Some 7,300 acres of the Big River watershed, much of it formerly logged, have been added to Mendocino Headlands State Park. An old logging road, now a trail, departs the east end of the parking lot at Big River Beach. Hikers, equestrians, and mountain bikers permitted; no motor vehicles. For information on summertime guided walks led by Mendocino Land Trust docents, call: 707-962-0470.
▪ Boating
▪ Fishing
▪ Wildlife viewing
▪ The mouth of Big River is sometimes a good surfing spot
MENDOCINO BAY OVERLOOK: Off Road 500B, W. of Hwy. One, S. of Mendocino. Path to overlook is marked by a brown sign; roadside parking. Fine views of the town of Mendocino from the grassy bluff. Road 500B is also known as Brewery Gulch Road. Additional roadside vista points are farther south along Brewery Gulch Road.
Mendocino County
Van Damme to Navarro River
PATHS TO SHORELINE: Hwy. One at Gordon Lane, 1.5 mi. S. of Mendocino. A trail, part of Van Damme State Park, starts at Hwy. One at dirt parking area opposite Gordon Lane. A second trail starts at a fence opening 200 feet north of Peterson-Headlands Ln.; park on the south side of Peterson-Headlands Ln., just off Hwy. One.
VAN DAMME STATE PARK: E. and W. of Hwy. One at Little River, 3 mi. S. of Mendocino. No-fee beach parking is west of Hwy. One. Inland of the highway are a picnic area, visitor center, and camping facilities, including family sites, hike or bike sites, a group campground, and environmental sites reached by trail. Campground open all year; for reservations, call 1-800-444-7275. Enroute campsites are available in the beach parking lot. Fee charged for camping and park day use. Call: 707-937-5804.
▪ Visitor center open weekends, year round
▪ Hiking trail through Fern Canyon
▪ Divers and kayakers enjoy easy equipment transport from sea-level parking area
▪ Self-guided, wheelchair-accessible pygmy forest trail is off Little River Rd., east of the county airport
LITTLE RIVER BLOWHOLE TRAIL: W. of Hwy. One, N. of Little River cemetery. Trail starts at north fenceline of cemetery and leads to giant sinkhole. Stay back from the edge.
DARK GULCH BEACH: Hwy. One, Dark Gulch. Limited roadside parking (southbound) at milepost 45.24 along tall wooden fence; walk seaward between low fences to sand-and-cobble beach.
ALBION RIVER BEACH: Albion flats, W. of Albion River Campground. Park near the Albion River Campground café, then walk under the bridge to sandy river beach. Albion River Campground offers RV and tent camping, rest-rooms with showers, and boat launch. Fees for camping or day use; no charge for pedestrians headed for Albion River Beach. Call: 707-937-0606. The separate Schooner’s Landing Campground offers RV camping, boat launch and dock, and picnicking; call: 707-937-5707.
NAVARRO BLUFFLANDS TRAIL: Off Hwy. One, N. of Navarro Ridge Road. Half-mile-long trail starts at milepost 42.5; roadside parking. No beach access. Call: 707-962-0470.
NAVARRO POINT PRESERVE: Off Hwy. One, 1.7 mi. N. of the junction of Hwy. 128. Mile-long loop trail starts at parking area at milepost 41.83. Call: 707-962-0470.
NAVARRO BEACH: W. end of Navarro Beach Road. Wide sandy beach strewn with driftwood. Picnic area and RV campsites; no water available. Call: 707-937-5804.
▪ Visitor center planned in historic Navarro-by-the-Sea structure
NAVARRO RIVER REDWOODS STATE PARK: Hwy. 128, 2 mi. E. of the junction of Hwy. One. Pull-outs along Hwy. 128 provide access to the banks of the Navarro River. On Hwy. 128 eight miles east of Hwy. One is the Paul Dimmick Campground, which also has day-use picnic areas in a redwood grove along the river. Call: 707-937-5804.
Mendocino County
Elk to Manchester State Park
GREENWOOD STATE BEACH: Hwy. One at Greenwood Creek, Elk. Picnic area is on the bluff. An old road leads down to the sandy beach, where there are additional picnic tables. Day use only. Call: 707-937-5804.
▪ Beach is popular kayak launch site; visitors roll small boats on carts down the road
▪ Greenwood Beach Visitor Center and Museum has an eclectic collection of historic artifacts and is open on weekends, 11 AM–1 PM
▪ North of Elk on Hwy. One at milepost 37.0 is Peg and John Frankel Trail, one-third-mile long and part of California Coastal Trail
MALLO PASS CREEK VISTA POINT: W. of Hwy. One, .2 mi. N. of Irish Beach subdivision. Paved parking with coastal views.
ALDER CREEK BEACH: End of Alder Creek Beach Rd., W. of Hwy. One, 7 mi. N. of Point Arena. Alder Creek Beach Rd. is at Hwy. One milepost 22.48; road closed to vehicles but open to pedestrians. Steep path to the northern end of Manchester State Park. Day use only. Call: 707-882-2463.
▪ Horseback riding on the beach
MANCHESTER STATE PARK: W. of Hwy. One, from Alder Creek to just N. of Pt. Arena. The state park includes more than three miles of driftwood-strewn sandy shoreline. From Hwy. One, the park can be reached on Alder Creek, Kinney, and Stoneboro roads. Main entrance is on Kinney Rd., where there are day-use and camping facilities.
A picnic area is at the end of the road, along with restrooms and a quarter-mile flat trail to the beach. Restrictions on beach use may be in effect during the breeding season of snowy plovers. Call: 707-882-2463.
The campground offers tent and RV camping and a hike or bike site. Fire pits, chemical toilets, running water, RV dump station; no showers. RVs up to 30 feet allowed; trailers up to 22 feet. One mile east of the main park entrance are an additional nine primitive walk-in sites. Dogs on leash allowed in the campground; horses not permitted. Fee for camping.
▪ Fishing for steelhead in Brush Creek and Alder Creek; check Dept. of Fish and Wildlife regulations
MANCHESTER BEACH KOA: Off Kinney Rd., E. of Manchester State Park. Privately operated facility, including 135 campsites for tents or RVs (some with partial or full hookups), cabins and cottages, showers, swimming pool, volleyball, disc golf, game room, and laundry. For reservations, call: 1-800-562-4188. For information, call: 707-882-2375.
STONEBORO ROAD: End of Stoneboro Rd., W. of Hwy. One, 4.5 mi. N. of Point Arena. Dirt parking area; path leads through dunes to the beach. Day use only. Part of Manchester State Park; for information, call: 707-882-2463.
Mendocino County
Point Arena to Hearn