College Cove is a small, sheltered beach on the north side of Trinidad Head, reached by a trail from the state beach parking area. The cove is backed by steep cliffs hung with five-finger ferns and small waterfalls in winter, and protected enough that the swell is gentler than on the exposed state beach. It is one of the more private beaches on this stretch of the Humboldt coast, partly because the trail deters casual visitors.
The walk from the parking area takes about fifteen minutes one way, through coastal forest that shelters pileated woodpeckers and winter wrens. The beach itself is pebbly at the base of the cliffs and sandy toward the water. It is clothing-optional by longstanding local custom, which is worth knowing in advance.