A wonderful place to stay, shop and dine while visiting the North Coast! Whether you are visiting the Redwoods for the first time or looking for the amenities of a small city in which to relocate or retire, Fortuna is the place for you. Situated a four hour drive north of the San Francisco Bay Area, (US 101 Exits 687, 688 and 689) . Fortuna is known as "The Friendly City."
Eureka's Historic Old Town
Nowhere is Eureka's Victorian heritage more evident than in Old Town, a meticulously preserved and restored district of unique shops, restaurants, galleries and museums. The Old Town/Downtown district includes theaters, pubs, antique shops, local coffee houses and the new Arkley Center for the Performing Arts . Follow this link for a Walking tour of the historic buildings in Old Town. Or view it from the seat of a horse drawn carriage, see sidebar for more info.
Then take a break in one of our cafes, or dine in some of Eureka's finest restaurants. Follow up with a stroll on the boardwalk to take in the view of Humboldt Bay , or hop on board the Madaket for a water tour of the bay. Don't forget to reward the kids with some fun time in The Discovery Museum .
Fort Humboldt Historic State Park
Fort Humboldt is situated on a bluff overlooking Humboldt Bay. This remote military post was established in 1853 to assist in conflict resolution between Native Americans and gold-seekers and settlers who had begun flooding into the area after the discovery of gold in the northern mines. Later, Fort Humboldt would become the headquarters for the Humboldt Military District, which included Forts Bragg and Wright in northern Mendocino County, extending north through Humboldt County to Fort Ter-Waw in Klamath and Camp Lincoln near present-day Crescent City.
It was during its first few years that Fort Humboldt saw one of its most famous residents: the young Captain Ulysses S. Grant. After being decorated for bravery in the Mexican-American war, he was posted to several locations including Fort Vancouver in the Pacific Northwest. The isolation of Fort Humboldt did not appeal to Grant, and after serving as commanding officer of Company F for six months, resigned his commission. Fort Humboldt was formally abandoned in 1870 and rapidly fell into decay. Today, only the hospital building remains out of the original fourteen structures. It is now a historical museum dedicated to telling the story of the Fort and the Native American groups, including the Wiyot, Hoopa and Yurok of this region. In the 1980s the Surgeon's Quarters was reconstructed and there are plans for its establishment as a period house museum. In 2001 an historic herb and vegetable garden was recreated adjacent to the Hospital.
| The park also includes a Logging Museum and open air displays of historic 19th-mid 20th century logging equipment including the Dolbeer Steam Donkey, “Lucy,” the Bear Harbor Lumber Company's Gypsy Locomotive #1, and the Elk River Mill and Lumber Company's #1 “Falk” locomotive. |
Location/Directions
South side of Eureka, CA - just off HWY 101 on a grassy bluff overlooking Humboldt Bay & the Bayshore Mall. East on Highland Ave. 1 block.
(Eureka, CA Latitude/Longitude: 40.8021 / -124.1624)
From Oregon/Crescent City - Take 101 South to Highland Avenue in Eureka.
From SF Bay Area - Take 101 North to Highland Avenue in Eureka.
From Sacramento Area/Southern California - Take I-5 North to 299 and head Westbound to 101. Take 101 South to Highland Avenue.
Humboldt Bay Wildlife Refuge, trails and tour
Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge Humboldt Bay is one of the most important stopover areas along the Pacific Flyway. The Bay is the winter home for thousands of migratory ducks, geese, swans, and shorebirds. More than 200 bird species, including 80 kinds of water birds and four endangered species regularly visit the Bay. The Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge currently includes 2,200 acres of seasonal wetlands, salt marshes, grassland, open bay, and mudflats, with an ultimate goal of 8,935 acres.
The peak viewing season for most species of water birds and raptors is September through March. The number of water birds peaks from mid-March to late April. Summer visitors will see many gulls, terns, cormorants, pelicans, egrets and herons. Waterfowl, raptors, shorebirds, harbor seals and river otters are visible throughout the year. Wildlife observation and waterfowl hunting are the principal public uses of the Humboldt Bay Refuge. The total number of visitors averages 15,000 to 17,000 per year.
The refuge has two interpretive trails. Peak viewing season for most species of water birds and raptors is September through March. Black brant and migratory shorebird populations peak from mid-March to late April. Summer visitors will see many gulls, terns, cormorants, and pelicans; as well as resident egrets and herons. Waterfowl, raptors (including osprey), and harbor seals are visible throughout the year.
One trail is open seven days per week during daylight hours (Hookton Slough Trail), and one is open seasonally during refuge office hours (Shorebird Loop Trail). The Hookton Slough Trail follows a tidal slough 1.5 miles out along the south edge of Humboldt Bay. The 3-mile distance (round trip) passes along grasslands, freshwater marsh, mudflats, and open water. Look for herons and egrets, as well as shorebirds, waterfowl, and harbor seals. The 1.75-mile Shorebird Loop Trail passes near some of the refuge's best shorebird viewing areas. The trail affords a good overview of the diverse seasonal wetlands; an optional side trail takes you to the refuge's largest permanent freshwater pond. Interpretive panels along the way illustrate the refuge's wildlife resources and habitat management practices. Look for shorebirds, waterfowl, songbirds, tree frogs, and river otters. Waterfowl, snipe, and coot hunting occurs on five of the seven units of the refuge. Only the hunting within the 330-acre hunt area of the Salmon Creek Unit is tightly controlled, with hunting allowed only two days per week until 1 p.m., with 12 hunting blinds/sites, a lottery draw, and a paid permit process. An estimated 1,000 hunters utilize the refuge annually.
Wildlife viewing from a boat can be excellent. However, boaters should be aware that tides, wind, and weather change rapidly on Humboldt Bay. There are currently four public boat launches on the Bay; the refuge is currently in the process of building a dock for launching small, non-motorized boats at the Hookton Slough Trail parking area. The protected sloughs are excellent for canoe trips when the Bay is too windy.
Humboldt Bay and tidal sloughs are open to fishing year-round. Areas separated from the Bay by land, such as creeks and flooded areas behind levees, are closed to fishing. The Hookton Slough Trail is open to shore fishing; access to other areas is by boat. Guided walks are provided on the Lanphere Dunes Unit on the first and third Saturdays of each month.
Table Bluff County Park and Eel River Wildlife AreaThe 170 foot cliff above the Pacific Ocean at Table Bluff has an excellent view of Humboldt Bay to the north and of the Eel River Delta to the south. The wildflowers here are beautiful in the spring. You can hike along the beach to the south through the 2,000-acre Eel River Wildlife Area. Take the Hookton Road exit on Highway 101 and follow it west 5 miles to the Park.
Those Giant Redwoods
Fortuna!
Victorian Ferndale
Exploring the Eel River Valley
Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge
All About Fortuna
The Wildcat
The Eel River
Loleta Cheese Factory
CALIFORNIA CHEESE COMPANY ~~ Loleta Organic Cheese Factory
Our California cheese company "Loleta Cheese Factory" is nestled in the Eel River Valley of Northern California in the dairy center of Humboldt County. Ours is a family-run business, dedicated to making the finest premium natural and organic cheeses. Loleta Cheese Factory is a Real California cheese maker producing over 34 varieties of cheese, including Natural Cheddar Cheese (both medium and sharp cheddar), Havarti Cheese, Fontina Cheese, Monterey Jack Cheese, Flavored Jack Cheese, Colby Jack Cheese (also known as Co-Jack) and many others, plus our specialty cheeses.
Our cows produce high quality milk because they graze on beautiful pastures and are not injected with rBST hormones to increase milk production. We take great care to insure the Loleta Cheese Factory cows are naturally healthy and productive and we give the same quality attention to our cheese making process. We are proud to offer certified organic cheeses and a line of GMO-Free cheeses.
If you live far away from Loleta enjoy a tour of our dairy and cheese factory via our web site, take a look at how our cheese is made the old fashioned way. If you are in the area, please stop in and watch the process and try samples of our products -- and remember whether you are near or far, you can order cheese online safely and securely* from our California cheese company with a few simple clicks. Loleta Cheese Factory is proud to show our unique packing system* too – it insures our healthy products stay healthy while on their way to you.
Salmon Fishing Charters
John Klar's Salmon and Steelhead Sportsfishing (707) 725-9120 1163 Elizabeth Barcus Way , Fortuna , CA 95540
Treat yourself to the finest light tackle Salmon and Steelhead drift and jet boat fishing that Northern California has to offer.Our central location in the heart of the Redwood Country puts us in striking distance of nine different rivers. Since 1987, our unwavering commitment to service and a relentless desire to offer the very best product possible has put us on the short-list of premier guide services found anywhere. When you book with us you can count on a couple of very important items: absolute honesty regarding river conditions and fishing prospects and a 100% effort for you on the water is guaranteed.
Versatility plays a large part in our success. With bases on the Klamath, Smith, lower Trinity, and in Eureka, we are not limited to only one or two rivers. The ability to move from one river to another as river and weather conditions change allows us to put you on the very best option at the time of your fishing trip. You work hard for your money. When its time to relax, put your trust in us to help you enjoy a fishing trip you won't soon forget . www.johnklar.com
The Historic Logging Company Town of Scotia and the Pacific Lumber Company
The Town of Scotia has a rich history as one of America's longest surviving "company towns." These towns, once common throughout the country, are entirely owned and operated by the companies. In the 1880's, Pacific Lumber Company started logging operations in Humboldt County and needed housing for the loggers. The first employee bunkhouse was built in Scotia in 1884. Mill A in Scotia was completed in 1887, employing 150 men. By that year, a boarding house and 100 individual houses had sprung up as Scotia grew. The following year the boarding house was remodeled to become a hotel and Scotia's first saloon was opened. 1903 saw the construction of the "Mowatoc Hotel" with 135 rooms on the site of the current Scotia Inn. A second sawmill, Mill B, was built and became the world's largest redwood sawmill, beginning operation in 1910. That same year the Scotia Volunteer Fire Department was established, as was the First National Bank of Scotia. In 1912 the company's main office was built in Scotia, followed by an elementary school in 1914.
As the company expanded, so did the town. 1920 saw the construction of both the Winema Theater and a bank building which currently houses the Scotia Museum. The 1920's also witnessed the construction of a new school, the Scotia Inn with 140 rooms, and the Scotia Hospital. The company continued to expand and by 1929, with a population of 1,000, Scotia was the second largest town in Humboldt County.
In 1950 the Scotia Shopping Center was built and the stores were leased to private companies. 1951 is when a new bank building went up and the old bank became the Scotia Museum. In 1957, when a nearby hospital was built in Fortuna, the Scotia Hospital closed. It now serves as doctor and dentist offices. 1959 was when the Scotia athletic complex opened with an indoor swimming pool and gym. A new elementary school followed in 1968.
In 1986 the company began construction of its new 25-megawatt cogeneration power plant, supplying power to the sawmills, businesses and the entire Town of Scotia. In 1991 Scotia became the first town in Humboldt County to initiate curbside recycling. 1992 was the year that three major earthquakes struck in two days, causing heavy damage in Scotia. The shopping center was destroyed by fire and rebuilt the following year, opening in 1994. The Scotia Child Care Center opened in 1996.
Scotia's Winema Theatre was renovated in 2002, including the addition of a new video and sound system. In 2003 the county planning commission approved rezoning of 225 acres in the Town of Scotia, 213 as industrial and 12 as commercial. In 2008 Pacific Lumber Company was reorganized, forming the new Humboldt Redwood Company. Today Scotia is owned and operated by the Town of Scotia Company, LLC with opportunities on the horizon for living, working and doing business in this beautiful, historic location.
The Pacific Lumber Company, officially abbreviated PALCO, was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Maxxam, Inc during its final decades. Dating from the 1860s, the company was one of California's major logging and sawmill operations. The bulk of operations, including the historic company town of Scotia, California, remain located 28 miles (45 km) south of Eureka and 244 miles (393 km) north of San Francisco. Situated on US 101 along the Eel River, this large landholder managed timber holdings of nearly 210,000 acres (890 km²) in the Redwood and Douglas-Fir forests of Humboldt County. It was one of the largest private employers in the region, appropriately known as the Redwood Empire.
The Avenue of the Giants and Humboldt Redwoods State Park
Avenue of the Giants www.theave.org - A Destination Vacation : This world-famous scenic drive is a 31-mile portion of old Highway 101, which parallels Freeway 101 with its 51,222 acres of redwood groves. It is by far the most outstanding display of these giant trees in the entire 500 mile redwood belt and is accessible to all with convenient services provided along the way. The Avenue of the Giants is surrounded by Humboldt Redwoods State Park which has the largest remaining stand of virgin redwoods in the world. Take time to picnic, camp, hike, swim, fish, raft or bike ride in the cool hush of these ancient redwood forests.
Don't miss visiting ROCKEFELLER FOREST , where 10,000 acres of indescribable beauty will surely awe any visitor. There are many trails in this forest, as well as, the 8th, 6th, 4th, and 2nd tallest trees, and the “Champion Coast Redwood” at 370 feet tall!
DYERVILLE GIANT - Within Humboldt Redwoods State Park, along the Founders Grove nature trail, are two special examples of the many giant redwoods found near the South Fork of the Eel River. The Founders Tree was dedicated to those who led the drive to establish the “Save-the-Redwoods League”. The Dyerville Giant was recognized as the “Champion” Coast Redwood as certified by the American Forestry Association until it fell on March 24, 1991. Before it fell, it was at least 362 feet tall (estimates from two different sources measured it at 370 feet after it fell). That is 200 feet taller than Niagara Falls or comparable to a 30-story building. It is also 17 feet in diameter and 52 feet in circumference. It probably weighs over 1,000,000 pounds.
The Victorian Village of Ferndale
Nestled between the two redwood forests in a thriving dairy community, you may discover Northern California's best-kept secret, The Victorian Village of Ferndale. Park your car to step back in time. Enjoy magnificently preserved Victorian architecture as you stroll; pick up visitor information from any shop. On the National Register of Historic Places, Ferndale's Main Street is a photographer's paradise and a shopper's delight.
Explore the old-fashioned mercantiles, antique stores, art galleries, and specialty shops, hear the ringing of the blacksmith's hammer, and talk with the friendly people. Watch fresh candy being dipped by hand to whet your appetite for a fine dinner and an evening of theatre.
Although it's been suggested that the Victorian village is a fairytale setting, Ferndale is a working, all-American town which takes pride in its beautiful community and cultural heritage. In the late 1800s Ferndale was an agricultural and transportation center, a melting pot for Scandinavian, Swiss-Italian, and Portuguese immigrants. The entire village is California Historical Landmark No. 883. There's nothing stodgy in this small town, though; Ferndale loves to have fun! The cradle of the wild and whacky Kinetic Sculpture Race , Ferndale continues to host the finish of this off-beat art event, now a three-day contest. The village is home to many colorful events and festivals: Foggy Bottoms Milk Run, Tour of the Unknown Coast bicycle run, Portuguese Holy Ghost Celebration, the Humboldt County Fair , Bargain Lovers' Weekend, and the Christmas Lighted Tractor Parade, to name just a few. Christmas in Ferndale is magical. Children from the elementary school decorate Christmas trees in front of Main Street shops and members of the volunteer fire department hang more than 900 lights on a huge Sitka spruce at the end of Main Street for the lighting of America's tallest living Christmas tree.
Day trips in Fortuna
Humboldt County's redwood trees are famous throughout the world. For more information, please visit: DiscoverTheRedwoods.com
- Bear River Casino , Fernbridge: Entertainment, Sports Bar and Restaurant (15 minutes drive)
- Centerville Beach west of Ferndale (20 minutes drive)
- Humboldt Crabs Semi Pro Baseball, Arcata (in season, 30 minute drive)
- Blue Lake Casino / Trillium Restaurant / Live Entertainment (40 minute drive)
- Cher-Ae-Heights: Sunset Restaurant (40 minute drive)
- Trinidad : harbor, charter fishing, and local art (40 minute drive)
- Orick and Elk Prairie:, Roosevelt Elk herds, redwood burls, lagoons and sand beaches (1 hour drive)
- Ruth Lake Recreation Area: boating, swimming and fishing (1:30 minute drive)
- Trinity River, Willow Creek, swimming, rafting and fishing (1:30 minute drive)
- The Lost Coast Century Drive: a 100-mile loop that takes you to some of the grandest vistas, most remote beaches and the tallest trees in California. Starting from Fortuna, the drive takes you through the town of Ferndale to Capetown, Petrolia, Honeydew, Humboldt Redwoods State Park and back down the Eel River to your starting point in Fortuna.
