Redwood Region Audubon Society
Birding Hotspots
Arcata Marsh
There are three accesses to the Arcata Marsh Project: From the intersection of Samoa Boulevard (= 4th St. or Cal Hwy 255) with I Street in Arcata, go south about one mile to the dead-end of I. This puts you at the west side of Klopp Lake, the largest water body in the Marsh Project. Parking at the first dogleg in I St. puts you between Allen (to the east) and Gearhart (west) marshes.
From Samoa Boulevard and H Street, go south a short distance on H and, at the left dogleg in H, there is access via several parking spaces just across Jolly Giant Creek from the northeast corner of the Butcher Slough log pond.
From Samoa Boulevard and G Street, go south 0.8 mile to a large parking area, signed for the Arcata Marsh Project Interpretive Center. The interpretive center is off the southeast end of Butcher Slough log pond.
The trees along the north side of the capped landfill ('Mount Trashmore') and the alders and willows fringing the Butcher Slough log pond generally offer the best landbirding in the Marsh Project. Shorebirds are best during the narrow window of limited mudflats in north bay, usually about two hours before and after high tide.
Redwood Region Audubon Society
P.O. Box 1054, Eureka, CA 95502
Last updated April 2007