Name of area/general location:
Ma-le’l Dunes South Unit, near the town of Arcata, California.
Land acknowledgment:
This recreation opportunity is located on the unceded territories and homelands of today’s Wiyot people. To learn more about the original residents and stewards of the lands, visit: native-land.ca
Trail/river/climb/ etc. rating and why (easy, moderate, hard):
This is an easy to potentially moderate adventure. Its level depends on what configuration of trail loops someone ends up choosing and whether they are engaging in physical activity beyond a simple stroll or wildlife viewing.
Trail/river/ etc. mileage (different options if available):
Coastal dunes walk; wildlife watching; birdwatching; plant viewing (botanizing).
Permissible trail uses (dogs, horses, mountain bikes, others):
The Ma-le’l Dunes South Unit, managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), allows horses and dogs on trails. However, dogs must always be on a leash in the parking area and under an owner’s control on trails. The adjacent North Unit is managed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS), which limits trail access to pedestrians only. Remember, please respect wildlife as we are visitors in their homes (habitats), and they may react in their own defense if not respected.
Description of area, sights, wildlife and any key markers on the trail/river/climb etc.
Located on the North Spit of Humboldt Bay, the Ma-le’l Dunes South Unit (South Unit) is part of the larger public area known as Ma-le’l Dunes Cooperative Management Area (CMA), with the South Unit managed by the BLM and the North Unit managed by the FWS. The CMA contains unique plant communities which include old, forested dunes, and extremely rare dune mat habitat. In 2021, the CMA and adjacent Lanphere dunes (also managed by the FWS) were designated by the National Park Service as a National Natural Landmark site for the outstanding coastal dune ecosystem. Within this unique dune ecosystem, you may find two plant species listed under the federal Endangered Species Act, the Humboldt Bay wallflower (Erysimum menziesii) and beach layia (Layia carnosa).
Photo credit: Alpert and Kagan Report via Northcoast Environmental Center
The South Unit was also part of the recent landscape scale planning process that the BLM undertook, the Northwest California Integrated Resource Management Plan (NCIP). Under the NCIP, the Ma-le’l Dunes Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) would be recommended for “mineral withdrawal,” an important step in protecting it from possible mining development. An ACEC is a type of land conservation designation that is unique to the BLM. ACECs are established through BLM land use plans like the NCIP.
The South Unit is an ideal place for wildlife viewing, with birding being the primary activity. The CMA is part of Humboldt Bay and of the Pacific Flyway, so the area is a great location for viewing several different types of waterbirds. A list of birds and other viewable wildlife can be found at this FWS website. Per the FWS, the best chance of seeing wildlife is in the winter and spring months, with most species of waterbirds and raptors likely being viewed in November through April. While you may be able to see birds with your naked eye, having binoculars will go a long way, particularly when scoping for birds that are in the waters of the Pacific Ocean.
How to get there:
From U.S. 101 near Arcata, California, take California Route 255. Once you reach the northern part near the community of Manilla, take Young Road and follow the signs.
More information (AllTrails link, etc.):
BLM website on Ma-le’l Dunes CMA
BLM blog post on Ma-le’l Dunes
BLM Arcata Field Office Phone number: 707-825-2300
Photo Credits:
Dunes with Trees: Andrea Pickart via National Park Service
Wildflowers in Dunes: Bureau of Land Management
