Although the Bay Area is technically in “Northern California,” insofar as it is in the upper half of the state, if you want to see a truly northern part of the Golden State, drive to the coastal county of Humboldt, which it’s packed 270 miles north of San Francisco. Only about 135,000 people live in this relatively remote but huge strip of dense forest (including towering stands of ancient redwoods) and downright rocky, twisted, rocky shores. The county seat and main population center is the small town of Eureka, which has a metropolitan population of about 45,000, as well as the second largest bay in the state.
Humboldt County has long been a center of liberal and countercultural thought, one of the most infamous marijuana production centers in the country, and a very welcoming place for LGBT people.
There isn’t a huge gay scene here, again given the limited population, but Eureka hosts the busy and fun Humboldt Pride Parade & Festival every year in early and mid-September; This year’s date is September 10, 2016. There are several events scheduled for the previous days both in Eureka and in the neighboring college town of Arcata, home to Humboldt State University.
You can view a schedule of Humboldt Pride Week events here, which traditionally include a Labor Day picnic, movie screenings, a softball game at Cooper Gulch, a movie screening, and food presented by the local chapter of PFLAG at UCC Church, and more.
On the main Pride day, Saturday, September 10, the Humboldt Gay Pride Parade kicks off at 11:30 a.m. from downtown Eureka at 1st and C streets, after which, from noon to noon. 5pm, there’s a Humboldt Pride Festival in Halvorsen Park (at Waterfront Dr. and L St.), which sits along the charming downtown Eureka boardwalk in Arcata Bay.
Eureka Gay Resources
Eureka doesn’t have gay bars per se, but the excellent and friendly Lost Coast Brewery is a fun place for beer and good food, and will likely attract more than a few LGBT customers during Pride Week (Lost Coast is also a sponsor of Humboldt Pride Also check out the Where’s Queer Bill Presents site, which features monthly LGBT-oriented parties at different locations in the region.
If you’re traveling to Eureka from San Francisco, give yourself plenty of time to enjoy the ride, perhaps planning an overnight drive in coastal Sonoma or Mendocino County, both of which you’ll pass on your way down Highway 1 if you follow the coastal route; However, keep in mind that staying close to shore adds 50 miles to the trip and you can make a 7-9 hour drive from San Francisco, depending on how often you stop. If you’re taking the more direct US 101, which is still a pretty scenic drive, plan on a five-hour drive.
Coming from the north, Portland, Oregon is about 400 miles north and takes a 7-hour drive through Grants Pass and Crescent City.
The county has a very helpful LGBT resource, Queer Humboldt, which provides links to local organizations, upcoming events, resources for gay weddings, etc. For information on travel in Humboldt County, visit Redwoods.info, the site of the Humboldt County Convention and Visitors Bureau. You’ll find lots of great information on the site about how to see the region’s famous redwood forests.
