Benbow State Recreation Area

Just beyond the redwoods of Richardson Grove State Park, Highway 101 opens up into the magnificent Benbow Valley, where the 19th-century Tudor style Benbow Inn perches like a castle among 1,200 acres of pristine forest preserved by the Benbow family.

Next to the hotel, the Benbow State Recreation Area is a day-use park offering picnic areas alongside the Eel River and over nine miles of hiking trails, as well as restrooms. Every first weekend in June, the park is home to the Summer Arts and Music Festival, a colorful and iconic Southern Humboldt celebration presented by the Mateel Community Center.

While there, it’s worth a walk up to the inn to explore its gardens, grand lobby, and the scenic historic arch bridge running under the river just below the lawn.

Benbow State Recreation Area
1600 Highway 101
Garberville CA 95542
(707) 247-3318