Pelican Bay State Prison

Prison · Crescent City

Pelican Bay State Prison

Prison · Crescent City

1

5905 Lake Earl Dr, Crescent City, CA 95532

Photos

Pelican Bay State Prison by null
Pelican Bay State Prison by null
Pelican Bay State Prison by null
Pelican Bay State Prison by null
Pelican Bay State Prison by null
Pelican Bay State Prison by null

Highlights

Maximum security facility on the Pacific coast in Crescent City  

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5905 Lake Earl Dr, Crescent City, CA 95532 Get directions

cdcr.ca.gov
@cacorrections

Information

Static Map

5905 Lake Earl Dr, Crescent City, CA 95532 Get directions

+1 707 465 1000
cdcr.ca.gov
@cacorrections
𝕏
@CACorrections

Features

wheelchair accessible parking lot
wheelchair accessible entrance

Last updated

Aug 26, 2025

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@eater

Prisoners Are Striking to Improve Food for the Incarcerated | Eater

"In 2011 incarcerated people at this facility mounted a large hunger strike to demand better food and reduced use of solitary confinement; that action helped inspire an even larger 2013 strike in the state during which strike leaders faced retaliation from staff, including confinement in isolated cells and confiscation of private legal documents." - Andrew Urevig

https://www.eater.com/2018/9/11/17845774/prison-strike-improve-food-for-incarcerated
View Postcard for Pelican Bay State Prison
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Curt F.

Yelp
Pretty good booty but the tan lines at Folsom are more of a turn on. If you're more into chicken skins then this may be you're destination you've been looking for.
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Betancourt E.

Yelp
What an interesting place, sadly I only drove around it a time or two but really wished there was a way for someone to get inside and tour it somehow. I can't get over the fact that these people are here for the rest of their lives , just sort of unreal. The place is in the middle of nowhere and completely surrounded by trees which just adds to the mystery of this place .

Sarah W.

Yelp
Level 2 inmates have a better visiting area than level 1. I heard level one just opened and they definitely weren't prepared for a family visit. Level 2 has vending machines with lots to choose from and visiting area is nice. Level one looks like an abandoned room. One vending machine with candy and chips and another with soda. Bathrooms have no soap or paper towels. No games either. Compared to level 2, they definitely need to step their game up. Loved seeing my loved one but was definitely unorganized and overall not a comfortable visit. Please make level 1 more welcoming and comfortable.
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JB H.

Yelp
The food at this place is mediocre.. the staff is rude and pushy .. the only reason I came to this place is because I was ordered to !!!! I will not return
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Lee B.

Yelp
Okay, this was a drive-by rather than a visit, but I had to see what there is to see, which turns out not to be much. Most of the prison grounds are surrounded by forest, and if you take the back road off the freeway you can see the entrance where the staff come and go. However, there really are no cool signs or photo opps. :(
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The G.

Yelp
The gorilla says: "Prison is no fun. Hard to get fresh bananas. To much anger and hate."

Lilplannedparenthood T.

Yelp
This place is so wonderful i wish i was allowed to live here with the friendly residents the food is definitely the best part & The bedrooms are so comfy man i cant wait to come back, I call dips on the SHU!
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David C.

Yelp
Stayed here during one of my stints for a 187 on a 5-0 back when I was thuggin'. Located in the beautiful Crescent City only 11 miles from the California-Oregon border. If you don't mind a short drive, Oregon has no sales tax and you can go on a shopping spree and avoid the hefty 8.25% California sales tax. Pelican Bay is a very secure correctional facility that was designed to hold 2,550 prisoners. It held 3,301 level IV prisoners in 2006 during my stay. Things one must do while at this facility are: 1) get a tattoo, 2) join a gang, 3) hit the gym, 4) pass notes to your friends. Things one must avoid during your stay here include: 1) gettin' shanked by other inmates of same or different gangs, 2) gettin' raped by frustrated inmates & desperate prison staff, 3) gettin' a beat down by anybody, 4) having fecal/urine matter thrown at you. Otherwise, the correctional facility is a very nice environment for reading books, watching television, listening to radio, and having a picnic at the cafeteria.
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Melissa B.

Yelp
Driving by a second time, I am compelled to lower my rating one star. Kudos for those who do their job here, and I hope the environment doesn't harden them. But this is one creepy place, even driving by in a car going 50 mile per hour.