Home › California › Arcata › Mad River Beach County Park
Mad River Beach County Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 355 Google reviews · Running trail in Arcata, California · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Distance
- 1 mi
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Mad River Beach County Park'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.
Sandy beach with grassy dunes offering opportunities for swimming, beachcombing, boating & fishing.
What runners say about Mad River Beach County Park
“Clean sand feel (I have texture issues with sand) beautiful views, long stretch of beach as far as the eye can see!”
“Kinda hippy central so we went and there were a ton of people making beach bonfires till late night but it was quiet and fun”
The long beach stretches south of the mouth of the Mad River. The surf area tends to be slightly sloped but deep, long, wide, with frequently breaking waves. Extensive dunes back the beach. Although it's a 3 mile walk from the parking lot to the River mouth, it's a 3 minute walk to the Mad River at the boat launch.
Great trails along lupines, blackberries in the bushes, Mad River on one side, ocean beach on the other. Fishing spots at the River. Sand dollars at the beach and Godwits. Nice spots for picnic, frisbee, and some deep River pools.
I had a wonderful time. Great for all ages. My puppies had a blast running around on the beach. Highly recommend this beautiful beach.
There is a nice long walk for taking dogs on along the mad river to the mouth and then back along the beach. A favorite place for bonfires in the summer it does seem to be more windy than other local beaches, so dress accordingly.
Trail conditions & character
“Clean sand feel (I have texture issues with sand) beautiful views, long stretch of beach as far as the eye can see!”
“Although it's a 3 mile walk from the parking lot to the River mouth, it's a 3 minute walk to the Mad River at the boat launch.”
“Kinda hippy central so we went and there were a ton of people making beach bonfires till late night but it was quiet and fun”
“There is a nice long walk for taking dogs on along the mad river to the mouth and then back along the beach.”
“No bathrooms or any other services (water fountains).”
Plan your run at Mad River Beach County Park
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- Distance1 mi as reported — check whether that is one way or a round trip before you commit
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms, water — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websitehumboldtgov.org
- Phone+1 707-445-7651
Hours
| Monday | 5 am–11:45 pm |
| Tuesday | 5 am–11:45 pm |
| Wednesday | 5 am–11:45 pm |
| Thursday | 5 am–11:45 pm |
| Friday | 5 am–11:45 pm |
| Saturday | 5 am–11:45 pm |
| Sunday | 5 am–11:45 pm |
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.
Hammond Coastal Trail
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