Lake earl Coastal Lagoon with 60 Miles of shoreline
Tolowa Dee-ni'
TOLOWA DEE-NI' (THE PEOPLE) have lived in the Smith River Basin for thousands of years. Located along a remote section of coast in the most northwestern corner of California, this world of sand, water, and tall trees is the center of the universe for the Dee-ni’ and once met their every need. Although the incredible abundance that sustained them for centuries is today diminished, a surprising diversity of animals and plants remains, many rare, threatened, or endangered in our modern world. Tolowa people also remain here in their ancestral homeland, working to reconcile their painful contact history and reestablish their traditional ways.
This exceptional natural and cultural heritage is protected for the appreciation and enjoyment of present and future generations on 11,000-acres of publicly owned lands within the Lake Earl Wildlife Area, Tolowa Dunes State Park and Point St. George Heritage Area. Hiking, biking, and equestrian trails—some 30 miles—meander the dunes, open prairies, thick pine forests, freshwater streams, and hidden ponds. A magnet for bird-watchers, the area also supports an annual waterfowl-hunting season. The Tolowa Coast beach stretches along the Pacific Ocean for eleven undeveloped miles.
Visitors and residents alike will find a lifetime of opportunities for exploration, recreation, or contemplation in this special section of the coast that the Tolowa Dee-ni’ know so well.
Tolowa Coast Land Managers
For more information about these public lands contact:
California State Parks
(707) 465-7306
California Department of Fish and Game
(707) 445-6493
Del Norte County Parks and Recreation
(707) 464-7230