Pelican Bay State Prison, Supermax prison in Del Norte County, United States.
Pelican Bay is a high-security correctional facility in northern California that houses inmates under different custody levels. The complex sits in a remote location near the coast, roughly six miles (10 km) south of Crescent City.
The facility opened in late 1989 as part of a statewide expansion to accommodate inmates requiring heightened security measures. It was built during a period when California was rapidly adding capacity to its correctional system.
The facility provides educational programs, including adult basic education, literacy training, and college courses through distance learning partnerships.
The grounds are not open to the public, and visits require advance scheduling and approval through official channels. The location is remote, set in a forested area near the Pacific shoreline away from major towns.
The site was among the first in the country to incorporate a dedicated unit for long-term solitary confinement in individual cells. This section later became the subject of legal debates over conditions of custody.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
