Patrick's Point State Park

Thirty miles north of Eureka, Patrick’s Point State Park sits on a lushly forested promontory beside the Pacific Ocean.

The one-square-mile park is densely packed with potential adventures. On a short walk around the perimeter of the park, you can hunt for agates, explore tidepools, and walk through a jungle of shrubs and trees as you peer out at seals, sea lions, and migrating whales. In the park’s interior, you’ll find a visitor center, a native plant garden, and a reconstructed Yurok plank-house village. You can picnic or wake up to birdsong at one of three campgrounds. In summer, you can witness a traditional ceremony at Sumêg Village or take a hike led by a docent or professional naturalist.



You don’t have to go far to find something fascinating at Patrick’s Point. 

Weather

40–65°F. in summer, 35–55° in winter.

Night and morning fog lurks almost all year. Sometimes it doesn't lift for days at a time in summer. Beautiful, clear days are more common in spring and fall.

Rainfall averages about 60 inches a year, most of it between October and April.

Rules & Notifications

 Dogs are permitted only in the campground and day-use areas, not on the trails or on the beach. They must be kept in an enclosed vehicle or tent at night, and on a controlled six-foot leash during the day.
  Swimming is not advised. The ocean off Patrick's Point is cold and dangerous. Please keep an eye on small children, as there are unexpected holes in the underwater sand and the undertow can be very strong. Occasional "sleeper" waves appear unexpectedly and can be much larger than typical waves.
 Please do not pick wildflowers or mushrooms.
 Don’t Feed the Wildlife and Keep Your Camp Crumb Clean!
 Lock food in a hard-topped car or in a car trunk. Campsite cupboards and ice chests are not bear proof. Store food in airtight containers, or wrap it carefully.
 Campsite parking is limited to only two licensed vehicles per campsite. Trailers and RVs are considered vehicles for campsite parking occupancy. Extra-vehicle fees will be charged for each additional motor vehicle beyond the first, which must be parked in designated areas.

^{(Photograph by Jim Falls)}

Patrick’s Point State Park
Patrick’s Point State Park displays a snapshot of geologic processes that have shaped the face of western North America, and that continue today. The rocks exposed in the seacliffs and offshore represent dynamic interplay between the subducting oceanic tectonic plate (Gorda Plate) and the continental North American tectonic plate. The boundary between the subducting oceanic plate and the continent has been filled with an “accretionary wedge” of material literally scraped off the oceanic floor and crust, partially subducted, and then pasted to the North American continent.

The full Geo Gems report  |  Geological Gems of State Parks