McKinleyville Community Forest

Community forests across the country have provided recreation, clean water, timber production, and bolstered climate-resiliency for the surrounding communities. In Humboldt County, Trust for Public Land has helped harness the power of town forests with the McKay Community Forest in Eureka and Arcata Community Forest in Arcata. Now, we’re thrilled to unlock these benefits with McKinleyville residents through the McKinleyville Community Forest.

With help from our partners at McKinleyville Community Services District (MCSD) and the Green Diamond Resource Company, TPL helped protect 599 acres of Sitka spruce, redwood, and Douglas fir forestland on the edge of McKinleyville, one of the fastest-growing areas in the county. It’s an important link in the surrounding forest beltline and preserving these acres means we’ve removed developmental threats that would otherwise demolish this natural resource for residents.

McKinleyville Community Forest sits near the heart of the town, including three public schools, numerous shops, and residential neighborhoods, and allows close-to-home access for a community that is significantly lacking in park space. It’s perfect for a quick walk, a classroom trip, or an afternoon in the woods as it includes over five miles of trails for hiking, horseback riding, scouting for wildflowers, or catching glimpses of wildlife.

These trails are also crucial to improving connections with well-loved trails, such as the Hammond Trail and the Humboldt Bay Trail. Students and employees at Humboldt State University can also use these non-motorized trails for a safer commute between McKinleyville and Arcata.

Beyond recreation, McKinleyville Community Forest will safeguard wildlife habitat and build climate-resiliency in the area. The headwaters of Widow White Creek wind through this space, and now under MCSD management, the stream’s water quality and habitat for cutthroat trout, coho salmon, and steelhead trout will forever be protected. This community forest’s sheer size and mature trees will play a significant role in carbon sequestration, create a more fire-resistant forest, and help mitigate extreme heat and flooding events—helping build a healthier, more climate resilient future for generations to come.