California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Home Lands Wildlife Areas Region 1 Mad River Slough Wildlife Area

Mad River Slough Wildlife Area - Humboldt County

Wildlife Viewing Waterfowl hunting allowed Hunting with shotgun allowed
The symbols above are activities permitted on this Wildlife Area. Click for more info.

Location: Humboldt County - just west of Arcata City limits.

Phone Number: (707) 445-6493

Map: Directional Map (PDF)

Special Restrictions: No rifles or pistols may be used or possessed.

Access: From Highway 101 in Arcata, take Samoa Boulevard west to the Wildlife Area.

Description: This 587 acre wildlife area was formerly part of Arcata Bay's extensive intertidal salt marsh and mudflats. Old tidal sloughs still meander through the land, which is periodically flooded during periods of heavy rain. Egrets, herons, mink, and weasel are found here.

Recreational Use: Type C Wildlife Area

  • The Mad River Slough Wildlife Area provides opportunities for spectacular bird watching and wildlife viewing. Red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks, kestrels, harriers, kites, and osprey are all occasionally to commonly seen. The shorebirds commonly seen are dunlin, sandpiper, dowitcher, godwit, and willet among many others.

Hunting: Waterfowl, coot, and snipe are permitted during open seasons

Facilities: None

PLEASE NOTE: Area regulations are subject to change. Special restrictions on recreational uses, hunt days and methods of take are listed in the current year's issue of Hunting and Other Public Uses on State and Federal Areas, available at CDFW offices and places where licenses are sold.

KC/WLB 02/09