Humboldt County
Samoa Dunes
The Samoa Dunes Recreational Area is located at the southern tip of a long peninsula that curves around the northern half of Humboldt Bay. Before the first Anglo-Europeans arrived, the dunes were used seasonally by members of the Wiyot Indian Tribe to harvest shellfish. Large shell middens can still be seen throughout the area. Early in the nineteenth century, European ships began using the nearby entrance to Humboldt Bay and in the middle of that century a lighthouse was built in the dunes. The lighthouse was not high enough to do much good and it was abandoned in 1867. A few bricks are all that remain today. During World War II, the Coast Guard was responsible for coastal defense and several large ammunition bunkers were built in among the dunes. Today, Samoa Dunes is home to a small Coast Guard presence and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
A paved road through the dunes leads to the northern jetty protecting the entrance to Humboldt Bay. A small picnic area is located there and it is possible to walk out onto the jetty itself if weather permits. Because Humboldt Bay is an excellent deepwater port, the entrance has been heavily used over the years. The list of ships that have floundered trying to navigate the dangerous entrance is long and has given Humboldt Bay a reputation as being one of the most dangerous ports on the California coast. ( A US Navy cruiser and submarine are included in the list.) Today, efforts are being made to protect several endangered wildflowers as well as the numerous birds that use the dunes and the waters immediately offshore. Forty acres of the dunes are blocked off in this effort, but there is still plenty of space left to explore on foot if the idea appeals to you. The confluence of fresh and salt water makes Humboldt Bay a birding hot spot throughout the year. It is also used by surfing enthusiasts, fishermen, and beachcombers. About 140 acres of the dunes are set aside as an OHV (Off HIghway Vehicle) area and an additional adjacent 75 acres of dunes north of the park (Eureka Dunes) are also open to OHVs. The rest of the 330 acres within Samoa Dunes are closed to OHVs.
For me, rough weather adds to the emotional enjoyment of the place. A storm hightens the drama (but stay off of the jetty on those days) and fog somehow suits it best. The day these pictures were taken, the fog was the consistency of pea soup in the early hours and thined out a bit in time for me to catch Yellow Legs and Black Turnstone hiding from the waves on the jetty later in the day.
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