Mendocino/Fort Bragg
State Parks & Beaches

>Mendocino/Fort Bragg State Parks,
Lakes and Nature Preserves

Big River Beach

Great for picnicing, sunbathing and playing in the waves. The Big River wetlands is part of  the Mendocino Headlands State Park's 7,400-acre wildlife corridor that links diverse coastal and inland habitats. 

Caspar Headlands State Beach — Day-use

Located two miles north of Russian Gulch, the Caspar Headlands is made up of miles of undeveloped, unspoiled beaches, two acres of headlands, and a panoramic ocean view. It's a great place for watching migrating gray whales.

Caspar Headlands State Reserve — Day-use

Located just three miles north of the town of Mendocino, the small three-acre reserve is home to a small strip of coastline that features sculpted rocks, wildflowers and surf.

Caspar Beach

14441 Point Cabrillo Dr., Mendocino CA 95460      (707) 964-3306

Caspar Beach RV Park and Campground is a beach front camping and RV facility on California's Mendocino Coast between Fort Bragg and Mendocino.

Glass Beach

End of West Elm St. at Old Haul Rd., Fort Bragg, CA 95437

60+ years ago, Glass Beach was the public dump.  Now, through environmental protect and a pounding surf, most of the refuse has been cleaned up with the exception of sand smoothed glass that now covers the beach.

Greenwood State Beach

15 miles north of Point Arena on Highway 1.   (707) 937-5804

Greenwood State Beach offers beach access and a glimpse of what life was like in a lumber town in the late 1800's.

Jughandle State Reserve — Day-use

Located one mile north of Caspar, the 769-acre reserve features a 2.5-mile nature trail called "The Ecological Staircase."  The self-guided tour explores five terraces that were created by glacier, sea and tectonic activity.

Lake Mendocino

Lake Mendocino offers a variety of activities including:  boating, water skiing, fishing, camping, and hiking.

There are 300+ campsites plus a small number of boat-in only sites. The campsites are very popular so they must be reserved in advance. The Lake also has two boat ramps, day use and picnic areas, and several hiking trails traverse the lake.

MacKerricher State Park — Camping

24100 MacKerricher Park Road, Fort Bragg, CA      (707) 964-8898

Located three miles north of Fort Brag on Hwy 1, the park's habitats vary from beaches, bluffs, headlands, dunes, forests and wetlands.

Manchester State Beach — Camping

44500 Kinney Rd, Manchester, CA (707) 882-2463

Located a ½ mile north of the town of Manchester on Hwy 1, the 760 acres of beach, dunes and grasslands stretch southward towards the Point Arena Lighthouse.

Mendocino Headlands State Park — Day-use

Mendocino, CA (707) 937-5804

Surrounding the town of Mendocino, the park features grass-covered headlands, a beach, and the mouth of the Big River.

Navarro River Redwoods State Park — Camping

Highway 128, Elk, CA (707) 937-5804

Located on Hwy 128, the State Park contains the Paul Zimmick Campgrounds and the Navarro Beach. Some of the park's popular activities include: swimming, wading, kayaking and canoeing.   Point Arena Area Campgrounds Gualala, Manchester, Point Arena

Pomo Bluffs in Fort Bragg

From Highway 1, take Ocean View Drive to Cliff Way.

Located above the Noyo Bay, the bluffs offer great views with benches, walking and niking trails, and interpretive exhibits.

Russian Gulch State Park — Camping

Mendocino, CA

Located two miles north of Mendocino, the park features the heavily forested Russian Gulch Creek Canyon, a large collapsed sea cave called the Devil’s Punch Bowl, and a beach were visitors can swim, explore tidepools, skin dive and fish. 

Schooner Gulch State Beach

Located three miles south of Point Arena         (707) 937-5804

The 70 acres of beach and headlands are popular for beachcombing, surf fishing,  picnicking, and surfing.

Ten Mile Trail - Old Haul Road

From Laguna Point to Ten Mile River is 10 miles round trip; shorter hikes possible

Part of the MacKerricher State Park,  the "Ten-mile" multi-use trail is great for walkers, hikers, bicyclists and equestrians. The trail stretches from Fort Bragg to 10-mile River.

Van Damme State Park — Camping

8001 North Highway 1, Little River, CA (707) 937-5804

Located three miles south of Mendocino, the 1,831-acre park features beaches, the Fern Canyon scenic trail system, and the Pygmy Forest where mature cypress and pine trees grow from six inches to eight feet tall.

Westport-Union Landing State Beach — Camping

Located 19 miles north of Fort Bragg on Highway 1

The area features two miles of beach, and is popular for ocean fishing, picnicking, tidepool exploring, abalone diving and spearfishing.

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