SA53 Lower Mad River Riparian – NEW | 2018 – SOLD OUT | $20

Carlson Park is Arcata’s new shining-star-of-a-park 19.1 acres in size and was just officially declared a park by the city in September of 2017. A network of newly maintained trails network through the cottonwood, alder, and willow riparian forest and has quickly became popular with birders with numerous interesting birds showing during the first fall the park was open to the public, like Blackburnian and Virginia’s warblers. Definitely a new must-see location for the local birder.

The McKinleyville Community Service District River Park on the north bank of the Mad River is yet another new publicly-accessible park with unimproved trails that wind through some well-developed riparian. Though a new public access area, this spot has already had a couple of interesting birds like Chestnut-sided Warbler, Indigo Bunting and others.

If any time remains after birding the 2 locations above other stops could be made like the School Road Trail, Mad River County Park, the Hammond Bridge, and the Mad River Bluffs.

Wear sturdy foot wear, bring water, snacks and a lunch for this 6 hour trip