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Arcata Ridge Trail Project
  • Connect public lands together and create a four-mile redwood forest trail between the City's northern and southern limits.
  • Strengthens Arcata's appeal as an active tourism destination and will be a recreational resource for local hikers, bicyclists and equestrians.
  • Help protect Arcata's undeveloped eastern boundary, wildlife habitat and viewshed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The City of Arcata is creating a four-mile trail running from West End Road to Buttermilk Lane, crossing through the Sunny Brae and Arcata Community Forests. When complete, the Arcata Ridge Trail will allow hikers, bikers and equestrians to travel from the north to south of the City limits without leaving scenic redwood forested hillsides. Once the Annie and Mary Trail is complete, there will be less than a mile between the two trails, making it possible to walk or ride all the way from Blue Lake through Arcata.

The trail will strengthen Arcata’s reputation as an active travel destination and help preserve the City’s undeveloped eastern greenbelt  boundary, which would both maintain a wildlife corridor and protect the headwaters of Janes Creek, Gannon Slough and Beith Creek from future development.

Currently, the City is acquiring easements and purchasing parcels to “fill in the gaps”  to provide space for an eventual trail as well as to protect the forested ridge line habitat of east Arcata.  

The community has been enthusiastically supportive of purchasing of properties for this ecological greenbelt and to complete the trail. Both the Arcata Ridge Trail Festival—an annual weekend of mountain bike races, trail runs and music—and Bat ‘N’ Rouge—a comedy drag softball fundraiser—are popular community events that raise funds for the Trail. Donations can also be made directly to the Arcata Forest Fund which is administered by the Humboldt Area Foundation. Checks can be made out to the "Arcata Forest Fund" and sent to the Foundation at 373 Indianola Road, Bayside, CA, 95524.

Click Here for a full-sized PDF map (2MB)

NEW! Take an animated flyover tour of the Arcata Ridge Trail. (Requires Google Earth.) Click here for viewing instructions.

 

Thank you to the 2012 Bat 'n' Rouge participants and fans!

The City sends out a big THANK YOU to everyone who attended and participated in the 2012 Bat 'n' Rouge comedy baseball fundraiser for the Arcata Ridge Trail. Special thanks go to the Eureka Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence who worked hard to organize this event and dress both the OUTfielders and the Arcata community leaders teams. The Ridge Trail is closer to completion thanks to your support! (Photos by Matt Filar.)