Patrick’s Point State Park (Trinidad Sector)
Established as a state park in 1929, Patrick’s Point State Park is a tree-and meadow-covered headland with a broad sandy beach that juts into the Pacific Ocean. Though the 640-acre park is in the heart of California’s coast redwood country, the principal trees within the park are spruce, hemlock, pine, fur and red alder. Spring and summer wildflowers include Douglas iris, trillium, azalea, rhododendron, fairy bells, false lilies-of-the-valley, skunk cabbage, and salal. In addition, the blooms of the blackberry, huckleberry, thimbleberry, and salmonberry bushes bring color and fruit to the meadows.
The shoreline ranges from broad sandy beaches to sheer cliffs that rise high above the sea. A number of "sea stacks" - parts of the mainland that have been isolated by the pounding surf - stand offshore like pickets. Several trails wind down the cliffs to the beaches and coves. There is a 2-mile rim trail along the bluffs.
The Yurok had a seasonal camp at Abalone Point in the park. Though the Yuroks lived in permanent villages north and south of the park, they came here in the summer to harvest fish, mussels, sea lions and other game. A reconstructed Yurok village is open to the public.
Black-tailed deer are a common sight along the bluffs and in the meadows, especially at sunup and sundown. You may see and hear sea lions and seals on the offshore rocks in the southern part of the park near Palmer’s Point. Here too, you can investigate the fascinating world of tidepools.
Many varieties of shore birds visit the park during the spring and fall migrations, and Stellar’s jays are apt to enliven the campgrounds and picnic areas with their raucous chatter at any time of the year.
Wedding Rock, Palmer’s Point and Patrick’s Point are excellent places to view the spring and fall migrations of the California gray whale.
Like all the north coast, Patrick’s Point has night and morning fog almost all year. During the summer it sometimes doesn’t lift for days at a time although beautiful, crystal-clear days can often be enjoyed in spring and fall. Rainfall averages 60 inches per year, most of it between October and April. Temperatures are moderate. Winter lows average 38 degrees; summer highs average 62 degrees.
The park has 124 developed sites accommodating up to 31’ motor homes and trailers. There is a hike/bicycle campground, and a group campground. Camping is available year round and seasonal reservations can be made by calling (800) 444-7275. There are picnic areas, hiking and nature study trails, bicycle trails, ocean fishing, tidepool and agate-hunting beaches, birding, and whale-watching, visitor center/nature store.
Patrick’s Point State Park in a nutshell:
(All prices were current as of 1999.)