Shelter Cove

As Seen in "101 Things To Do" magazine (Humboldt edition)

Explore Shelter Cove's Tidepools
View Abundant Wildlife at Shelter Cove
Visit the King Range National Conservation Area
Hike Along the Lost Coast
Fish the Waters of the Pacific Ocean
Fish the Mattole River
See the Lighthouse at Cape Mendocino
Visit the Punta Gorda Lighthouse

Explore Shelter Cove's Tidepools
The Pacific Coast's rocky reefs feature some of the world's most abundant tidal zone life. The secret to this abundance are the winds and currents that drive surface water away from the shore, causing nutrient-rich cold water to rise from above. These nutrients cause plant life to flourish, providing a bounty of food for the incredible array of organisms that inhabit the tide pools, formed when receding tides trap seawater in basins among the rock.

The tide pools in the rocky reef below the bluffs at Shelter Cove are no exception. Exploring these pools and identifying the fascinating creatures that inhabit them is an adventure. The best time for tide-pooling is during spring tides, which happen every two weeks when there is a full moon or a new moon. But you can also explore tide pools between the full and new moons, thanks to neap tides, the lowest tides of the month. Plan your trip to the tide pools for an hour or two before or after the lowest minus tides, which occur twice daily. Tide tables can be purchased at local stores that stock fishing supplies.

Tide pools are generally divided into four zones: splash, high, mid and low. The splash zone is where only the highest tides, large waves, or a storm surge cover the rocks. The high tide zone is where only the highest tides reach. In these zones, you will find periwinkles, limpets, sea lettuce, acorn barnacles, some shore crabs and turban snails. In the mid-zone pools, usually exposed during the lowest minus tides each day, look for sea stars, hermit crabs and sculpins (which change their color to match the surrounding algae). Look for sea sacks and anemones just above the pools, and just below look for mussels, goose barnacles and sea palms. In the low zones, uncovered only during the lowest tides of the month, you can find abalone, sponges, rock crabs, urchins and maybe even an octopus. CAUTIONS: Wear long pants and shoes with soles that grip on wet rocks. Don't let the incoming tide flood your return route to shore. Don't turn your back to the ocean. Watch the waves, and don't let a big one sneak up and sweep you off the rocks. Don't collect tide-pool organisms. Many of them are becoming hard to find. Respect their habitat and don't carelessly flip over rocks in the pools.

View Abundant Wildlife at Shelter Cove
The King Range National Conservation Area is an extremely special place for nature- and wildlife-lovers. One of the largest natural habitats in America , the area encompasses 64,000 acres. See the majestic Kings Peak , which rises from sea level to an elevation of 4,087 feet in less than three miles. At the King Range National Conservation Area, Roosevelt elk, deer, whales, skunks, raccoons, egrets, marbled murrelets and bald eagles are among the 300 species inhabiting the area.

HARBOR SEALS & SEA LIONS
Pinnipeds are large carnivorous marine mammals. Two species are common sights at Shelter Cove: harbor seals and California sea lions. These playful creatures love to sun themselves on the rocks below the bluffs at Shelter Cove during low tide. The largest congregation is usually found at Point Delgado, but seals can easily be spotted up the coast to Seal Rock. Picnic areas can be found along the way. To find seals and sea lions, just listen for their distinctive bark. You

can hear them from almost anywhere in Shelter Cove. At high tide, they dive into the water in search of food: fish and shellfish.

WHALE WATCHING
The best time for whale watching in Shelter Cove is in the spring, from early April through May. The landmass of Shelter Cove that juts into the sea, combined with the height of the bluffs overlooking the ocean, provide some of the best land-based whale-watching opportunities anywhere on the Pacific Coast . Migrating grey whales come so close to shore here, binoculars are not needed. They often come right up to the rocks. At times they can be seen from campsites. In the spring, pods of grey whales, led by the pregnant females, migrate down the Pacific Coast on their way to their summer birthing and feeding waters in Mexico . Often, cows give birth along the way. It's not uncommon to see a newborn calf swimming and spouting next to its mother. The waters off Shelter Cove offer a good supply of food for gray whales, and they might linger for a week or two here. The males usually lag behind the females on the trip south, making for a lengthy cavalcade of greys during the spring. While grey whales are the main attraction at Shelter Cove, occasionally humped-back or blue whales are spotted as well.

BIRDWATCHING
Visitors wishing to record birds while visiting the King Range National Conservation Area are encouraged to participate in gathering information to help refine knowledge of bird life in this beautiful area. The area boasts about 300 different species of birds. Please send information to Bureau of Land Management, Arcata Field Office, 1695 Heindon Road , Arcata, CA 95521-4573 . For more information, call (707) 986-5400. Use caution; more dangerous animals such as mountain lions, black bears, coyotes and rattlesnakes also make their home here. www.sheltercove-lostcoast.com/lost_coast

Visit the King Range National Conservation Area
The King Range National Conservation Area, also known as the Lost Coast , is a beautiful tract of relatively untouched land covering about 64,000 acres and extending along 35 miles of pristine coastline. The area's most striking feature may be the way the mountains rise dramatically out of the crashing waves. Its highest point, King Peak at 4,087 feet above sea level, is only a mere three miles from the coast. The range has magnificent black-sand beaches, which are perfect for

tidepooling, If you'd rather hike inland, the range provides excellent as perfect spots to set up camp. The many miles of trails are ideal for either short walks or multi-day backpacking adventures. Mushrooming, hunting and bird watching are also popular at the King Range National Conservation Area. Keep your eyes to the sky and you might see a falcon or bald eagle, only two of more than 300 bird species taking to the skies above the range. A rather large herd of Roosevelt elk resides in the park, and they are a wondrous sight to see. Numerous campgrounds are available for tents and trailers, as well as some very scenic picnic areas. All are open year-round. The King Range National Conservation Area has something for everyone to enjoy. It is located off Highway 101 and can be accessed to the south through Garberville or to the north through Ferndale.Roads leading into the range are steep and narrow. Drivers of large vehicles should exercise caution. For more information, call The Bureau of Land Management at (707) 986-5400.

Hike Along the Lost Coast
To some there is nothing more relaxing than leaving all the worries of the world behind and heading out into the wild and untouched wilderness. Humboldt County has one of the best and purest opportunities to do just that. Shelter Cove serves as a dividing line for the roughly 64 miles of trails. To the north and south, find pristine views of the Pacifi c Ocean and the rugged coast that meets it. What could be better than waking up to the glowing one side and

fine blacksand beaches on the other? For the adventurous hiker, the trail offers the perfect two- or three day excursion. For those wishing for less intense adventuring, take more time or shorten the trail where it comes close to the road. sunrise on one side and fine blacksand beaches on the other? For the adventurous hiker, the trail offers the perfect two- or three day excursion. For those wishing for less intense adventuring, take more time or shorten the trail where it comes close to the road.

Find a number of great campsites along the trail. Some are only accessible to hikers, but others are just a short trek in from the road. Car campers will love the opportunity to get all the breathtaking views the California Coastal Trail has to offer without all the work. Most of the trail is well-marked, but it is recommended that any hikers who aren't familiar with the trails to bring a map of the area and a tide table along. Maps are available for $5 at the Arcata Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management at 1695 Herndon Road, Arcata. Whether you are an experienced outdoorsman or just hoping to enjoy the untouched beauty of Humboldt County , be sure to take a peek at the California Coastal Trail.

To get to Shelter Cove, take the Highway 101 exit to Redway/Garberville and follow the signs to Redway. In Redway, turn west on Briceland Road and go 14 miles to Shelter Cove Road . Turn right on Shelter Cove Road and follow the signs to Black Sands Beach. For more information and a shuttle service, call Lost Coast Trail Transport Service at (707) 986-9909 or Lost Coast Shuttle at (707) 986-7437 or (707) 223-1547.

Fish the Waters of the Pacific Ocean
Shelter Cove is one of California 's premiere ocean fishing destinations. Fishermen come for the salmon, which come close to the shore here May through August. Anglers can also catch an abundance of ling cod, rock cod, halibut, albacore and surf perch, and can fish from the shore for perch or rock fish.Fishermen can also launch a boat from the cove, which Point Delgada protects from the northwesterly winds.

Visitors can buy fishing licenses at Shelter Cove stores or charter a boat from a sport fi shing business for a guided angling adventure. On calm days, abalone diving is also an option. A great way to make sure that you have the perfect fishing experience is to let one of Humboldt County 's expert fishing guide services outfit and plan your excursion. These professional captains and guides will lead you to the best spots during the right season and help you catch the monsters you're after. Three charter fishing boats leave from Mario's Marina & Motel, and there is also a public boat launch. With rooms and bungalows overlooking the ocean, Mario's is a favorite spot for the fishing sportsman. Boat and RV storage is available, as are fish cleaning tables. And pets are welcome, too. Mario's is at 533 Machi Road in Shelter Cove. For more information, call (707) 986-7595.

Humboldt County 's expert fishing guide services outfit and plan your excursion. These professional captains and guides will lead you to the best spots during the right season and help you catch the monsters you're after.

Three charter fishing boats leave from Mario's Marina & Motel, and there is also a public boat launch. With rooms and bungalows overlooking the ocean, Mario's is a favorite spot for the fishing sportsman. Boat and RV storage is available, as are fish cleaning tables. And pets are welcome, too. Mario's is at 533 Machi Road in Shelter Cove. For more information, call (707) 986-7595.

Fish the Mattole River
There is no feeling like having a fishing experience on a river that hasn't changed in more than a hundred years. The Mattole River is an old-school fisherman's dream. The river has no dam and no hatchery fish are introduced to its waters. The experience of catching these fish is markedly different from catching hatchery fish. Those fishermen who love to fish the Mattole say that you can't describe the difference; you just have to experience it for yourself to truly appreciate it. The fish and the waters of the Mattole have a different feel than all of the other great rivers in Northern California . Because of its late opening date on

the first of January, this is primarily a steelhead river, and the entire river is catch and release. In order to preserve its pristine setting, all fishermen and visitors are asked to take particular care to leave the river as it is. There are just over 25 miles of fishable waters on the Mattole, from the mouth of the river to the little town of Honeydew . A number of smaller creeks branch off the river between those two points. You will also find a number of hiking trails that meander around the waters of the Mattole and a few more that come out at the dramatic mouth of the river. Most of the land is located within the Kings Range National Conservation Area. For more information, contact the California Bureau of Land Management at (707) 986-5400.

See the Lighthouse at Cape Mendocino
In 1999, a large helicopter lifted the lantern off the historic but badly deteriorated Cape Mendocino Lighthouse and flew it 25 miles south, to the resort village of Shelter Cove. The rest of the lighthouse, disassembled at the site, soon followed by truck. Within a year the Cape Mendocino Lighthouse Preservation Society had restored, painted and fitted new glass into this 139-year-old sailor's beacon. It now sits at Mal Coombs Park at the tip of Point Delgado. The Cape Mendocino Lighthouse has a rich history as a signal of warning in some of the Pacific

Coast's most treacherous waters. Cape Mendocino is California 's westernmost point. The first ship carrying supplies to build the lighthouse struck a rock on its journey and ran aground in 1867. When a steamer finally landed safely at the cape's headland, the parts of the lighthouse were hauled up steep cliffs to a base 422 feet above the ocean. When the 43-foot tall tower was completed in 1868, it became one of the highest lighthouses in the nation. The last piece, the delicate Fresnel lens, was steamed to Eureka then transported by horse and wagon to the point. The lighthouse began flashing its white signal once every 30 seconds on Dec. 1, 1868. The lighthouse was so remote it had to be serviced by sea in the early years. One lighthouse inspector drowned in 1881 trying to reach it. During more than 80 years of service, violent storms and frequent earthquakes took their toll on the lighthouse. The Coast Guard decommissioned it in 1951, and by the late 1990s the lighthouse was ready to crumble into the sea. Today, the lighthouse is open for tours, when docents are available, from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Visit the Punta Gorda Lighthouse
If there was an Alcatraz of lighthouses, the Punta Gorda light station was reputed to be it. Isolated and as lonely as a frontier settlement, it was the perfect place to station ill-behaved employees. Winter months were spent virtually in solitary confi nement. Flooded streams and harsh, windy conditions kept the site cut off from civilization. Even during the pleasant summer months, the lighthouse keeper had to travel 11 miles on horseback to shop for fresh supplies in the small village of

Petrolia. The site was originally sanctioned as a fog station in 1888. It wasn't until 1912 that the Punta Gorda (Spanish for “substantial point”) lighthouse was approved by Congress, and only then after 10 ships and countless seamen met their end near this point. The flashing light in the small 27-foot-tall tower was in service for 39 years until 1951 when the Coast Guard decided the remote site was too expensive to maintain. The buildings were boarded up and a lighted buoy was placed offshore. Now controlled by the Bureau of Land Management, the only structures remaining are the concrete lighthouse and the oil house, both of which were placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. The lighthouse site is a three-mile, strenuous hike along the Lost Coast Trail, which begins at the Mattole Beach campground. The trail offers beautiful black-sand beaches, dunes and tidepools. A large portion of the hike is through fine, loose sand, and hiking beneath the cliffs can be dangerous at high tide. Tide information is usually posted at the trailhead. To reach the site from Highway 101, take the Honeydew/Dyerville exit in the Humboldt Redwoods State Park . Travel west to Mattole Road in Honeydew to Lighthouse Road , almost an hour and a half trip. Travel five miles to Mattole Campground. For information, call the Bureau of Land Management, (707) 825-2300.