Walking/Hiking
Short walks on the beach or in a redwood forest are within 10 minutes of the hospital. Day long hikes in the Redwood State and National Parks are less than an hour away. Humboldt County has over 110 miles of coastline, more than any other county in California, and all of it has public access.
Within a one-hour drive of Eureka is Redwood National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. In a two -hour radius there are 8 California State Parks, 5 National Forests, and 5 Wilderness Areas. Whether on a short overnight trip in the Trinity Alps or on the California Coastal Trail, opportunities are endless. Or take a week to hike a section of the Pacific Crest Trail close to us and far from the crowds of the Sierras.
Jogging/Running
Whether out for a short jog or a longer run, you can find it here. Our moderate weather is conducive to running year-round. The annual 3, 5 or 9 mile Trinidad to Clam Beach Run attracts over 1,000 participants. The Avenue of the Giants Marathon, by reputation the most scenic marathon in the country, is one of 3 annual sanctioned marathons in Humboldt County.
Between the ocean, Humboldt Bay, the coastal lagoons, and our rivers, you can find all types of water sports in our backyard. When the waves are up, Nick Wadsworth our Residency Program Coordinator joins other medical staff members who meet early in the morning before clinic to go surfing. But wear your wet suit because the water of the North Pacific is always cold. Sea kayak in the Bay or Trinidad harbor. Sail or wind surf on the coastal lagoons. No equipment? – no problem. Aquatic rentals are available to community members through Cal Poly Humboldt Center Activities. Join the Humboldt Bay Rowing Association and row on an 8-person team or take out a single scull on Humboldt Bay. Canoe on the more sedate portions of our coastal rivers or get your adrenalin up by river kayaking or white-water rafting on the Trinity or Klamath rivers.
Bicycling
This is great place to bike. You can commute by bicycle, mountain bike on trails, road race, or just take a nice ride on a weekend. The Humboldt Bay Bicycle Commuters Association supports bike commuting. There is a locked fenced area behind the hospital to store your bike while you work. There are many miles of mountain biking trails in the Arcata Community Forest and on Forest Service roads outside of town. Or if you really want a challenge, you can sign up for the 100 mile Tour of the Unknown Coast, reportedly the most difficult “century” in the country. For the less ambitious, there are shorter options ranging from 10 miles to 100 kilometers.
The hospital provides discounted membership to HealthSPORT, a full-service fitness center offering aerobics, weightlifting, Zumba, Pilates, Yoga, or lap swimming in a full-size pool, all available 5 minutes from the hospital.
Gardening
Our long growing season makes gardening a pleasure. You can grow a few plants in your yard or help in a community garden. Open Door Clinic sponsors the Arcata Community Health and Wellness Garden operated by volunteers with produce distributed in clinic lobbies. Our partner, the United Indian Health Services, operates the Potawat Community Food Garden in Arcata which donates thousands of pounds of produce annually to food banks.
Humboldt County is a great place to look for birds. We are on the Pacific Flyway, making us a destination for birdwatchers. The Redwood Region Audubon Society sponsors weekly bird walks. Over 200 species are routinely identified on their Christmas bird counts. Even if you are not interested in birds, the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge and the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary are wonderful places to take a walk and commune with nature.
Fishing and Hunting
Opportunities for fishing or hunting abound. You can ocean fish for salmon or halibut, fly fish on our rivers for steelhead, dig for razor clams at Clam Beach, or drop a crab pot from a sea kayak. If hunting is your thing, you are virtually guaranteed to get your limit of ducks on the Bay or your buck in the mountains. Or you can take your chances and enter the lottery to get a tag to harvest an elk which Fish and Game uses to manage our herd of coastal Roosevelt Elk.
