This Quiet Northern California City Is An Underrated Gem For Nature Lovers

Pretty much all along California's lengthy Pacific coastline, you can find an array of attractive towns and cities wherever you go. Sitting slightly inland along its northern shore, about 260 miles north of San Francisco, the charming community of Ferndale can be found tucked away in a landscape full of lush forests, rolling farmlands, and meandering rivers. This quiet town of around 1,400 residents is truly a paradise for nature lovers and features numerous attractions of all sorts that make it a destination well worth visiting today.

Join us as we do a deep dive into what exactly makes Ferndale such an idyllic spot for those who appreciate the great outdoors, and learn about the plethora of things you can see and do while in the area.

Top Parks and Green Spaces Near Ferndale

The very rural landscapes in and around Ferndale are filled with a variety of state and national parks, encompassing a diversity of terrain, from towering forests to hidden coves and more. Here are some of the must-visit green spaces where you can find some outdoor adventure the next time you're in the area, whether out for a hike, an overnight camping trip, or relaxing paddle, or whatever else!

Table Bluff County Park

Table Bluff County Park, located about 12 miles north of Ferndale, gives you some incredible views of the Pacific Ocean and Humboldt Bay. Perched on a coastal bluff, the park is home to a stretch of rugged shoreline, open grassy meadows, and landmarks like the Waluplh-Lighthouse Ranch.

The quiet beach below the bluffs, accessible by a steep trail, is a great spot for walking along the black sand or lounging around in the warmer months of the year. The park is also a popular launch point for hang gliders due to its strong coastal winds and heightened position above the water.

Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge

If you are visiting Humboldt Bay, the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge sits on its southern end, right beside Table Bluff. It is another prime destination for wildlife observation and quiet walks in nature along its network of footpaths.

This refuge protects vital wetlands, mudflats, and forests that serve as habitat for over 200 bird species, including egrets, herons, and migratory waterfowl, making it a hotspot for birdwatchers. The Shorebird Loop Trail, an easy one-mile walk, provides excellent viewing opportunities around the board, especially during migration seasons when thousands of birds pass through the area.

Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge is also home to other notable flora and fauna, like Roosevelt elk, river otters, and even some rare coastal plants, the Humboldt Bay wallflower and beach layias. Kayakers and canoers can also explore from the water, with the Hookton Slough meandering inland to provide you with unique views of this vital ecosystem.

The Humboldt Botanical Garden is another attraction that sits adjacent to the refuge. Here, you can discover an array of themed flower beds and an exhibit on the area's butterfly populations.

Humboldt Redwoods State Park

A visit to Humboldt Redwoods State Park makes for a wonderful day trip just south of town. It protects over 53,000 acres of spectacular old-growth redwood forest, including the famed Rockefeller Forest, the largest remaining contiguous stand of ancient redwoods in the world.

Numerous hiking trails wind through the forest, such as the Founders Grove Nature Trail, which leads you past massive fallen logs and cathedral-like groves. The Eel River runs through the park, allowing for further opportunities to go fishing, swimming, and paddling in the area.

Moreover, the Avenue of the Giants, a 32-mile scenic route, is an easy way to experience this natural wonderland from the road, offering easily accessible views of the towering trees, some exceeding 300 feet in height!

Humboldt Redwoods State Park is a must-visit for nature lovers looking to adventure through the awe-inspiring beauty of California’s ancient coastal forests, whichever way you want to experience it.

Headwaters Forest Reserve

The Headwaters Forest Reserve provides a way to see the region's redwood trees in a slightly more low-key way. Lesser known than Humboldt Redwoods State Park, this nature preserve, just about 30 miles north of Ferndale, protects over 7,470 acres of old-growth and recovering redwood forest. This federally managed reserve is one of the last intact ecosystems of its kind, providing habitat for endangered species like the marbled murrelet and coho salmon swimming through its streams.

The Elk River Trail is a highly recommended walk, giving you an 11-mile round-trip that follows an old logging road before narrowing into a lush, moss-covered canyon lined with towering redwoods. As a nice, educational touch, interpretive signs detail the area’s ecology and conservation history.

With limited access and few crowds, Headwaters offers a quiet, immersive experience for hikers and wildlife enthusiasts alike seeking a deeper connection to the ancient forests of Northern California.

Centerville Beach County Park

Centerville Beach County Park skirts the Pacific shoreline just west of Ferndale. The park’s nine-mile stretch of pristine, sandy beach is bordered by steep cliffs and rolling dunes, creating a gorgeous coastal landscape for you to enjoy in relative solitude throughout the year.

Harbor seals often rest on offshore rocks, while peregrine falcons and various shorebirds soar above. At low tide, tide pools reveal other marine life like sea anemones and small crabs. The beach also has historical significance as the site of a former Lifeboat Station.

With its unspoiled beauty and peaceful atmosphere, Centerville Beach is an easy-to-access yet underrated destination for anyone looking to spend quality time by the ocean.

Russ Park

Hugging the southern edge of dowtown Ferndale is Russ Park, a 105-acre forest preserve that offers a quiet retreat with dense stands of Sitka spruce, Douglas fir, and ferns. This city park is full of well-maintained trails, including a few different steep but rewarding trails that lead to a high ridge with sweeping views of the Eel River Valley and Pacific Ocean beyond. Birdwatchers also frequent the area for sightings of warblers, woodpeckers, and owls.

If you don't want to stray too far from Ferndale during your visit, definitely check this charming little greenspace out for a surprisingly full experience, and see much of what the area has to offer in terms of its natural beauty.

Other Noteworthy Attractions and Activities

Explore what else there is to see and do in Ferndale and the scenic countryside around it. These unique attractions often blend the town's strong connection to nature with its agricultural and artisan scenes, as well as its long-standing history.

Ferndale Museum

Learn more about the history of Ferndale and the Eel River Valley at this museum located in the heart of downtown. Its meticulously curated collection of exhibits focuses on a number of things, such as the region's once-flourishing lumber industry, Ferndale's early businesses, and the early citizens who ran them. There is also a unique section about the seismographical research that takes place in the area, a program that continues to this day from its start in the 1930s.

The museum features a book shop, a genealogical database, and provides tours, making it a place where you can easily spend a whole afternoon or two exploring.

Humboldt County Fair

The Humboldt County Fair, held annually in Ferndale during late August, is a longtime tradition featuring agricultural exhibits, horse racing, and family-friendly entertainment.

Established in 1896, this is one of California's oldest fairs and mainly highlights the region’s deep-seated farming heritage with livestock shows, local crafts, and produce displays. The event also includes carnival rides, live music, and a variety of food vendors serving regional favorites. The horse racing at the fairgrounds remains a major draw, too, attracting visitors and competitors from across Northern California.

Golden Gait Mercantile

The Golden Gait Mercantile is one of several Victorian-era storefronts lining Fenrdale's Main Street. This nostalgic general store offers shoppers a mix of old-fashioned goods, specialty foods, and locally made products.

Housed in a historic 19th-century flat-front building, the shop recreates the feel of a classic, old-timey mercantile with its wooden shelves stocked with anything from vintage candies to handcrafted soaps, kitchenware, and beyond. As a secondary draw for this locale, a second-floor museum displays antiques and artifacts, offering another window into Humboldt County’s storied past.

See Why Nature Lovers and History Enthusiasts Alike Love Ferndale

Whether you're simply passing through on a west coast road trip or looking for a weekend escape from big city life, this underrated town deserves a spot in your travel plans this year. From its amazing selection of nearby parklands to its historic and cozy downtown core, you really can't go wrong with a visit to Ferndale, California, a true paradise for outdoor enthusiasts searching for a destination off the beaten path.