Trinidad Head Trail

You’ll love the alluring vistas of the coastline as you hike this 1.25 mile trail. Give yourself an hour to complete. This easy-to-moderate trail starts in the village, and lasts approximately one hour, roundtrip. At the trail’s summit you’ll find a bench, ideal for sitting and catching the sunset. Spot migrating gray whales at the end of the trail-in early winter and again in the spring.

Luffenholtz Lookout Trail Park

Just two miles south of Trinidad you’ll hike the Luffenholtz Lookout Trail. It’s a short, easy-to-moderate level hike where you’ll savor a sweeping overlook of the Pacific Ocean, picnic area, and a steep trail down to the beach. This is a spectacular rocky cove teeming with tide pools and such wildlife like: humpback and gray whales, indigenous seals, sea lions, and sea birds like common murres and tufted puffins. Relish sunsets from the lookout point, while you enjoy an amazing view of Trinidad Head along with its bay and harbor. Park admission is free so get here early or expect a crowd.

Rim Trail (Patrick’s Point State Park)

Located just north of Trinidad, you’ll enjoy trails and hikes on bluffs overlooking the coastline, leading down to beaches and into forests. Arguably the best trail, Rim Trail, is a 3 1/8 miles long (without including the spur trails, and 4.5 miles if you include them all) hike with beautiful ocean views and offshore rocks where you may see whales, sea lions, and harbor seals. This easy, mostly level trail provides access to six steep spur trails, which lead to breathtaking vistas.