Clam Beach County Park

County Park California

Visited May 2008

Entrance sign for Clam Beach County Park

Clam Beach Park is located on US-101 just north of Arcata, CA. It's operated by Humboldt County and provides a place to camp near the beach. Not much to it, but we enjoyed it for its view of the ocean and bright sunshine.

We arrived late on a Friday morning, concerned about whether it would be full for the weekend. We needn't have worried - plenty of room in the parking lot that serves as a campground. We chose site 19, for it was at the end of the row next to the handicapped space, so we'd be less likely to have neighbors close by on each side .

Greetings from

Clam Beach County Park

We arrived late on a Friday morning, concerned about whether it would be full for the weekend. We needn't have worried - plenty of room in the parking lot that serves as a campground. We chose site 19, for it was at the end of the row next to the handicapped space, so we'd be less likely to have neighbors close by on each side .

Ribbit! The WxToad

Around the campground

This shows just about the entire parking lot. There are 31 parking spaces; some are for use by tenters. The spaces are pretty narrow, so your neighbors will be awfully close when it's busy here.

By the next morning we had gathered a few neighbors.

Not much in the way of amenities here - just a vault toilet, and there is a water faucet outside.

The campground is at the northern terminus of the Hammond Trail - a hike/bike/horse trail that leads back to Arcata.

From what I've read, Clam Beach is one of the very few Pacific beaches on which vehicles are allowed.

The sand is lot softer than places like Daytona Beach or St Augustine Beach in Florida where cars on the beach are... — The sand is lot softer than places like Daytona Beach or St Augustine Beach in Florida where cars on the beach are quite common.

Sur two-night stay was well worth it in terms of entertainment! All sorts of interesting characters showed up here. one was this fellow living in an old step-van. He spent the entire afternoon cleaning it out. The best, though, was when he brought out one of those singing fish plaques and tried to figure out how to hang on the side of the van. We loved the songs it played: "Don't worry, be happy" and "Take me down to the river, throw me in the water.".

This crew pulled in, much to the host's dismay. A guy and a gal in the lead truck, with another woman in the little truck to brake and steer. Her skills were marginal, as she nearly smashed into the back of the green truck when they stopped. The fellow tried some repairs to the truck, to no avail, and half an hour later, towed it out.

Too bad she doesn't show up better, but this lady pulled in for a few minutes. Seemed to be well into her 70's, had a large white dog for a traveling companion, and smoked cigars! Quite the jaunty straw hat, too.

This gang arrived by taxi! Four of them with huge packs and four dogs. A few days later we encountered them a little further up the road.

Nearby campgrounds

Humboldt County FairgroundsCA · 29 miles away

Harris Beach State ParkOR · 75 miles away

MacKerricher State ParkCA · 106 miles away

Russian Gulch State ParkCA · 116 miles away

Back on the roadSee all 402 campgrounds