Mendocino County Parks & Ourdoors, Mendocino County Recreation

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Additional Information

Coastal Mendocino Beaches and Parks
Along the stunning coast of Northern California, you'll find a host of Mendocino State Parks, Beaches, and Reserves, from Manchester in the south all the way to the northern town of Westport.

Manchester State Park
Beginning on the south coast, Manchester State Park offers beaches, dunes, and grasslands with plenty of ocean frontage. Salmon and steelhead fishing is a favorite activity here. The coastal wildflowers in the park are magnificent and you might even spot a tundra swan or two.

Van Damme State Park
Further up the coast, the Van Damme State Park offers a scenic trail system, pygmy forest, and paved roads for jogging and bicycling. A favorite activity here is abalone diving, and visitors can also rent kayaks and explore coastal wildlife and local sea caves.

Around Mendocino
Mendocino outdoor activities are plentiful in the two parks located near the village of Mendocino - The Headlands and Woodlands State Parks. Located near downtown Mendocino, Headlands is accessed from the mouth of the Big River south of town. Hiking and jogging trails are plentiful, and in winter, the park provides a site for whale watching. The Woodlands Park is 7 miles inland from the village and is in the heart of Redwood country. It was built by FDR's Federal Works Progress Administration and Civilian Conservation Corps and remains a tribute to their hard work.

Nearby Russian Gulch State Park offers swimming, tide pool exploring, diving, hiking and biking trails, and rock fishing.

MacKerricher State Park
In Fort Bragg, you'll find the beautiful MacKerricher State Park, which features a variety of habitats including beach, bluff, headland, dune, forest and wetland. Fishing in the park's two freshwater lakes is quite popular here as is horseback riding. This is a good whale watching spot as well.

Inland Parks
The Navarro River Redwood State Park in the Anderson Valley offers picnicking, swimming, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and camping. Also in the middle of the Anderson Valley, Hendy Woods State Park boasts a warmer, less foggy environment as compared to those parks located on the coast. Twenty-five picnic groves are located on the pristine banks of the Navarro River and there are two miles of hiking trails for guests to enjoy.

Montgomery Woods State Reserve, near Comptche, is one of the most remote of California's 31 redwood parks and offers both redwood groves and fern forest. It's a terrific place for a picnic and a hike after lunch.

Mendocino Recreation
While there are all sorts of things to do in the state parks, hiking remains the most popular activity. Mendocino hiking trails carry visitors through a variety of eco-systems and many trails offer markers that educate guests as to what they're viewing while they hike. Biking and horseback riding remain popular recreational activities as do fishing, canoeing, and kayaking.

Camping in Mendocino especially at the state parks, can be quite affordable and the scenery is stunning and peaceful. Some parks and beaches offer tent camping only while others have RV facilities.