Discover Humboldt: Hidden WWII Radar Station & Seals at the Mouth of the Klamath River

In his latest Humboldt Axe video, Dock heads north to the mouth of the Klamath River to explore a mix of North Coast history and coastal scenery—from the ruins of a World War II radar station perched above the ocean to the remnants of a bridge lost during the devastating 1964 flood.

The trip begins along Klamath Beach Road at the surviving southern end of the Douglas Memorial Bridge, originally built in 1926 to span the river. The bridge stood for decades before the historic December 1964 flood tore it out.

Today the remaining portion of the bridge has been left in place as a memorial

From there, Dock drives up Coastal Drive toward the remains of the B-71 Radar Station, built during World War II as part of a defense network stretching along the Pacific.

Constructed in 1942 after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the station was one of dozens built along the West Coast to watch for potential attacks from offshore. Japanese submarines had already been operating along the coastline, including incidents where shells were fired at targets in California and Oregon.

The Klamath installation was designed to hide in plain sight. The generator building was built to resemble a farmhouse, while the operations building was disguised as a barn.

About 35 troops reportedly staffed the station around the clock, monitoring radar equipment and keeping watch along the coastline. The facility later served as a search-and-rescue station before being decommissioned in 1968 and eventually becoming part of Redwood National Park lands. Today the concrete structures remain on the bluff, slowly weathering as vegetation begins to reclaim the site.

After exploring the radar station, Dock heads down toward the river’s mouth itself.

Where the Klamath meets the Pacific is a constantly changing landscape of shifting sandbars and tidal currents. The entrance has long been known as a challenging place for boats, and several shipwrecks have occurred near the mouth over the years.

Visitors reaching the beach pass through Yurok ancestral lands, including ceremonial areas near the river mouth. Dock notes in the video that those traveling through the area should remain respectful—staying on the trail and avoiding filming or photographing the ceremonial grounds.

The mouth of the Klamath can also be hazardous. The shifting sands, tides, and surf can change quickly, so visitors are advised to use caution when exploring the area.

Earlier:

• Discover Humboldt: Atmospheric River Hits Northern California Coast!
• Humboldt Axe: Custom Firefighter Axes for Guy Fieri’s Foundation
• Humboldt Axe: Mad Season Continues with Firewood Run into Six Rivers National Forest
• Discover Humboldt: ‘North Coast KING TIDES!’
• Discover Humboldt: ‘Tide Pools EXPLODING With Life at Agate Beach’
• Discover Humboldt: ‘Dangerous Surf After the Storm’
• Discover Humboldt: ‘Minibike Mayhem on the South Jetty Dunes’
• Discover Humboldt: ‘Humboldt OFF-ROAD on the South Spit Dunes’
• Discover Humboldt: Prairie Creek Redwoods
• Discover Humboldt: Driving the 40-Mile Backroad That Built Humboldt