Resting atop Arcata’s Fickle Hill ridgeline, at an elevation of 2000 feet, are 36 acres of pristine mountaintop property that have been owned and cared for by former wildlife land manager Peter Lewendal for the past 25 years.
This property is unique in ways that make it especially attractive to outdoors lovers and nature conservancy advocates alike. Though the property is on the upper elevations of Fickle Hill, it still has ample water, including two up to date and functioning wells, a year round stream that runs through the property, and a large pond located towards the top of the property as well. There is a well maintained trail system that weaves carefully through the entire property, complete with bridges for crossing the stream in two locations as well as a number of viewing decks throughout the trial network to immerse yourself in the natural environment.
Peter, standing at the end of one of his custom built foot bridges located in the southwest sector of his property
Upper section of property with housing and barn
ONe of the rock formations located on property
The large pond and wetland area located near the top of the property attracts many animals and birds to the area, including egrets and great blue herons which are seldom seen in the mountainous areas in this region.
As you make your way through the well thought out trail network you begin to come across large elevated decks, and it becomes apparent that this property is perfect for nature viewing, or “forest bathing” which is the Japanese concept of shrinrin-yoku and loosely translates to “making contact with and taking in the atmosphere of the forest”. There are no less than six seperate viewing decks throughout the property, each within its own unique ecological zone and none within sight of another.
