Shelter Cove - Black Sands Beach

Beach Road
Shelter Cove, California 95589
Southwest Humboldt

Black Sands Beach is a beautiful, long beach within the protected King Range National Conservation Area.  The beach is located on the north side of Shelter Cove and has dramatic views of the Pacific Ocean and the beautiful redwoods along the mountains.  The beach is an amazing place for finding your own space to relax, enjoy a picnic or break out some beach toys and have fun.   
When you road trip to Humboldt and are looking for a great beach, this one is a bit out of the way but that's part of what makes it so special.  
How to get there:
From Redway in Southern Humboldt, take Briceland Thorn Road west and this will turn into Shelter Cove Road which you'll take for about 45 minutes. 
As you're coming into Shelter Cove via Shelter Cove Road, take Beach Road to the right.  Stay on Beach Road and you'll end at the park.  
The lower parking lot is for disabled parking and loading/unloading only.  Other visitors should park in the upper parking lot and make the short walk down to the beach.  
Other info:
There are restroom facilities in the upper parking lot and educational signs posted around that have info about the area.
Keep Humboldt Beautiful! Please pack out your trash.
Other fun things to do in the area:
Mal Coombs Park is also a must visit when in Shelter Cove.
For more detailed informaton about the Humboldt area and other things to do, visit our Humboldt Website which has a complete list of beaches and parks, art galleries and museums, a restaurant guide, information about the world-famous Avenue of the Giants and much more.
*Click on the photos below to enlarge them