There are a couple of projects to look forward to around the Eel River that could be part of an epic piece of unpowered travel. First, the state of California has a Rails-to-Trails project they are calling the Great Redwood Trail. Second, the Wildlands Conservancy has a project to conserve the wild portions of the largely private river canyon in a project they are calling the Eel River Emerald Necklace.
Map showing the Great Redwood Trail and Eel River Emerald Necklace projects in southern Humboldt, Trinity, and Mendocino Counties.
The Great Redwood Trail is to follow the Northwestern Pacific Railroad "connecting San Francisco and Humboldt Bays". It is the dark red line running up the map. It includes some hundredish miles along the main Eel River, the most interesting part being between where US-101 leaves the main stem in Humboldt Redwoods State Park to where the two routes rejoin. This section of the tracks was the most expensive railroad line to maintain in its day. The challenges will remain, even for a generally dirt multiuse trail along the old right-of-way. This route includes a number of bridges and tunnel that will need to be evaluated, repaired, modified, replaced. There's actually quite a lot of short tunnels that were utilized for the line, but also one a mile long.
The Eel River Emerald Necklace, besides preserving lands that will allow wildlife to connect between the various ecosystems, will provide for "free passive recreation". Those spaces that are already aquired are shown (roughly) as green blobs. The short portion through Trinity County is well represented, plus there is one last preserve at the mouth of the river. These are particularly aimed at providing rafters and kayakers with pull out points for camping while coming down the river.
And between the two projects, there is quite a grand adventure. Take off south, hiking uphill along the river. At the top, drop in in raft or kayak and ride the water back down, right to the mouth. Some things just can't be seen from above, and some just can't really be seen from the water, but together, it can be quite a complete experience of the river!
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