Agate Beach

(85 reviews)

0.9 km

Mendocino Headlands State Park is unforgettable. We walked straight from the village out along the…read morebluffs, with sweeping ocean views the entire way, then made our way down to a quiet beach where there was no one else around. Just sitting there with the sound of waves and birds felt incredibly peaceful. Simple, raw, and beautiful in a way that's hard to describe. One of those places that makes you slow down and just take it all in. Absolutely worth the walk from town.

We were able to find street parking easily in the morning- free. We walked a small section of the…read moreMendocino Headlands Trail. The bluffs and ocean views were beautiful. There were stairs on the side that lead to Portuguese Beach. We also viewed the blow hole. It was windy out there, but overall it was a nice quick stop.

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Big River State Park

1.5 km

Big River State Park in Mendocino is absolutely stunning, one of those places where you're reminded…read morehow much nature is showing off along this coast. With the river winding through redwoods and opening out toward the ocean, the scenery feels almost unreal in its scale and beauty. There are trails everywhere, great spots for kayaking, hiking, or just sitting quietly and taking it all in. The whole Mendocino area is packed with parks, and this one is a standout for its grandeur and sense of peace. It really feels like a place to slow down and appreciate how incredible the natural world is.

I've visited Mendocino many times and somehow have never spent time at this wonderful (and free)…read morestate park. The entrance is off Highway 1, just outside Mendocino's shopping district and headlands. There are big wide beaches where the river meets the ocean which are visible right away. However, if you make a left at the bottom of the hill and drive a short ways to the end of the lot, there's a wonderful trail that meanders alongside the river. This former logging road is wide and gently graded (at least for the first 2.5 miles I walked on it.) It's great for bikes and more casual "hikes." It goes, I believe, about 7 miles inland so you can go as far as you'd like and turn around. It's a mellow journey and one more about the sites and sounds along the trail and the general peacefullness of the area, rather than a specific destination. You weave along the river and eventually in to the redwoods, where the water views become filtered through the trees. Along the way, we saw a few banana slugs and enjoyed a mostly shaded trail. I would love to come back with my bike and do the whole trail, end to end. The start of the trail had more people, which then tapered to just a few bikers and runners after the first mile or so. Seems to be a local's spot and they're very lucky to have it!

Some banana slugs on the trail

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Beautiful blue water on the river

Russian Gulch State Park

4.5

(125 reviews)

1.6 km

We arrived shortly after 9:00am and paid the $10 day use fee. It was a short drive on a one lane…read moreroad to get to the parking lot. EV parking was available, which was nice. There was another small parking lot closer to the trail. We walked past the camp sites to get to the trail. The sites were on the smaller side, but all of them seemed to have a spigot. I used the flushing toilets before starting the hike. We did the Fern Canyon Trail to Falls Loop Trail- 6.2 miles. The first part was mostly flat, but there is some elevation gain for the loop. We went counterclockwise, but you reach the waterfall quicker if you do the loop clockwise. The 36-foot waterfall might not be the most impressive, but it was nice. There's a fallen tree trunk in between the two streams for you to sit and take some photos. We sat on a bench afterwards and enjoyed the views while having some snacks. I guess we got there at a good time, right before a crowd of people descended. Overall, the forested hike was nice and peaceful, and we also spotted a banana slug. There are some muddy parts though. I wished I read a bit more about the park before going. I would've wanted to do the short trail for Devil's Punchbowl which also has views of the bridge. Darn...

Serene quiet park…read more great photo spots! There's the iconic bridge but in order to get on that beach you have to walk on a narrow wobbling log in the water. Pretty scary for me. I finally did it, with the help of a very kind stranger who held my hand and it felt all better. Interesting how a lot of the fear is in your head. Why is there not a better safer path to get there? Watched many groups try and about half the people said nope and left

Sunset at the beach in Russian Gulch Cove

Lovely bridge over a cute little beach.

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Mendocino Grove

4.8

(223 reviews)

2.3 km

We had an amazing experience with our large group at Mendocino Grove. The property is gorgeous, the…read moretents were clean (it was nicer than many hotels), the bathrooms/showers are clean and so nice, and we loved having campfires with our crew. We opted to have dinner (pizza & salads) on our first night there and everyone was pleased. We had a group of 27 - including lots of kids - and it was a fabulous experience. The people working the front desk area were fine, we didn't really have to interact with them much after check in. If I could give one suggestion that would make it even better... more breakfast options in the morning. The oatmeal was delicious though. We loved the coffee and tea station. It is a little pricey to stay here, but it's a great experience! Beautiful place.

I'm a seasoned glamper, and this might be the best one I've stayed at!…read more the tent is great. we had a private deck facing the trees! a good amount of storage (often missing in other tents). lots of caution about critters-- we did not have any problems, but apparently the raccoons are sneaky & persistent here, there is a whole zipper system you should adhere to in order to keep them out. lovely campgrounds. lots of places to explore and relax. the main area where breakfast is served has A LOT of kids and dogs. the 24 hr (I think?) coffee & tea station is a nice touch. they offer breakfast, but it's pretty chaotic & not many options for vegans. showers are GREAT. bathrooms were surprisingly clean, we were there over 4th of July weekend. I accidentally booked two tents, the staff were gracious enough to refund me for one of them.

Class fits around 20 people. People are encouraged to bring their mat or uses theirs.

New yoga space within the campground opened as of June, 2026.

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Inside of N-9

Catch A Canoe & Bicycles Too

Such a fun experience on the redwood outrigger canoe. Definitely recommend trying them out!read more

Decided to rent some bikes while we were staying in Mendocino. The shop is cute with it being right…read moreon the water. Definitely debated renting a canoe as well but we just didn't have enough time. The bikes were perfect to get us around town and down a trial close by. We had them reserved for 3 hours but they weren't worried about our time limit as long as we got them back by 4:30. The owners of the shop are super chill and relaxed. We felt very welcomed in their space. It was easy to book online and they're very responsive and flexible. I will say the breaks on the bike were a little worn but didn't pose any issues for us. We felt safe riding around and had no trouble.

Entrance

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Outrigger canoe

Van Damme Beach

4.3

(10 reviews)

5.0 km

It was light fog on my first pass through here but still worth stopping but it was perfectly…read morebeautiful on the return the next day. This is a stunning beach and I'm so glad that I made the stops. Large parking lot that was almost empty both times in late May. I suspect that the location along CA-1 makes it rather packed and I hope you're able to get here and be at one with nature. Just sitting and being close to the Ocean and just... nothing. Perfect. [Review 17618 overall - 408 in California - 1137 of 2022.]

Freedom of Beach…read more Random beach we stopped at along our way up the PCH to Ft Bragg to stretch our legs and use the facilities. The Good: *It's nature and a beach all rolled into one! :) *Easy access off the freeway and free parking. *Restrooms (see below) *Decent views of the ocean but nothing we haven't seen before and better. *Waters seem fairly calm and would be a good place to kayak. The Meh: *No sandy beaches but full of smallish river rocks that make walking on the beach a chore. *Because of the aforementioned rocks not a place you can picnic or hangout, really. The Ugly: *The restrooms are the hole-in-the-ground type and obviously hadn't been pumped in a while. #CantUnseeThat TLDR: Nice stretch of coastline that would be great for kayaking but not much else beyond a leg stretch and pit stop--just don't look down... 0_o

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B Bryan Preserve

4.8

(386 reviews)

46.0 km

The staff was great. The facilities (not that I'm an expert) seem spacious and clean. The staff…read moreobviously care about the animals and are knowledgeable. They spent a lot of time explaining all the health care the animals have available. The tour was definitely worth the price. I read some of the negative reviews. These seem to be from a few years ago, so they are listening and correcting. The ONE thing that irritated me, my wife and others (judging from comments at the time): They start showing a documentary before the tour (show up at least 30 minutes early). They don't finish, but you can watch it all on streaming. The irritating part is they are preparing for the tour during the documentary. Lots of us would have liked to hear, but the manager and employees were all talking (or shouting) preparations. Maybe they could do this BEFORE the documentary or OUTSIDE?? But it is definitely five stars, even with this little glitch. Check it out and help the animals!

B. Bryan Preserve is a wonderful organization dedicated to protecting African wildlife. My partner…read moreand I did the self-guided driving tour in our own car, which was a great way to see some of the species up close. We went on a Saturday morning in February, so the experience was peaceful, quiet, and calm. While not a whole lot of animals were out during our slot (just doing their animal thing!), we were still able to see a nice variety of species. The absolute highlight was getting to feed the giraffes at the end of the tour! They are such majestic creatures, and it was a fun, interactive activity. We finished the tour fairly quickly since many animals weren't right up against the fence that day, but it's a fantastic activity to add to your itinerary if you're spending a full day exploring the coast. You can truly tell that the caretakers value and care deeply for these animals. It's a great experience that supports an excellent cause!

Massy

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Van Damme State Park

(83 reviews)

4.7 km

We had an absolutely magical time camping here last weekend. The park itself is rather easy to get…read moreto as soon as you get to the coast coming from the Bay. The Rangers were lovely, the site host was very kind, we stayed at site 27 which was shielded from the wind, they had clean bathrooms and showers, a camp fire program on Friday night and sold wood onsite. We got to do a lovely hike, hang out at the beach, go to the Noyo fish Company in Fort Brag... it was great! We were also warned about a black bear who had been visiting recently. But alas did not have an encounter. However, we did find raccoon hand prints all over our table cloth and bear box. So do use your bear box!!

Returned to Van Damm State Park for a second time and already looking forward to future visits…read more I've yet camped at the upper campsites. Only experienced the two lower loops closest to the entrance as well as the beach across the highway. It's an overall great campground. The only concern would be your neighbors and the mosquitos at sites that are along the creek. Most if not all sites are RV friendly. Anything larger than a mid-sized travel trailer, you might want to be selective. For trailers that are low profiled, stick to the lower loops to avoid scraping. Opted to never pull a trailer here because I'm not a fan of towing on highway 1. Typically, the host would drive around the campground delivering firewood at 12 dollars a bundle. Otherwise, they are available at the host's designated site.

Flowers

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Bridge

Sweetwater Inn and Spa

Great b&b. Amazing location. Nice small room. Actually stayed an extra night since we were having…read moresuch an amazing time. Will definitely be back.

The people at Sweetwater are good to work with. Liked- Asian…read moredecor, view, location, very convenient to groceries, bakery and restaurants. Didn't like -step up to living room(dangerous for older people), no air conditioning , just ceiling fan. (hot living room because of windows), no usable chest of drawers (not easy to pull drawers in and out), noisy kitchen cupboard doors ( no pulls, slam shut), only very small closet (basically had to live out of suitcases for five days.

Inside the spa check-in area

Walking back to the spa

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And more. These are all for our room

Russian Gulch State Park

4.5

(125 reviews)

1.6 km

We arrived shortly after 9:00am and paid the $10 day use fee. It was a short drive on a one lane…read moreroad to get to the parking lot. EV parking was available, which was nice. There was another small parking lot closer to the trail. We walked past the camp sites to get to the trail. The sites were on the smaller side, but all of them seemed to have a spigot. I used the flushing toilets before starting the hike. We did the Fern Canyon Trail to Falls Loop Trail- 6.2 miles. The first part was mostly flat, but there is some elevation gain for the loop. We went counterclockwise, but you reach the waterfall quicker if you do the loop clockwise. The 36-foot waterfall might not be the most impressive, but it was nice. There's a fallen tree trunk in between the two streams for you to sit and take some photos. We sat on a bench afterwards and enjoyed the views while having some snacks. I guess we got there at a good time, right before a crowd of people descended. Overall, the forested hike was nice and peaceful, and we also spotted a banana slug. There are some muddy parts though. I wished I read a bit more about the park before going. I would've wanted to do the short trail for Devil's Punchbowl which also has views of the bridge. Darn...

Serene quiet park…read more great photo spots! There's the iconic bridge but in order to get on that beach you have to walk on a narrow wobbling log in the water. Pretty scary for me. I finally did it, with the help of a very kind stranger who held my hand and it felt all better. Interesting how a lot of the fear is in your head. Why is there not a better safer path to get there? Watched many groups try and about half the people said nope and left

Sunset at the beach in Russian Gulch Cove

Lovely bridge over a cute little beach.

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Big River State Park

1.5 km

Big River State Park in Mendocino is absolutely stunning, one of those places where you're reminded…read morehow much nature is showing off along this coast. With the river winding through redwoods and opening out toward the ocean, the scenery feels almost unreal in its scale and beauty. There are trails everywhere, great spots for kayaking, hiking, or just sitting quietly and taking it all in. The whole Mendocino area is packed with parks, and this one is a standout for its grandeur and sense of peace. It really feels like a place to slow down and appreciate how incredible the natural world is.

I've visited Mendocino many times and somehow have never spent time at this wonderful (and free)…read morestate park. The entrance is off Highway 1, just outside Mendocino's shopping district and headlands. There are big wide beaches where the river meets the ocean which are visible right away. However, if you make a left at the bottom of the hill and drive a short ways to the end of the lot, there's a wonderful trail that meanders alongside the river. This former logging road is wide and gently graded (at least for the first 2.5 miles I walked on it.) It's great for bikes and more casual "hikes." It goes, I believe, about 7 miles inland so you can go as far as you'd like and turn around. It's a mellow journey and one more about the sites and sounds along the trail and the general peacefullness of the area, rather than a specific destination. You weave along the river and eventually in to the redwoods, where the water views become filtered through the trees. Along the way, we saw a few banana slugs and enjoyed a mostly shaded trail. I would love to come back with my bike and do the whole trail, end to end. The start of the trail had more people, which then tapered to just a few bikers and runners after the first mile or so. Seems to be a local's spot and they're very lucky to have it!

Some banana slugs on the trail

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Beautiful blue water on the river

Agate Beach - beaches - Updated August 2026

People who viewed Agate Beach also viewed

Fort Bragg Coastal Trail

4.7

Great trails, lots of photo opportunities, dog friendly for leashed dogs, pick up after your dogs…read more Brush yourself off if you go off the trails, there are ticks, brush your dogs off too. Lots of wild flowers, some deer, ground squirrels, tons of birds, seals and sea lions. So much to explore.

If these views could talk, they'd literally be screaming. That's what I was doing deep down inside…read moreas I walked along this scenic coastal trail. Those views are simply breathtaking. You can easily spend your entire day here and never get bored. This trail goes on for miles on end right alongside the beautiful Mendocino coastline. The official parking lot is the one right across from Glass Beach, but there are actually several different access points to this trail. I started my hike from Mackerricher State Park and continued down until I reached Glass Beach. There's a paved pathway (also known as Haul Road) which runs along the coast and is great for a nice leisurely stroll. People with strollers and wheel chairs can easily navigate this paved path. And then, there's the actual coastal dirt path that literally hugs the coastline. This is the path I spent the most time on. You'll pass by tons of secluded pocket beaches and the most gorgeous tide pools along the dirt path. There's also a few up and downs, making this path a bit more adventurous than the flat paved one next to it. Access to the beaches down below are super easy from the trail minus the little bit of scrambling needed to actually get down there. You'll be hit with beautiful coastal views from every angle. It's pretty addictive actually. And the best part is that there are so many amazing little stop-offs along the way, many of them being super secluded. I was able to enjoy a few spots where I practically had the beach and the tide pools all to myself. Many people were wearing masks but a lot of people weren't. The good thing is, both paths are really easy to social distance on. If you're looking for a a beautiful place to hike or to take a leisurely stroll along the coastline, the Fort Bragg Coastal Trail is the one.

Belinda Point Coastal Trail

4.4

(5 reviews)

A hidden gem on the Mendocino coast. This beach was once a secluded beach, where only locals would…read morecome to abalone dive, fish and lay out. A few years ago the city of Fort Bragg made this nice beach known to the public. They made a nice trail that takes you down to the beach, next to some amazing houses. Located 1/4 of a mile from Ocean Dr. It's an easy walk or jog through a wooded area down to some steps that will lead you to the beach, or you can stay on the trail and it will take you to a breath taking view of the ocean,once there you will get a 330 degree view of the Pacific Ocean. Make your way to the rocky beach. Be careful walking down the stairs because they get slippery. Once on the beach you can enjoy a little fresh water waterfall, some fishing and ab diving or you can just sit and enjoy the view. Oh and be sure to wave at my Grandpa, who lives in one of those amazing house !!!

My fave hike in Fort Bragg. Best to go at dusk, it's magical... especially the Eucalyptus Grove…read more Not too long or difficult of a hike to the coast but the trail entrance is a little challenging to find.

Caspar Headlands State Beach

4.5

(2 reviews)

Beautiful and peaceful spot on the picturesque Mendocino coast. It is one of the least traveled…read morespots outside of locals. Great for shells, surfing and just getting some sun. Has an RV park close with a store. Probably my favorite spot to get away.

Fun exploring in the Caspar Headlands State. Dog friendly, leashes please. Lots of birds, seals,…read moredeer, and plants, moss and views. There were people fishing, playing in the sand and out in the water. Portable toilets available. Easy to access. Narrow road, small portion which was one lane, adequate parking.

Big River State Park

Big River State Park in Mendocino is absolutely stunning, one of those places where you're reminded…read morehow much nature is showing off along this coast. With the river winding through redwoods and opening out toward the ocean, the scenery feels almost unreal in its scale and beauty. There are trails everywhere, great spots for kayaking, hiking, or just sitting quietly and taking it all in. The whole Mendocino area is packed with parks, and this one is a standout for its grandeur and sense of peace. It really feels like a place to slow down and appreciate how incredible the natural world is.

I've visited Mendocino many times and somehow have never spent time at this wonderful (and free)…read morestate park. The entrance is off Highway 1, just outside Mendocino's shopping district and headlands. There are big wide beaches where the river meets the ocean which are visible right away. However, if you make a left at the bottom of the hill and drive a short ways to the end of the lot, there's a wonderful trail that meanders alongside the river. This former logging road is wide and gently graded (at least for the first 2.5 miles I walked on it.) It's great for bikes and more casual "hikes." It goes, I believe, about 7 miles inland so you can go as far as you'd like and turn around. It's a mellow journey and one more about the sites and sounds along the trail and the general peacefullness of the area, rather than a specific destination. You weave along the river and eventually in to the redwoods, where the water views become filtered through the trees. Along the way, we saw a few banana slugs and enjoyed a mostly shaded trail. I would love to come back with my bike and do the whole trail, end to end. The start of the trail had more people, which then tapered to just a few bikers and runners after the first mile or so. Seems to be a local's spot and they're very lucky to have it!

Noyo Harbor District

3.8

(4 reviews)

this is a great little hidden gem in ft. bragg. whenever i'm in town i like coming here for food…read moreb/c i know it's fresh out of the water, literally! there are multiple restaurants here, my favourite being the noyo river grill which has a view of the sunset. my other fave is the noyo fish company, right at the bottom of the hill along the water. some of the vendors also sell freshly caught fish so you take it home to cook! this area is never super busy and definitely less touristy than downtown or the beach area. highly recommend to drop by here for lunch and or dinner when visiting ft. bragg!

What: - View of Noyo Bay…read more - Noyo River - Fishing - Kayaking - Seals - Star Fish More Info: - Limited free parking just next to the harbor - Ample free parking at the mouth of Noyo Bay - Free admission On a clear Saturday morning, while on the way to the Pomo Bluff State Park in Fort Bragg, curiosity about harbors drew us to take a detour to the Noyo Harbor. While driving south from Fort Bragg, we took the Noyo Point Road just before the bridge and it took us down all the way till we reached the harbor. Several boats were docked to the harbor and there were a few waterfront restaurants around. Noyo Harbor - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/noyo-harbor-district-fort-bragg?select=I8XJAp8tOFHvvlfl3s2hzA#dlLqhQO7Rp-OgkGNCiggrA Noyo means "under the dust". Once upon a time, between late 1800s and early 1900s, Noyo Harbor was a very busy port. Almost every ship that came to San Francisco stopped by Fort Bragg at Noyo Harbor. The first railroads were laid in Fort Bragg in the year 1916, so until then all the transportation to this place was via the ocean. Mouth of Noyo Bay - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/noyo-harbor-district-fort-bragg?select=I8XJAp8tOFHvvlfl3s2hzA#I8XJAp8tOFHvvlfl3s2hzA We drove a little past the harbor to reach the mouth of the Noyo Bay. There is ample free parking here and several folks around were getting prepared to kayak in the wide Noyo Bay. As we walked on the stone structure that protruded into the Noyo Bay, we noticed several starfish and seals. Right behind us was a spectacular view of the Noyo Bay bridge and the harbor. Bridge above Noyo River - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/noyo-harbor-district-fort-bragg?select=I8XJAp8tOFHvvlfl3s2hzA#EgjChnIL1ZZJVFeeIZFRFg The water here was murky and for the life of me I could not understand why people would kayak here when there are so many other beautiful beaches in the Fort Bragg/Mendocino coastline. We spent some time here and took off to our next destination - Pomo Bluff State Park

Otis R Johnson Park

(7 reviews)

One of my favorite go to stops when I visit Fort Bragg. Actually found this place on accident a…read morecouple years ago and now we always make a trip out we're when we're in the area.

Such a great little park, we did not get to spend as much time as we wanted to since we had to get…read moreto a restroom. But what we did see if it was pretty awesome, right in the middle of a neighborhood! I definitely want to come back one day. I don't know if they have public restrooms so I'd check ahead of time if you plan on visiting.

Navarro River Redwoods State Park

(11 reviews)

Navarro River Redwoods State Park was one of the last places I explored in California before moving…read moreback to Washington State in October 2019. I was on one of my driving adventures north of the San Francisco Bay Area and noticed the sign for this park as I was driving on the road I was on. Not sure where a central hub was, I decided to explore by utilizing the pull-offs along the road. From different pull-off areas, I spotted a number of trails heading off into the redwood trees, however I opted to stay closer to my vehicle. Some of the remains of fallen redwoods were closer to where I parked and I had fun checking that out. I had recently gotten a buzzcut hairstyle and more than usual appreciated the sun protection the trees provided for my scalp/noggin.

Until today, I'd never seen a redwood tree in person. I've missed out. And if you've never seen one…read moreeither, then you're missing out. California Route 128 goes through this beautiful state park on both sides of the road with a few narrow pullouts on both sides and the occasional lane that leads back to an organized campsite. I wasn't interested in camping here but I did park and take pictures and walk through these amazing trees for a little bit, hoping that I wasn't about to get eaten by a bear. No bears spotted. The main body of the park is eleven miles long and between 20 and 500 yards wide. There is also a beach section near the Navarro River bridge with campsites available on a first-come, first-served. That wasn't today's itinerary either. Absolutely magical and I'm so glad to have experienced this park. [Review 17615 overall - 406 in California - 1134 of 2022.]

Glen Blair Junction