Sue-meg State Park Offers Wheelchair-Accessible Trails and Sweeping Coastal Views
Located about 15 miles south of Orick, just off Highway 101, Sue-meg State Park (www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=417) is a must-stop on any California coastal road trip. This scenic headland area juts out into the pacific ocean and offers impressive ocean views. You’ll hear sea lions barking in the distance, and maybe even spot a gray whale during the migratory season. An important Native American site, Sue-meg State Park also boasts a replica of a Yurok village. And the best part is, thanks to a series of accessible trails, wheelchair-users and slow walkers can enjoy all that Sue-Meg State Park has to offer.
The Yurok People
Although this state park was originally named for an Irishman (Patrick Beegan) who homesteaded in the area, it’s also the ancestral home of the Yurok people. They referred to the area as Sue-meg, so in September 2021 the park was renamed Sue-meg State Park to reflect this cultural heritage.
The Yurok people built villages from redwood planks, near the coastal waterways so they could fish for salmon from their dugout canoes. The temperate climate of the North Coast, and abundant game in the area were particularly attractive to them. Round it out with a good supply of berries and medicinal herbs, and you can see why the Yurok loved this patch of land.
There’s still a large number of Yurok people in the area today, and as a way of paying tribute to their ancestors they’ve created a replica of the native village in the park. It’s still a work in progress, but it’s an interesting window into Yurok life, culture and traditions.
The Yurok village is located near the visitor center. Just take the first right after the entrance station and follow it around to the parking lot. From there a trail leads around the visitor center to a picnic area in a grassy meadow. The recreated village is right next to the picnic area. And although there a few bumps and ruts along the way it’s still possible to get a closer look at the buildings. The area is flat and the village includes some family houses, a sweat house, a dressing house and a dance pit. There’s also an interpretive plaque nearby that outlines the history of the village. And after you’d had a look around, it’s also a nice spot to stop for a picnic.
Accessible Trails Galore
From the village, it’s a .75-mile walk along the Ceremonial Rock Trail to the Rim/Campfire Center Trail. This level hard-packed dirt trail winds through the spruce forest, crosses the park road and passes Lookout Rock Campground, before it dead ends at the Rim/Campfire Center Trail.
From there, make a right on the Rim/Campfire Center Trail and continue along for about .2 miles to the Wedding Rock parking lot. About midway along, there’s also a trail out to Patrick’s Point on the left. This hard-packed dirt trail winds out 350 feet to a magnificent overlook. There are steps down to the overlook, but there’s also a barrier-free path that winds around to an accessible viewing platform.
All in all it’s about a 2.25-mile round trip hike from the visitor center. If however, you’d prefer a shorter jaunt , then park in the Wedding Rock Parking lot and take the 350-foot trek out to Patrick’s Point. Either way, this scenic state park is a must-do for the coastal views alone. And if you’re lucky, and time it right you might even spot a migrating gray whale or two.
[book_promo name=”cart”]
