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Lake Talawa, located about 5 miles from
Crescent City near Pacific Shores, sits
within the Coast Ranges. The Smith River
once flowed through these lagoons to the sea
but has since cut a channel several
kilometers north. Portions of the land
surrounding Lake Talawa and the connected
Lake Earl are privately owned.
The shallow lagoons of Lake Talawa and Lake
Earl are similar to others found along the
California coast. Lake Talawa, the smaller
and more ocean-adjacent of the two, has
relatively saline water, while Lake Earl's
water is fresher near the tributary creek.
During summer, dense blooms of salt grass,
pickerelweed, and potamogeton pectinatus can
cover up to two-thirds of the lake surfaces,
making power boating difficult.
To the west lie wind- and wave-formed dunes.
These lagoons are important stops on the
Pacific Flyway, hosting up to 100,000
migratory birds at peak times. The area is
home to 250 bird species and at least 50
mammal species.
Paddling on Lake Talawa with a line in the
water
 can
be mesmerizing—gazing into the forests,
watching animals along the shore, and
feeling the tug of a big catch as the
shadows dance across the surface.
Map of Lake Talawa
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