Willow Creek, California
Willow Creek is a community of 1,076 people in Humboldt County, California.
Why visit Willow Creek
Townapedia lists 2 museums and landmarks, 12 parks and trails, 9 places to eat, 3 places to stay and 4 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Studio 299 Center for the Arts, Willow Creek-China Flat Museum & Bigfoot Collection, Bigfoot Flat Campground and Veterans Park.
Weather in Willow Creek
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Willow Creek
Willow Creek (formerly China Flat) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Humboldt County, California, United States. The population was 1,720 at the 2020 census, up from 1,710 at the 2010 census. The town is located around 30 miles (48 km) from county seat and harbor city Eureka.
From the Wikipedia article Willow Creek, California (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do4
Museums and landmarks2
Willow Creek-China Flat Museum & Bigfoot Collection
Museum · 0.9 mi
38949 CA-HWY 299, Willow Creek
May-Sep We-Su 10:00-16:00; Oct Sa-Su 10:00-16:00; Nov-Apr off
Parks, trails and playgrounds12
Restaurants and cafes9
Osprey Cafe
Restaurant · 0.8 mi
39010 Trinity Highway / CA Hwy 299, Willow Creek
Mo-Fr 08:00-03:00; Sa,Su 09:00-03:00
Arts House: Diner and Shake Shop
Restaurant · Burger, Sandwich, American, Ice Cream, Dessert, Diner, Chicken · 0.9 mi
39116 Trinity Highway / CA Hwy 299, Willow Creek
Kims Kitchen 299
Restaurant · Thai, Laotian, Lao, Lao & Thai Fusion · 0.8 mi
The Forks Lounge
Bar and pub · 0.8 mi
38998 Trinity Highway / CA Hwy 299, Willow Creek
Subway
Fast food · Sandwich · 0.9 mi
39123 Highway 299, Willow Creek
Mo-Th 06:00-20:00; Fr 06:00-21:00; Sa-Su 07:00-21:00
History
The indigenous people from here are part of the Tsnungwe or South Fork Hupa and are speakers of the Hupa Language.
Willow Creek's first non-indigenous settlers were Chinese laborers from the mining and lumber camps, which earned the town the name China Flat. The China Flat post office opened in 1878, and changed its name to Willow Creek in 1915.
From the History section of Willow Creek, California on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay3
Churches and places of worship2
Shopping2
Gas and EV charging3
Schools, colleges and libraries3
Healthcare1
Map of Willow Creek
41 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Humboldt County has had 11 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2023-04-03: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2023-03-10: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2023-01-14: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2023-01-09: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2020-03-22: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
California Redwood Coast - Humboldt County Airport (ACV) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 24 miles away.
- McKinleyville 23 mi west, about 36 min by car
- Arcata 23 mi west, about 37 min by car
- Westhaven-Moonstone 24 mi west, about 39 min by car
- Eureka 28 mi west, about 45 min by car
- Cutten 29 mi southwest, about 46 min by car
- Bayview 30 mi west, about 49 min by car
- Pine Hills 30 mi southwest, about 49 min by car
- Humboldt Hill 32 mi southwest, about 52 min by car
- Fortuna 35 mi southwest, about 57 min by car
- Hydesville 35 mi southwest, about 56 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Bigfoot Museum Willow Creek, Bob Doran from Arcata, USA, CC BY 2.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.