$330,743Average Value$267Average Price per Sq Ft14Homes For Sale
Rio Dell offers tranquil living surrounded by towering trees
A landscape of rolling hills shaded by tall redwood trees hugs the small community of Rio Dell. The rugged forests here sustained a lumber industry that buoyed this section of Northern California. While the lumbering heyday is in the past, the region’s terrain remains replete with spots for outdoor recreation. The established homes give residents views of Rio Dell’s hilly setting in a location within 30 miles of the cities of Fortuna and Eureka. “The biggest draw to Rio Dell right now is the affordability of the houses,” says Joshua Cook, a local Realtor at Corcoran Icon Properties, who has 10 years of industry experience. “And it’s a beautiful area.”
Embracing its lumber past, Rio Dell sits in the shadow of tall redwood trees.
There's always time for locals to enjoy the outdoors in Rio Dell.
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Midcentury homes have modern appeal for some buyers
The bulk of Rio Dell’s housing inventory is made up of midcentury bungalows and ranch-style homes built from the 1930s to the 1960s. A lot of them need updates. Yet, with housing prices rising, Cook says more buyers are looking to Rio Dell because of its affordability. It’s a reason he considers this an up-and-coming area. Properties often sell for $180,000 to $440,000. Rio Dell's median sale price of about $350,000 is less than the median of roughly $410,000 in nearby Fortuna and $670,000 in nearby Hydesvile. More homes are available in the hamlet of Scotia, just south of Rio Dell. Scotia is a former company town whose homes were owned by the now-defunct Pacific Lumber Company. An investment firm took control of Scotia in 2008 after the lumber company went under, and it is converting the area's homes to traditional private ownership. “They are actually fixing up the homes, bringing them up to code and reselling them,” Cook says. Many of Scotia’s bungalows date to the 1910s, and sell for $260,000 to $390,000.
Rio Dell is populated with midcentury bungalows.
Ranch-style homes line the streets of Rio Dell.
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Eel River Valley provides a varied environment for recreation
Rio Dell is situated among the Coast Range in a region known as the Eel River Valley. The setting features a mix of land- and water-based activities. “You are very close to nature,” Cook says. “You can quickly get to forests, hiking trails and fishing." The Eel River Trail opened in 2025, providing a paved path along part of the roughly 200-mile waterway through Rio Dell. The Pedrazzini Boat Ramp is another access point, about 17 miles north. The river is popular for steelhead and salmon fishing. The striking Scotia Bluffs, a series of sandstone formations, stand along a section of the river across from Rio Dell. The bluffs offer hiking opportunities along a series of abandoned railroad tracks, and the area is known to have marine fossils. The famously scenic Avenue of the Giants, a roadway bordered by gigantic redwoods, is just over 20 miles south of Rio Dell in the Humboldt Redwoods State Park. The park itself has over 100 miles of trails. Rio Dell’s Fireman’s Park has a playground for kids to explore.
Humboldt Redwoods State Park is the third largest state park in California.
Fireman’s Park in Rio Dell hosts seasonal gatherings and smiles.
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Crafts, cars and community at Rio Dell’s Wildwood Days
Wildwood Days is a long-running annual tradition in Rio Dell. It started in 1970 and usually lasts four days in early August. The schedule is packed with activities across downtown and in Fireman’s Park, including a craft fair, parade, community barbecue and a car show.
Wildwood Avenue is a center of activity
Wildwood Avenue makes up Rio Dell’s downtown. The central stretch is lined with businesses like Shotz Coffee, which has a second location in Fortuna. “Shotz Coffee is definitely a favorite,” Cook says.”People even heading south will pull off and stop there.” DJ’s Burger Bar next door is a draw for its milkshakes and burgers. Lety's Kitchen & Coffee has popular breakfast burritos. CC Market and Dollar General are options for groceries and other household items. Cooks says people travel to Fortuna and Eureka for more amenities. There’s a Safeway supermarket in Fortuna, and Eureka has big-box stores from Walmart to T.J. Maxx.
Shotz Coffee is a hot spot for locals from Rio Dell.
Local favorite DJ's Burger Bar gives residents of Rio Dell several options for dining.
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Public schools feature free after-school programs
The Rio Dell School District carries a C grade on Niche. The system operates the C-minus-rated Eagle Prairie Elementary for kindergarten through fifth grade and the C-plus-rated Monument Middle for grades 6 through 8. Eagle Prairie has a free after-school program open until 6 p.m. Monument Middle has a successful girls basketball program that recently 28-1 and won the school’s first-ever Crescent City Jaycees tournament title in 2024. Students in the Scotia area can attend the B-rated Stanwood A. Murphy Elementary in the unrated Scotia Union School District from kindergarten through eighth grade. Stanwood A. Murphy also has a free after-school program.
The B-plus-rated Fortuna Union High School District serves students around this region and includes the B-rated Fortuna High. The Career Technical Education Department at Fortuna High offers topics including agriculture, manufacturing and hospitality. Students can also apply to attend the A-plus-rated Academy of the Redwoods, an accelerated early college program on Eureka's College of the Redwoods campus.
Stanwood A. Murphy Elementary School, home of the Bears, serves the Rio Dell community.
Monument Middle School students grow confidently near Rio Dell.
Students can tryout for the sports teams at Fortuna Union High School.
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Redwood Transit buses and U.S. 101 link Rio Dell to nearby cities
Part of U.S. Route 101 cuts through Rio Dell. Drivers can use the freeway to reach Fortuna, 8 miles away, and Eureka, a 26-mile trip. The Providence Redwood Memorial Hospital in Fortuna has a 24-hour emergency room. California Redwood Coast–Humboldt County Airport, just north of Eureka, offers United Airlines flights to Denver, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Redwood Transit System buses stop in Rio Dell, most along Wildwood Avenue.
Public transportation is easily accessible in Scotia.
Catch a flight to or from Westwood-Vasside at the Redwood Airport.
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Written By
Wayne Epps Jr.
Photography Contributed By
Brad Davis
Video By
Austin Lewis
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Mary Jo Drews,
an experienced agent in this area.
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On average, homes in Rio Dell, CA sell after 47 days on the market compared to the national average of 56 days. The median sale price for homes in Rio Dell, CA over the last 12 months is $337,000, up 4% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
There are properties that check boxes, and there are properties that change the way you think about what's possible. 1150 Rio Vista Lane is the latter.Set at the end of a private lane in Rio Dell, this 3,183-square-foot residence sits on 7.75+ flat, usable acres -- the kind of land that opens up a conversation about what you actually want your life to look like. Hobby farm. Horse property.
Completely renovated bungalow in Rio Dell with designer finishes throughout! Step inside to wide-plank LVP flooring, fresh paint, and a showstopper kitchen featuring white shaker cabinets, quartz countertops, a bold black hexagonal tile backsplash, a stainless gas range, a dishwasher, and a pull-down faucet. The spacious living room is filled with natural light and hillside views. Two generous
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Prime Development Opportunity - Approved 2.11 Acre Multi-Family Lot in Rio Dell! Don't miss this exceptional opportunity to develop on a sunny, 2.11-acre property in the heart of Rio Dell. Fully approved for multi-family, condominiums, or single-family units, this versatile parcel is shovel-ready with all utilities available at the street. Ideally located with easy access to Hwy 101, this
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