The City of Blue Lake is located in northwestern California in the Mad River Valley, about 15 miles north of Eureka and approximately 10 miles from the Pacific Ocean. Besides attractions such as the Mad River, the fish hatchery and the local scenery, visitors also will find a wide range of nearby recreational opportunities.
Hiking
Hikers will find various nearby trails that they can explore. The Blue Lake Trail starts in town at the Spencer Meadow trail head, and the nearby Arcata Community Forest and Redwood Park both have numerous hiking trails.
If you are looking for a more intense hike or for a more extensive trail system, you need only drive about 30 minutes to the Six Rivers National Forest and its hundreds of miles of trails. Humboldt Bay national Wildlife Refuge also has a few shorter, level gravel hiking trails.
Mountain Biking
Blue Lake also has numerous nearby mountain-biking trails. These trails can be found at the Arcata Community Forest, which has more than 11 miles of trails specifically designated for mountain biking, and at Six Rivers National Forest.
Six Rivers has hundreds of miles of trails and forest roads where you are allowed to ride your mountain bike. Most of these trails run through forests and open grasslands, and the terrain is generally rocky and hilly.
Camping
Visitors to Blue Lake who want to enjoy some camping will find numerous camping areas in the Six Rivers National Forest. These campgrounds are spread throughout the park, can be found both in the forest and on riversides, and there are both developed and primitive sites available to accommodate your individual needs.
Swimming
If you want to go swimming, it is a short drive to Pacific Ocean beaches that can be found in the towns of Arcata and Samoa, as well as right outside of McKinnleyville at Mad River Beach County Park. If you want to swim in calmer waters, you can drive a short distance to Arcata and Humboldt Bays.
Canoeing and Kayaking
There are various places where you can canoe and kayak near Blue Lake. White-water canoeists and kayakers can easily paddle the Mad River because it runs right through Blue Lake.
Sea kayakers have many miles of nearby Pacific Ocean beach that they can explore. These beaches can be accessed from the town of Samoa, Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge and Mad River Beach County Park.
If you're not looking for white-water adventure or aren't experienced enough to sea kayak, you can launch your canoe or kayak into Arcata Bay and explore its many miles of shoreline and various small islands.
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