Birding Activities in Del Norte County

With 422 species of birds recorded in Del Norte County, its a exciting hotspot for birdwatchers. The itineraries were developed by the experts. Each stop corresponds with the California Redwoods Birding Trail map found on the California Redwood Birding Trail website. You’ll also find clickable detailed maps, site directions, site descriptions, bird lists, and mention of the amenities and points of interest at or near each site.

All trips are dependent on time of year, migration patterns, weather, tides, and times of sunrise and sunset.

California Redwoods Birding Trail Brochure - Available through the Crescent City/Del Norte County Chamber of Commerce or the Crescent City Planning Department.  The Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center also stocks Alan D. Barron’s, A Birdfinding Guide to Del Norte County, upon which the trails and the birding itineraries are based.

Day Birding Itineraries: For one or two days

• One Long Day of Coastal Birding Excursion: Starts just after dawn
• Second Day Inland Higher Elevation Mountain Birding Excursion: Lots more driving between stops.
• Additional Add-on: Plan at least five hours

One Long Day of Coastal Birding Excursion: Starts just after dawn

1. Point St. George (northwest end of bluff - Site 7
2. Pebble Beach Drive - numerous stops, such as the 9th Street -Brother Jonathan Viewpoint - Site 5
3. Castle Rock National Wildlife Refuge (scope the island from several parking turnouts on Pebble Beach Drive - Site 6
4. Battery Point Lighthouse - CRBT Site 4
5. B Street Pier - Site 3
6. Beachfront Park - Site 2
7. Elk Creek Mouth - Site 1
8. Crescent City Harbor - Site 36
9. Whaler's Island - end of Anchor Way - part of Site 3
10. South Beach - Site 37
11. Endert's Beach - Site 38
12. Lunch
13. Lake Earl Coastal Lagoon Boat Launch - Site 11
14. Lake Earl Narrows - end of Tell Blvd. - Site 13)
15. Lake Tolowa Estuary and Beach - Site 15)
16. Alexandre EcoDairy Farms - Site 16
17. Pala Road - end of Pala Road - Site 17
18. County Boat Launch on Fred Haight Drive - Site19
19. Smith River Mouth and Estuary - Site 20
20. Pelican Beach (if there's time before sunset - Site 21

Alternate afternoon route after lunch - #12

1. Mill Creek Campground (seasonally open - Site 39 
2. Lagoon Creek Coastal Trail and False Klamath Cove - Site 40
3. Klamath River Overlook - Site 41
4. Marshall Pond - Site 42
5. Klamath River Mouth and Estuary - Site 43

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Second Day Inland Higher Elevation Mountain Birding Excursion: Lots more driving between stops.

1. Walker Road - Site 23
2. Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park Campground - Day Use Area - Site 24
3. South Fork Road (many stops, CRBT Site 31)
4. Gasquet-Orleans Road - aka G.O. Road, many stops, subject to winter closure - Site 32
5. Big Flat (subject to winter closure) - Site 33
6. Ship Mountain - subject to winter closure - Site 34
7. Bear Basin Butte Botanical Area - subject to winter closure - Site 35

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Additional Add-on: Plan at least five hours

Rowdy Creek Road - Low Divide Area - Site 22

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