Freshwater Lagoon

Freshwater Lagoon is a coastal lagoon immediately east of U.S. 101, about 1.5 miles south of Orick. The northwestern boat ramp serves kayaks and small boats, with swimming and fishing as other options. About half the lagoon lies inside Redwood National Park. It makes the most sense as a water-access stop.

Parking serves cars and boat trailers, with room for both at the ramp. The public facility includes restrooms and a swimming area, though it's unclear how close they are to the northwestern ramp. Fishing requires a California license, and park visitor centers don't sell one.

U.S. 101 runs along the sandspit between the lagoon and the Pacific. Freshwater Beach and the Redwood Creek Day Use Area are across the highway on the ocean side, so this is convenient water access with a roadside feel rather than a secluded shore.

Freshwater is the northernmost of four lagoons on this stretch of the Humboldt Coast. Rivers feed fresh water into basins held behind coastal sandspits. Ocean currents deposit sand while rivers add sediment, building barriers that can shift over time. Here, a one-mile stretch of highway sits on that sandspit.