Trout Waters, officially recognizing the uniqueness of the fishery and watershed, which support self-sustaining populations of coastal cutthroat trout and coastal rainbow trout. If it’s solitude, rugged beauty, pristine streams and coastal cutthroat trout you’re looking for, the upper South Fork of the Smith River may be your destination.
Most of the mid and upper Smith watershed is within the Smith River National Recreation Area, which offers campgrounds and miles of trails and backcountry roads for hikers, mountain bikers and campers. See the National Recreation Area visitor’s map and guide for details:
www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd776582.pdf
Highway 101 passes near the mouth of the Klamath – the second-largest and the fourth-longest river in California. Here, the forces of nature are on display: tides and river currents are constantly moving and mixing. Sea mammals, including whales and sea lions, can be seen feeding. Visitor amenities include the Historic Requa Inn, RV Parks, jet boat tours of the river and the Yurok Country Visitor Center. This is also an access point for the Coastal Trail, which offers amazing views of the ocean, and in some seasons, vast colonies of nesting seabirds as it winds through coastal forests of Sitka spruce and redwoods.
RIVER FISHING
Steelhead
Year-round in both the Smith and Klamath Rivers.
• Lures and barbless hooks only.
• Report Card must be filled out before fishing.
Always check www.wildlife.ca.gov for current fishing information.
