Paddling near Orick, CA

Orick sits in Humboldt County at the southern gateway to Redwood National and State Parks, flanked by the largest lagoon system in North America. The paddling here centers on a chain of coastal lagoons—Freshwater Lagoon, Stone Lagoon, and Big Lagoon—strung along Highway 101, plus river access on the Smith River to the north. Flatwater kayaking, canoeing, and SUP dominate, with whitewater options available on the Smith.