Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve is such a beautiful and peaceful place. We came for a little…read morehike and had a great time exploring the trails and scenery. There are plenty of relaxing spots to stop, hang out, and take in the quiet nature around you. We even spotted some newts along the way, which was such a fun surprise. There was some construction happening during our visit, so it wasn't quite as peaceful as usual, but the workers were extremely friendly and respectful, which definitely made up for it. The trails are well-kept, the air feels so fresh, and the setting is perfect for anyone who loves nature, photos, or just getting away for a bit. Overall, a really lovely experience. Good time all around and we would absolutely come again :)

This was a beautiful place. You drive along a windy steep road, through beautiful forest to get…read morethere. There's not a lot of parking, but it looks like there's a place across the street you can park. There are a couple picnic tables by the parking lot and a pit toilet. The trail is a bit steep at first, but it takes you up to this beautiful valley with huge trees with a creek going through it. It was very majestic.

Revisited later in the year, mid August. Warm despite the weather forecast in the low 70s…read more Reservations remain limited. Landed site 54 by luck with just a week in advance. Adjacent tree stands tall with a hallow base. Plenty of room to walk in. Brighter than other sites that are heavily shaded. Disturbingly, several trees lean or have fallen. Awoke by a fallen tree no more than 30 feet away. Starts off like firecrackers then ends with a big crash. No shut eye. Be afraid of them trees. The wild animals come in second. On a positive note, bundle wood are steadily priced at ten dollars.

Had a Bigfoot encounter there in 1988. I was sleeping alone in a tent when something making bipedal…read morefootsteps around the tent, smelling like roadkill/skunk, got into my Colman cooler and neatly stole all my food and walked off with it. I held my breath, didn't make move. Scared me!

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.

This was a cute little place to stop and take pictures at we really enjoyed the view. It is very…read moresketchy to go down into the beach area and we almost fell a few times. There is a lot of different people around all over the place taking pictures. Overall definitely a nice rest stop. Idk if I'd go out of my way to visit though but it's cool to have come once.

A few miles south on Hwy 1 from Pt. Arena. Takes a few minutes to get there, park at the beach sign…read more(heading south) AND make sure to look for the trail head to the North side on that lot. Get there 30 mins, or an hour BEFORE LOW TIDE, walk down the trail (Be Careful) and watch the tide head out- you'll see the massive Bowling Balls. Keep track of the tides, Be safe.

I don't want to give up any local secret spots but you need to know that whether you choose to…read moreswim. fish, or boat on Lake Mendesino it's gonna be a win for you. The water is clean and the water temperature is great. I'm just a local and aak that you respect it so that it can stay clean for several years to come. There's also a lot of wildlife out here. It's all great beautiful and amazing.

Lake Mendocino offers something for everyone: Swimming, hiking, wildlife, cycling, boating,…read morecamping, RV spaces, and even new friendships if you play your cards right! If you plan on camping, Lake Mendocino offers a safe and family-friendly campground environment with kind park rangers to answer questions if needed. Be sure to bring the entire family's bicycles for hours and hours of fun! Good to know: When camping next to large groups, expect to hear music, laughter, and good times being had late into the evening hours.

This is the best place to visit the redwoods in my opinion. Less packed compared to redwood…read morenational park and a lot closer to San Francisco and Santa Rosa if you happen to be staying in that area. About 40 mins from Santa Rosa. We enjoyed this park. We got there early and it was like having a private tour. I suggest getting there early to avoid the crowds. It was so peaceful on our private tour. We enjoyed it. It was very nice. The waterfall was magnificent! We spent a solid two hours there and enjoyed every minute. Get there early and enjoy! Easy five star review. Also parking is free just outside the park.

SCW and I visited Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Park one day while staying nearby. I'd use…read morecaution when using a driving app to get here as we were led along a very narrow road through a local residential area with no room and switchbacks galore. Suffice it to say we saw a few locals along the way that seemed perplexed why we were driving very slowly through their neighborhood. I think that had to do with a bridge closure. Anyways... The return was not the same route thankfully. The park has for pay parking areas and what seemed to be free parking along the road to the park at your own risk. We found a spot in the paid lot ($10). Get a receipt, put it on your car's dashboard and off you go. There's a small welcome center and info at the entrance as well. The Redwoods are incredible here, some alive for 1400 plus years. You simply can't see the tops of the Redwoods from the ground. Truly incredible. The trails are well marked and it's highly discouraged to get off the trails as the environment is very ecologically sensitive. Unfortunately we saw some disregard for that. Stay on the trails people! You'll find placards noting interesting names and places along the way in addition to information about the flora and fauna. The history of the park and previous residents from indigenous peoples to the parks name sake are along the trail. It's an incredible park to visit and appreciate nature. The redwoods are incredible and certainly worth a visit.

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

Mendocino Magic's reflective lake and winding trails lead you to an apex overlooking the water,…read morewhere you can feel the presence of something greater at work. You begin to see how the current stewards are preserving the past for the present and the future. As echoed in the spirit of Expedition 33, it's "for those that came after," much like the selfless legacy of the Greek proverb: "A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in."

Mendocino Magic is a fantastic getaway from the city's hustle and bustle. Mackenzie is extremely…read moreaccommodating and we're well taken care of the entire time we stayed. I don't fancy sleeping on the floor, so we stayed in the Stage House. The cabin was very well stocked with kitchen wares and fire wood, so all you need to bring is food! We loved to go into the woods and forage for the local coastal mushrooms (think King Boletes and chanterelles). The stars are also incredibly beautiful and visible at night. Plus it's dog friendly! Our stay was my platonic ideal of glamping for sure.

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.]