One of three natural islands in Humboldt Bay, Woodley Island offers sightseeing with a nautical flavor. Its marina is the largest in Humboldt Bay, with 217 slips for commercial and recreational vessels as well as guest docking facilities. It offers sailors a laundry, restrooms and showers, hoists, and other support services.
You can watch fishing boats come and go, and buy fresh fish and crab right off the boats. For a real treat, relax and enjoy the Café Marina and Woodley Bar. The island also has its own National Weather Service station, and is the headquarters for the Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District.
The only dockside kayak rental facility on the North Coast is on Woodley Island. Stop off at Dock A, and Humboats Kayak Adventures will provide you with everything you need to go out on the water in Humboldt Bay.
Woodley Island is also the site of “The Fisherman,” a memorial statue created by artist Dick Crane. It commemorates the mariners who have lost their lives at sea. It can be easily spotted from Old Town Eureka. Woodley Island is also the relocated home of the old Table Bluff Lighthouse tower, which was moved there in 1987.
Roughly half the island's area is a protected wildlife sanctuary. There are two freshwater ponds. Bird-watchers come to catch glimpses of godwits, pelicans, grebes, loons and egrets. The egrets, which are frequently spotted, come from a rookery on nearby Indian Island.
WHERE: Besides being accessible by water, Woodley Island can also be reached by car. Take Hwy 255 west for .6 mile from its intersection with Hwy 101 at the northern end of Eureka.
MORE INFO: 707-443-0801, HumboldtBay.org/woodley-island-marina; Café Marina 707-443-2233, CafeMarina.net; Humboats Kayak Adventures 707-443-5157, HumBoats.com
