Touring *

From U.S. 101 five miles north of Arcata in McKinleyville, take the Murray Road exit heading west. Murray comes to a dead end at a Coastal Access point, but here the Hammond Trail is still gravel. Turn left (south) on Kelly Avenue and follow it one block to where Knox Cove Court turns right. Knox Cove ends in a cul-de-sac surrounded by four large stone homes that look like modern-day castles. Park in the cul-de-sac. The trail crosses Knox Cove.

The Hammond Trail is a Coastal Access route designed for equestrians, bicyclists, and hikers. So far, 2.2 miles of this old railroad line have been paved, but only one of those miles can really be called a "trail." Although Humboldt County's green hills and redwood forests offer a nice change from the urban trails so common further south, the main disappointment of the Hammond Trail is that you never really get a view of the Pacific.

For folks who feel compelled to skate the entire length of every trail (you know who you are), exit the north side of the cul-de-sac and skate the uppermost half-block of the Hammond Trail to satisfy your curiosity. Someday, when funding is finally attained, the gravel trail that continues on up the coast from here will be paved. Turn around and return to the cul-de-sac.

To skate the main part of the trail, head south from the cul-de-sac on the dedicated eight-foot-wide asphalt bike path. Here, the trail does deliver some of its scenic potential as you pass through a corridor of sandy banks lined with tall trees, dense ferns, and wild berry vines. Half a mile from Knox Cove, you'll cross a very nice little concrete bridge over Widow White Creek. Continuing south, the trail passes next to Hiller Park and across Hiller Road. Another half mile of trees and vines brings you to the end of the dedicated path. Here Fischer Road, a narrow lane serving a few homes nearby, takes over as the Hammond Trail.

If you're game for some adventure alongside a cow pasture, continue south on Fischer another half mile to where it drops down a hill between two fenced fields full of cattle. The Hammond Trail Bridge dominates this pastoral scene, but save some attention for the road. Besides its fairly rough surface, a wide puddle of pungent mud (cow manure, no doubt) tends to pool at the bottom of the dip. Make your way past it and skate over the bridge.

Bicyclists commute between McKinleyville and Arcata on the roads that continue south. A dedicated skater with soft wheels might be able to do the same. Traffic is usually light but the pavement is pretty rough.