10 Nature & Parks in Mendocino That You Shouldn't Miss

August 15, 2021 Sheron Bogner

Shop, eat, and enjoy the feeling of going back in time to a simpler era as you groove to the vibes of downtown Mendocino’s hippy past and quaint New England style architecture. Find a secluded bluff, and listen to seals splashing and barking. Visit the Mendocino Art Center, started by San Francisco artists in the 1950s. Enjoy a Mendocino Theater Company performance. Stop in historic Ford House, which doubles as city museum and Mendocino Headlands State Park visitors center. Mendocino Headlands State Park winds around Mendocino Bay, and is a wildlife corridor linking coast and inland areas. Savor the spring wildflowers. In July the Headlands and city are home to the Mendocino Music Festival. Groove to the ocean views, blowholes, wave tunnels, sea arches, grottos, and tide pools as you hike the beaches and cliff trails. Along the Mendocino Headlands Trail, watch for old cross-ties from the oxen-powered railway that dumped lumber to ships below the bluff. Drive 2 miles north of Mendocino to Russian Gulch State Park for rock fishing, swimming, skin diving, tide pools, bicycling, a 36-foot high waterfall, and a Devil's Punch Bowl of churning water. Savor spring rhododendron blooms at Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. Take the family on the half-day Skunk Train roundtrip from Fort Bragg to inland Northspur. Bird watch at Cleone Lake, a tidal lagoon in MacKerricher State Park, 3 miles north of Fort Bragg. Enjoy MacKerricher’s wheelchair accessible nature trail, Ten Mile beach, fishing, hiking, jogging, horseback riding, and bicycling. Take the kids to Point Cabrillo Light Station State Historic Park. Tee off at the 5,458-yard, 9-hole coastal golf course at Little River Inn, which also offers llama treks. Take the family to Little River State Park and Van Damme Beach State Park, which are near Little River Airport (KLLR). Kids love the recently renovated Point Arena Lighthouse, because they can climb to the top.
Restaurants in Mendocino

1. Mendocino Coast

Mendocino, CA 95460 +1 707-961-6300 [email protected] http://www.mendocinocoast.com/
Excellent
90%
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5.0 based on 756 reviews

Mendocino Coast

A scenic drive along California's Pacific coastline offering beaches, historic lighthouses and old-time fishing villages.

Reviewed By Martysfo - San Rafael, United States

Great cliffs, fog and quiet mark this coast. It is cold and chilly, even in August. Yet it is a must see so one can step back in time to how California used to be. A bonus is the trip up through the Anderson Valley Wine Region on the way to the coast from the Bay Area.

2. Mendocino Area Parks Association

45035 Main Street, Mendocino, CA 95460 +1 707-937-4700 [email protected] http://mendoparks.org/
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5.0 based on 7 reviews

Mendocino Area Parks Association

Funding for MAPA's vital mission comes from grantors, fundraisers, special events, donations, memberships, visitor center operations, volunteers and our local communities. This multifaceted team effort, along with collaboration of the Department of Parks and Recreation, makes possible the park improvement projects and natural and cultural history programs that inspire thousands of people !!

3. Shady Dell

Usal Road, Mendocino, CA 95589 +1 415-362-2352 https://www.savetheredwoods.org/park/shady-dell-lost-coast-trail/
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5.0 based on 1 reviews

Shady Dell

4. Spring Ranch Trail

Van Damme State Park, Mendocino, CA
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5.0 based on 3 reviews

Spring Ranch Trail

5. Russian Gulch State Park

Mendocino, CA 95430 +1 707-937-5804 http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=432
Excellent
71%
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4.5 based on 291 reviews

Russian Gulch State Park

This park's view of the Mendocino headlands is enhanced by a spectacular array of wildflowers.

Reviewed By barfiemermaid - Costa Mesa, United States

Main trail to the falls is closed so we had to take the north trail which adds a few more miles. We did almost 11 miles with altitude. It was a beatiful hike almost completely shaded. The cliffs on the north side was gorgeous as well as the sink hole!

6. Jughandle State Reserve

Hwy 1, Mendocino, CA 95430 +1 707-937-5804 http://www.parks.ca.gov/
Excellent
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4.5 based on 131 reviews

Jughandle State Reserve

This reserve is famous for its Staircase Trail

Reviewed By okayaway - Benicia, United States

great views on the ocean and hills. easy to find off of highway 1 and a few great easy hikes out to the ocean cliffs.

7. Van Damme State Park

Hwy 1, Mendocino, CA 95430 +1 707-937-5804 http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=433
Excellent
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4.5 based on 233 reviews

Van Damme State Park

Picturesque spot known for its Pygmy Forest of small trees and Fern Canyon.

Reviewed By paulmU4660DC - Walnut Creek, United States

Hike beside the Fern Canyon Creek from the Van Damme Visitor Center to the Pygmy Forest Natural Preserve. The trail, originally constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, crosses over the creek on 10 bridges. The trail follows the Creek up to the Pygmy Forest, but it's not a strenuous climb. The Pygmy Forest has a guided boardwalk explaining why the forest trees species are different from the flora and fauna in the Canyon.

8. Big River

Mendocino, CA http://www.mendocinolandtrust.org/trails/central-coastal-trails/big-river-trail
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4.5 based on 98 reviews

Big River

A beautiful estuary in which to observe nature.

Reviewed By KarinaL101

We walked down to this area where the river meets the ocean. People were surfing, paddle boarding and boating in kayaks. The beach area was immense.

9. Mendocino Headlands State Park

Hwy 1, Mendocino, CA 95460 +1 707-937-5804 http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=442
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4.5 based on 500 reviews

Mendocino Headlands State Park

A scenic and appealing rugged promontory along the California coast.

Reviewed By Abacus3 - California, United States

Beautiful views and a lovely walk. It's also a great whale watching spot. Take your binoculars and a picnic, you'll want to stick around.

10. Point Cabrillo Light Station State Historic Park

45300 Litehouse Rd, Mendocino, CA 95460-9736 +1 707-937-6122 [email protected] http://pointcabrillo.org/
Excellent
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4.5 based on 690 reviews

Point Cabrillo Light Station State Historic Park

OPEN 365 DAYS a YEAR -- THERE IS NO FEE -- Built between 1908 and 1909, and extensively restored, it is one of the most complete Lightstations in the U.S. and hosts visitors, vacation rentals, receptions and weddings, plus education programs for classes of local students. There is a parking area inside the gate off Point Cabrillo Drive, adjacent to the restored Kearn farmhouse with its public restroom. Enjoy the half mile downhill walk to the Light Station buildings. There is parking for vehicles with Disabled placards at the bottom of the hill. There are two paths to the Station. The dirt path begins at the north end of the parking lot and takes you through the introduced grassland and coastal prairie. The paved access road to the south is an easier walk. The Light Station includes the Lighthouse, which is an active duty Aid to Navigation, containing the original Chance Brothers classic 3rd order Fresnel lens. -- Three restored Lightkeeper homes; the first is a period museum of a lightkeeper's house in the 1930s; the other two houses are comfortable vacation rental homes, -- The restored Blacksmith & Carpentry Shop houses the Marine Science Exhibit with its 240 gallon saltwater aquarium, -- Two lovely vacation rental cottages, and public restrooms, one by the lightkeepers houses and another in the Kearn farmhouse. THERE IS NO FEE to tour the Lighthouse museum/giftshop or the period museum lightkeeper's house, although your donations are welcome. The Lighthouse, 1st Assistant Lightkeeper's House and Marine Science Exhibit are open to the public from 11am to 4pm year-round, including holidays. The State Historic Park grounds are open from sunrise to sunset daily.

Reviewed By jam1015 - Rocklin, United States

This lighthouse is one of the few still having its original lens, as they are damaged, they are being replaced with LED's. Once you make the walk, wear comfortable shoes from the parking lot out to the lighthouse, you will be awarded with great views and treated to some wonderful history along with a marine exhibit. The docent at the lighthouse was the highlight super nice and shared so much with us.

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