- Home
- Departments
- Departments & Divisions
- Environmental Services
- Parks, Facilities & Natural Resources
- Arcata Marsh & Wildlife Sanctuary
Arcata Marsh & Wildlife Sanctuary
The Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary is home to the City of Arcata’s innovative wastewater treatment facility. The sanctuary is 307 acres, including freshwater marshes, salt marsh, tidal sloughs, grassy uplands, mudflats, brackish marsh, approximately 5 miles of walking and biking paths and an Interpretive Center. By integrating conventional wastewater treatment with the natural processes of constructed wetlands, Arcata has succeeded in turning wastewater into a resource.
For information on the Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvement Project and the associated changes seen around the marsh visit the project webpage
Located at the north end of Humboldt Bay, the sanctuary is situated along the Pacific Flyway, a major migratory route for thousands of birds that breed in the far north and winter in California, Mexico and Central and South America. The Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary has probably the highest bird populated coastal site between Bodega Harbor and Washington, with literally thousands of birding visitors annually and organized bird walks held at least weekly year-round. The Marsh has hosted over 300 bird species.
Want to contribute to habitat restoration, trail maintenance, and climate change adaptation projects which promote and protect the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary? Community donations can be made to the Arcata Marsh Community Fund at the Humboldt Area Foundation.
The Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary is open sunrise to one hour after sunset.
Arcata Marsh
Interpretive Center -
The Arcata Marsh Interpretive Center has interactive exhibits, free maps and literature, a bookstore, bird checklists and a log of recent bird sightings. The center is open Monday 1-5PM and Tuesday - Sunday from 9 AM to 5 PM.
Free Guided Marsh Walks
- Friends of the Arcata Marsh (FOAM): Every Saturday at 2 PM. Meet at the Interpretive Center for a guided 90-minute walk focusing on the birds, plants and ecology of the marsh. No reservations are necessary, but tours are limited to the first 15 people.
For more information, please call 707-826-2359.
- Redwood Region Audubon Society: Arcata Marsh & Wildllife Sanctuary Field Trips are held the first and fourth Saturdays of each month, 8:30 a.m. to 11a.m. Meet at the end of South I Street (Klopp Lake) in Arcata.
Reserve A Group Marsh Walk
Free docent-led walks on various topics are available for groups and schools if requested at least 2 weeks in advance. Schedule a future tour by contacting the Arcata Marsh Interpretive Center at by calling 707-826-2359 or emailing amic@cityofarcata.org.
"Flush with Pride" video courtesy of "earthrise," Al Jazeera English, © 2011.
Arcata Marsh Interpretive Center Year End Reports:
Brochures & Other Resources:
- AMWS Map & Guide
- AMWS Map & Guide (Spanish Version)
- Butcher's Slough Self-Guided Trail
- Butcher's Slough Self-Guided Trail (Spanish Version)
- Jr. Marsh Explorers' Activity Handbook
- Jr. Marsh Explorer's Activity Handbook (Spanish Version)
- Marsh Madness Adventure Quest
- Scavenger Hunt (PDF)
- AMWS Checklist of Common Animals & Plants
- Arcata Marsh Bird List (PDF)
- AMWS Timeline
- Volunteer Brochure (PDF)