Arcata Channel is a tidal channel within Humboldt Bay, historically used for navigation but now abandoned for commercial use. It serves as the main tidal artery for Arcata Bay, connecting to the larger North Bay system. The channel is approximately 150 feet wide and 18 feet deep, though it is no longer maintained for navigation. Paddlers should be aware that the ruins of several old wharves are located near the head of the channel. A beach boat launch is situated on the east side of a marine railway, providing one potential access point. The area is used for kayaking, and there are other kayak and boat launching sites in the North Bay region. Wildlife in the channel includes green sturgeon, which have been observed feeding there. Water quality and sediment dynamics have been historically impacted; from 1881 to 1930, the channel required dredging to eliminate sediment that flowed into the bay from logging operations on the Mad River. This historical siltation from logged areas remains a noted part of the channel's environmental character. The surrounding area includes mitigation sites near Sand Island and is near shellfish operations.