Pets allowed
Allowed with Restrictions
Guided tours
No
Backcountry camping
No
Lodging
No
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

Visit Tolowa Dunes State Park to explore a diverse wetland ecosystem on California's northern coast. The park is home to a variety of birds, land mammals, marine mammals, and wildflowers. It is also an important stop for migratory birds during the spring and fall.

No matter your interest, you will find a wealth of opportunities to explore this park. There are great places for hiking, horseback riding, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, hunting, camping, surfing, and wildlife viewing.

The park and wilderness area is large and sprawling with many places to start your adventure. Head over to the visitor center on 2591 Old Mill Road to get an overview of the park. A short nature trail there will introduce you to the wildlife you may find during your stay. Other parking areas exist on Kellogg Road, Riverside Road, Lake Earl Drive, and Pala Road.

Tolowa Dunes State Park is named after the Tolowa people, who inhabited this land for at least 8,000 years. They built their homes out of the redwood, cedar, and pine trees that grow well here. And they enjoyed a great abundance of food, including salmon, elk, whale, berries, acorns, and seaweed. Today, descendants of the Tolowa people still live in parts of Northern California.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Congestion

Moderate

Parking Pass

Not Required

Pros

Great place for wildlife viewing.

Cons

None.

Features

Geologically significant
Flushing toilets
Boat ramp(s)
Bicycling
Fishing
Horseback riding
Bird watching
Wildlife
Big Game Watching

Location

Nearby Lodging + Camping

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