Lake Earl State Park Project

How to get there: Two miles north of Crescent via Northcrest Drive off of Highway 101. For information call (707) 464-6101 ext. 5151.

The Lake Earl State Park Project and Wildlife Areas (10,000 acres) are located along the northern California coast, just south of the Oregon border. Lakes, wetlands, wooded hillsides, grassy meadows, sand dunes and ocean beaches are found throughout the area. This unique area hosts a wide variety of ecological communities, each with a varied assortment of plants and animals.

The Lake Earl area offers an array of opportunities for the nature enthusiast. Hundreds of species of birds including the rare Canada Aleutian goose and the Peregrine falcon can be seen in the forests and wetlands. Deer, coyote and raccoons may be spotted along the many miles of trails that traverse the park. Great displays of wildflowers can bee seen in the spring and early summer. Marine mammals such as sea lions and harbor seals can be spotted along the coast; gray whales migrate from Alaska to Baja California. Salmon and steelhead are seasonal in the Smith River, cutthroat trout and Starry flounder are in Lakes Earl and Tolowa, and bass and crappie are in Dead Lake.

The Tolowa people were the most recent Native Americans to occupy the area. The natural resources of the area were very important aspect of the Tolowa's economic and political way of life.

The park has an environmental camp and horse camp. There is no water at either camp. Sites are first-come first-serve only. There are 20+ miles of hiking trails in the park.

Lake Earl State Park Project in a nutshell:

Visitation: 5,000/year.
Location/directions: From Crescent City, California take Northcrest Dr. north off of Highway 101. Access roads are Old Mill Rd. off Northcrest Dr.; Northcrest Dr. becomes Lake Earl Dr. then left on Lower Lake Rd to Kellogg or Pala Roads.
Address: 1375 Elk Valley Rd., Crescent City, CA 95531.
Telephone: (707) 464-6101 ext. 5101.
Operating hours/seasons: Open all year. Day use-sunrise to sunset.
Climate/recommended clothing: Summer 60-90. Morning fog is common. Winter 30-60 with an average rainfall of up to 80 inches occurring mostly Nov.-May.
Travel Directions: Two miles north of Crescent City CA via Northcrest Dr. off of Highway 101.
Transportation (to the park/in the park): Greyhound Bus line makes stops in Crescent City.
Fee/cost/rates: Environmental and horse camps are $7/site. No day use fee.
Facilities: Environmental camp has no water. Horse camp has non-potable water by pump and a corral. Both camps have fire rings, tables, pit toilets.
Reservations/permits: Both camps are on first-come first-served basis.
Basic visit recommendations: Hiking, bird watching, beach combing, waterfowl hunting in winter.
Special events/programs: None. Walks and campfire programs during summer.
Visitor impacts: Lesser used park with lots of area to explore.
Adjacent visitor attractions: Smith River National Recreation Area, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, Redwood National Park, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park.

Additional North Coast Redwoods District State Parks links:

[Azalea State Reserve]
[Benbow Lake State Recreation Area]
[Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park]
[Fort Humboldt State Historic Park]
[Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park]
[Standish - Hickey State Recreation Area]
[Humboldt Redwoods State Park]
[Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park]
[Humboldt Lagoons State Park]
[Lake Earl State Park]
[Patrick's Point State Park]
[Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park]
[Richardson Grove State Park]
[Sinkyone Wilderness State Park]
[Trinidad State Beach]

Back to North Coast Redwoods District page.
Back to Humboldt Redwoods State Park home page.