HomeCaliforniaArcata › Hammond Coastal Trail

Hammond Coastal Trail

4.5 ★★★★★ 112 Google reviews · Running trail in Arcata, California · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Mixed
Loop distance
Not reported
Shape
Loop
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Hammond Coastal Trail's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

MixedLoopScenicDog-friendlyStroller / ADARestroomsTrailhead parking

Public park featuring a paved trail with ocean views, plus river access and wildlife.

What runners say about Hammond Coastal Trail

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (112 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 3 mentions

“A lot of the route is not well maintained.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 6 mentions

“I met some locals a Peter and Susan who told me this beautiful work of America at its prime was going to be replaced great people”

A great trail for walkers, bicyclists, wheelchairs, skateboards, unicycles, wagons, tricycles, and the occasional Big Wheel. Nice people only. Another example.of the tyranny of the liberal left using public land for the general benefit of the people. Thanks Obama.

★★★★★ — Dave , Apr 2021

Beautiful views on cool cloudy/foggy mornings at Hammond Coastal Trail in McKinleyville.

★★★★★ — Jerry , Aug 2021

This is an amazing trail connecting towns along the coast. It's perfect to bike with lots of great spots to stop and explore. Clam Beach & Little River is super cool on the North End, and the Mad River County Park is great on the south end!

★★★★★ — Dalton , Jun 2022

There's a really good amount of variety throughout the whole trail. Additionally there are lots of different places to start hiking which is great if depending on the difficultly or scenery your looking for. Parts of the trail are paved and it goes right up to the neighborhoods.

★★★★★ — Jacob , Jun 2020

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 112 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 9 mentions

“I met some locals a Peter and Susan who told me this beautiful work of America at its prime was going to be replaced great people”

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🛣️ Paved surface 6 mentions

“Parts of the trail are paved and it goes right up to the neighborhoods.”

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Stroller / ADA accessible 2 mentions

“That does have the benefit of making it more accessible for the community, and if you're looking for more nature you can just start of somewhere else.”

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🚻 Restrooms

“Dog friendly, no playground or restrooms that I saw but river access and lookouts.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly

“Dog friendly, no playground or restrooms that I saw but river access and lookouts.”

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🪨 Crushed gravel / limestone

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🅿️ Trailhead parking

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🔁 Loop trail

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Plan your run at Hammond Coastal Trail

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
  • Websitehumboldtgov.org
  • Phone+1 707-445-7651

Hours

Monday 5 am–12 am
Tuesday 5 am–12 am
Wednesday 5 am–12 am
Thursday 5 am–12 am
Friday 5 am–12 am
Saturday 5 am–12 am
Sunday 5 am–12 am

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Hammond Coastal Trail

Arcata, California

Get directions

Running trails near Arcata

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Mad River Beach County Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 355 reviews

Arcata, CA

1 miScenicDog-friendly

Sandy beach with grassy dunes offering opportunities for swimming, beachcombing, boating & fishing.

under a mile away

West End Road Arcata Ridge Trailhead

4.6 ★★★★★ 25 reviews

Arcata, CA

4.5 miLoopNatural surfaceScenic

3.0 miles away

Dunes Trail

4.9 ★★★★★ 13 reviews

Arcata, CA

3.6 miles away

Stewart Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 6 reviews

Arcata, CA

3.8 miles away

Redwood Park

4.8 ★★★★★ 986 reviews

Arcata, CA

PavedScenicDog-friendly

Park set amongst giant redwood trees with picnic tables, a lounge for events & small stage.

4.5 miles away

Trail System

4.9 ★★★★★ 75 reviews

Arcata, CA

Scenic

Park featuring trails, forests, and other attractions that's suitable for kids.

4.6 miles away

All running trails in Arcata, CA →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.