Hey again— If you’ve ever followed the smell of woodsmoke and mushrooms through a redwood grove or stood in line for a fresh blackberry pie still warm from the oven, you already get it: food and nature go hand in hand up here. This stretch of the Humboldt coast is a slow food haven, full of edible surprises and community rituals that are deeply tied to the land.
This one’s for the culinary wanderers—the wild foragers, the bakery hounds, the weekend market roamers. Let’s eat our way through the seasons.
Chanterelles & Blackberry Pie: A Forager’s Guide to Fall in Trinidad
Fall is the season locals wait for. After the first rain, the forest floor wakes up with color—and flavor. It’s mushroom season, and with it comes a whole new rhythm to our hikes.
Where to Forage:
- Near Patrick’s Point (Sue-meg) State Park: Douglas Fir and spruce forests here hide chanterelles, lobsters, hedgehog mushrooms and more.
- Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park: Explore Cal Barrel Road for mushrooms in mossy undergrowth.
What to Pack:
- Mesh basket, soft brush, sharp knife
- “Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast” guidebook
- Layers, waterproof boots, and snacks—mushroom walks aren’t fast
Bonus Bite: If you’re lucky, you’ll stumble on a patch of late-season blackberries growing wild along the edges of the trails. Locals bake them into pies, but more often we just eat them by the handful.
Eat Like a Local: Where We Actually Go for Breakfast, Chowder & Treats
These aren’t Yelp darlings—they’re the real places. The ones that smell like coffee and wood paneling, or fresh fish and sea air.
Morning Musts
- Beachcomber Café: For lattes, sour cream scones, and the town bulletin board.
- Trinidad Bay Eatery: Great coffee and amazing breakfasts!
Lunch & Midsize Meals
- Seascape Restaurant: Right on the pier—classic seafood, chowder, and harbor views.
- The Lighthouse Grill: Mashed potato cones. Yes, you read that right.
Sweet Stuff
- Trinidad Bay Eatery -school fudge, ice cream sundaes and blackberry pie!
- Arcata Scoop: Small-batch, seasonal ice creams made with love.
What Locals Really Do: Grab a pastry and hit the beach. It’s our version of brunch.
Mushroom Magic: Trails, Tips & Local Lore
Mushrooms are more than just food—they’re folklore up here. You’ll hear stories about a secret porcini spot near a twisted redwood, or a patch of matsutakes that only fruit after three perfect rainstorms.
Local Tips:
- Go slow. Mushrooms reveal themselves when you move at their pace.
- Don’t take more than you’ll eat.
- Never forage near roads or questionable soil.
- Want to be sure? Join a walk with the Humboldt Mycology Society.
Local Lore:
- Some say the forest hums louder when the mushrooms are ripe.
- The best finds come when you’re not looking for them.
- Bringing a kid or a dog? They’re often the best spotters.
Taste of the Town: Foodie Festivals Not to Miss
Westhaven Blackberry Festival (Last Sunday of July)
- Homemade pies, live music, and a fire department fundraiser that’s straight out of a storybook. Arrive early if you want a slice.
Taste of Trinidad (Summer Solstice-ish)
- Dozens of local chefs, food trucks, and brewers take over Saunders Park. It’s like a sampler platter for the whole town.
Arcata Farmers Market (April–November)
- Every Saturday on the plaza. Fresh veggies, Humboldt honey, flower bouquets, and live bands playing under redwood shade.
Humboldt Mushroom Fair (Late November)
- Hosted by the Humboldt Bay Mycological Society. Part science, part celebration—with foraging walks, cooking demos, and enough mushroom facts to fill a forest.
Final Bites
You don’t need a reservation to experience Trinidad’s food scene—you just need time, curiosity, and maybe a pair of muddy boots. Eat what grows here. Share it when you can. And if someone offers you pie from their porch? Say yes.
Stay wild and well-fed,
Lisa & Taylor
Camp Trinidad
