What a beautiful park this is, The wooden walking path taking us to various points was super nice. We learned a lot about the history, and gained an understanding of how the area was formed. As the waves were crashing, you really experience how powerful the sea can be. We timed it just right and hit the low tide in the afternoon. It was great to explore all the tide pools, and the living creatures attached to the rocks. So cool! I highly recommend taking the kids to the tide pools at low tide. There are a zillion shells, and interesting sea life to explore. There are about 90 types of birds that live, or migrate through. Of course there are sea lions, and harbor seals to watch too. If you are lucky you may catch a whale going by. Pack a lunch, bundle up, and you can explore for hours. Good time and educational for all...and Free! read more

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MacKerricher is THE State Park for people with accessibility issues to visit the Pacific Ocean, which I am very grateful for! Also very dog and stroller friendly, the wooden deck walkways through the dunes, forest, and along oceanfront are much easier to navigate than the ground beneath. Trails leading off the paths, down to the rocks, tidepools, and small beaches below are there too, for those adventurous in spirit. Like Squirrels? They LOVE you! I think the Ground Squirrels (I call them Dune Squirrels) in Mendocino have grown accustomed to humans, likely feeding them. These critters are brazen! They will come right up to you if you act like you have something... even crawl up onto your shoes. So, if you have some terrible Squirrel-phobia... consider this a warning. I love it, personally! The views from the walkways are just spectacular... and I'm not sure how, but we happened to be there on the most gorgeous day I've ever seen in the Pacific Northwest. The waves were big, the sky was clear... You could see for miles! The water was 3 shades of blue... something you so rarely see on a coast that's often socked in by fog... And the sun was at the PERFECT angle for pictures... no glare! And that was just one small part of the park.. there are miles and miles of trails... some more rugged and dune covered, others more lush and botanical... through the coastal forests. Just be aware that the bathrooms, while nice on the outside, are SCARY inside... We're talking old school, metal, poop in a steel biffy type facilities... Doable, but not pleasant. Restrooms aside, this is truly an ocean trek that can be experienced by all... read more

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This is BEAUTIFUL campground with super helpful staff and clean facilities Park Ranger Katie really helped when I had some reservation difficulties! Thank you Katie we really appreciate you kindness and attention! We would definitely stay here again! read more

MacKerricher State Park - Parks Near Me - Fort Bragg, California

My friends and I were planning to camp on the beach but that idea didn't pan out, so we ended up arriving here around 10PM. The camp sites were decent sized, pretty close to one another, and there is a nice bathroom facility. There were plenty of spaces available (and it was a busy holiday weekend) so the late-night search for spot wasn't bad for the 3 cars we had. You're supposed to pay up front even when no one is there, but if you forget you can just pay in the morning since the ranger drives around the campgrounds at about 8AM. If you arrive after the station closes and leave before they check, then... Have integrity and pay up so we can continue to enjoy nature with toilets and showers. read more

I have been to this beach many times over the years and I absolutely love it. From the duckboard walkways that lead to the water, to the sand, the rocks and tide pools, and the breathless vistas it really has a lot to offer. The campground is a fun place to stay, too. It can get windy here in the summer so be prepared. read more

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My first camping trip ever. Can't ask for a better experience. Just loved it. Everyone is super friendly. Camp sites are not close by. Very close to the beach. read more

Camping Warning: I went camping here at West Pinewood for one night and someone stole our tent and air mattress and the firewood!!! Unsafe camp sites. Never have this happened in my many years of camping. read more

This multi-purpose park is good for camping, looking for cute creatures, burning calories, to enjoying ocean views. Signs are clearly marked throughout so there's no confusion. I can't speak about camping here, but I can about walking around the premise. Some of the trails are wooden and slightly elevated, which makes it extra enjoyable. There's even a balcony at the end of one of the wooden trails and I loved watching and hearing the waves. Many squirrels also troll around hoping people would feed them. I met locals who walk here daily and I also saw many tourists. Clean restrooms available. I'd love to come back again some time. read more

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This park is awesome! Clean bathrooms, great proximity to many things and Katy at the front gate was awesome! Super helpful, kind & friendly! We will be back!!! read more

MacKerricher State Park - Parks Near Me - Fort Bragg, California

After visiting the infamous Glass Beach in Fort Bragg, my family and I decided to bring our lunch at McKerricher State Park which is about 5 to 6 miles north of where Glass Beach is. This is a park where camping is common and hiking too. When we arrived at the park, The fog that we saw coming by the ocean in Glass Beach has already covered the park. It was misty and colder than when we were at Glass Beach. My family and I still enjoyed it nevertheless. One thing that I noticed and my family did too, where the Driftwood by the beach that made it look more beautiful and since it was misty, the scene looked like something out of a movie. Lake Cleone is nearby and it's just right by the benches and picnic tables around the parking area. There were some repairs on the road being done here when we visited so I think that we may have had a better experience even more had it been sunny and the roads better. Nonetheless, my family and I like I said, I still enjoyed coming here. This is a big state park because of the fact that there are different sections for camping. Finding the park is not difficult and parking may have been easy for us at the time because it was in the middle of winter. I checked how the weather for that weekend was going to be and noticed that it was not going to be as cold as a typical winter day, so my family and I drove all the way from Sunnyvale to see this beautiful section of the Pacific Ocean. The air here is crisp and very fresh. Don't forget to check out the giant whale skeleton by the entrance. I wish I had taken a picture of it but it was really foggy and misty. That mist made Lake Cleone look like a It's out of a movie from one of M Night Shyamalan's. Ha ha ! One day very soon I'm sure I will be coming back here to check it out when the sun is brighter and out. Actually, I am planning to maybe do some camping here. Camping by the beach is always fun. Then, I can update this review and add more of what delightful things are in store here. read more

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Great campsite located in Fort Bragg, the Glass Beach destination. The campsite is located 3 miles away from Glass Beach. Walking distance from the ocean, there are a few trails that lead you to the beach. What a lovely beach, bring a chair or towel and just enjoy the sights & sounds. It is kind of chilly out here, and I just went in Mid August. Saw some seals sunbathing on a rock not too far out. If you are prone to getting bit by mosquitos, bring your bug repellent!!! I walked away with like 7 bites, and this was because when we first started setting up, I forgot to spray myself. We didn't have any issues with bees, all good there. There are some crows and I think ravens up in the trees to wake you up in the morning. I actually enjoyed their noise. Showers cost starting $1 for 5 minutes, and if you add more quarters, you'll get more time. Each bathroom has 2 toilet stalls and 2 showers. Our campsite was overall spacious, you don't get the feeling that you're pilling up next to your neighbor. Plenty of water spickets to wash your dishes. Overall great state park, make sure to book your reservation in advance, the sites were filled every night. read more

I think this is one of the coolest beaches along the coast of California, if we are being honest here. The sand is my favorite thing about it! It doesn't even feel like sand at all (probably because it's tiny, rounded, smooth rocks)! It's definitely more of a course texture because of this. But, it's still really cool to look at/walk in/fall asleep on top of. Day use is free, and there's also restrooms and plenty of spots to park. There is also a boardwalk that leads to some cool learning/vista points out along the edge of the shore itself. Please, check it out if you're there! So cool! read more

MacKerricher State Park - Definitely some cool sand! - Parks Near Me - Fort Bragg, California

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Amazing campsites with awesome staff and absolutely love the hot pay showers!!!!!! Family will continue to use this campground every year read more

Great State Park! Friendly people running the front office and host camp. It's a definite yes for our entire family every summer. The website lets you look at pics of each camp site, gives you details such as the length of vehicle it can accommodate. Your only a few minutes walk from the beach and a path that runs along the beach for more than a mile. It's a great place camp with the kids, safe place for them to explore and ride their bikes. read more

This review is based on our camping experience at Pinewood Campground. Oh, goodness, I wish Fort Bragg was just a tiny bit closer. We would come camping here a lot more. Dog friendly and great large sites. And beach access?!?!? What more can you ask for when camping? We last minute decided to go [tent] camping up the coast (coming the from East Bay). We stayed a night at Lake Sonoma and then drove up to Fort Bragg for the night. Because we are procrastinators and do things on the whim, not to mention the Peak of Camping Season, we knew we may have slim pickings for camping. We booked a site at an RV Park Campground that had a few tent sites as everything else was booked up. The reviews for the RV Park were SCARY but if it was our only option, we would take it. Upon arriving in Fort Bragg, we drove up to Cleone to look at another campground just in case they had any last minute sites. Drove past MacKerricher State Park and said, "What the hell, let's at least ask the ranger." Turned around and pulled up to ranger station. He had 1 site available for 1 night only, that's all we needed! Site #64 was a savior and was also a great site! Semi-private, close to the bathrooms, and was large enough for 4 tents if we had a large group. The short walk to the beach was easy, went out there to let the dog run around, with drinks and snacks in tow, and watched the sunset. We even got up early to hear the waves the next morning with our coffee. We will be back MacKerricher! Maybe we will make this an annual trip. read more

This is the second time we tried to get into this park and road closed signs are up. What is the problem? Nothing is stated online or by the sign. We drove 5 hours both time to be disappointed. read more

Beautiful beach No charge @ this Ca state park beach for day use. Camping available but we didn't use that service. There is remnants of an old road/bridge. We saw harbor seals, lots of amazing birds and your typical squirrels. We spent 2 hours here walking the beach; picking up rocks and shells and just taking it all in. There were pottys available but I can't stand those toilets you have to hover over so I can wait. Honestly I was impressed with how well it was kept up considering it is a free thing to do. Also, the people around here seem really laid back. Not sure if I'm just used to crappy people or perhaps everyone is on vacay here and carefree. Highly recommend this Beach to all read more

MacKerricher State Park - Beautiful place to walk the beach - Parks Near Me - Fort Bragg, California

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I was only able to explore this place for a couple of hours, wish I had more time. It's beautiful. If you like tide pools this is a great place to watch little critters. Be sure to wear sturdy shoes with a good grip if you'll be treading the rocks. They have very well maintained paths for those who can't walk on bumpy or uneven paths. read more

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What: - Hiking - Fishing - Ten Mile Beach - Sandhill Lake - Lake Cleone - Laguna Point - Seals - Whales - Ducks, Pelicans, Seagulls - Tidepools - View of Pacific Ocean - Skeleton of a gray whale More Info: - $8/car parking fee - Several parking lots in the park - Restrooms nears Laguna Point There are several parking lots in this huge state park; we parked the car near Lake Cleone, a very small freshwater lake popular for fishing. We walked to the beach, climbed on the rocks nearby and saw the beautiful sight of the waves crashing against the rocks. At a distance there were lots of birds sitting on the rocks off the shore. To our right was the Ten Mile Beach and to our left, the Laguna Point. Lake Cleone - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/EIYG2Qyz7sTBSIvfr7Uaiw?select=xKU9XKJ27hACMVUv9WD2ZA#xKU9XKJ27hACMVUv9WD2ZA Birds near the Ten Mile Beach - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/EIYG2Qyz7sTBSIvfr7Uaiw?select=xKU9XKJ27hACMVUv9WD2ZA#3M5ieQOLHvbHFTJvtHp62w Laguna Point Trail Length: ~0.6 miles; Elevation: Insignificant; Time: 1 hour; Difficulty: Easy We started walking on the beach towards the trailhead to the Laguna Point. From the trailhead, there is a paved boardwalk that takes you along the coastline and forms a loop. Along the trail, there were several scenic viewpoints to see the beautiful and vast ocean. A couple of detours from the trail took us to the tidepools, where we saw tidepool sculpins, starfish, mussels, hermit crabs, etc. The water was so clear that we could see the ocean bed from parts of the trail. View of Laguna Point to the left, from North Overlook - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/EIYG2Qyz7sTBSIvfr7Uaiw?select=xKU9XKJ27hACMVUv9WD2ZA#Oz4S6OoptmKAZfGBsa5x9g We soon reached the Laguna Point, which is a prime vantage point to see the migrating gray whales and humpback whales. Harbor seals can be seen throughout the year on the rocks nearby. California sea lions can be usually seen from here from fall through mid-spring. We even noticed several birds such as black oystercatchers, pelagic cormorants, western gulls, surf scoters, pelicans, herons, black turnstones. We continued on the trail that soon took us back to the parking lot. Don't miss out the skeleton of a gray whale at the park entrance. Gray Whale Skeleton - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/EIYG2Qyz7sTBSIvfr7Uaiw?select=xKU9XKJ27hACMVUv9WD2ZA#sXjuX6ftqxg6EUOxIItfHQ Tips: - Gray whale skeleton is at the park entrance - Check out the time of low tides and come here during low tides to see the rich tidepools - Excellent vantage point to see seals, sea lions and whales read more

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Where to even begin. This is hands down the best placed I've EVER gone camping...and I've been camping a good amount of times in my life. We made our reservations 6 months in advance, you can book online at reserve america. We came in July and the weather was perfect....it was a nice break from the 90+ degree weather we were experiencing at home. It's typical norcal ocean weather in the summer, so can be foggy at times, 60s/70s during the day and it didn't get too cold at night. The campsite came with the following amenities: -showers (1$ for 5 minutes, bring quarters) -Clean bathrooms with 2 sinks and 2 bathroom stalls per bathroom -firepit -2 cars per campsite -dinner table/bench -short walk to the beach -short walk to tide pools -trail behind campsite for biking, goes all the way to Glass Beach -lots of places for kids to ride their bikes/scooters Now let me just say, I am normally the type of camper that can handle 3-4 days TOPS...I stayed an ENTIRE week here and could have stayed longer. There is so much to do from tide pooling to beach lounging to walking around downtown to hiking...highly recommend checking this park out! read more

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Amazing coastal views with a forest area. The campsites are a little close to each other but with all the trees it's secluded enough. Campsites are clean and the staff is nice. They sell firewood there for $10 read more

Great boardwalk to rake you out to the tide pools and the ocean bluff. They have informational lookouts and wildlife too

One of the best places to explore. The boardwalk takes you all the way to the bluffs, you can go down to the beach and there are plenty of places to just sit and enjoy the view. Whales have been spotted by some, which is cool. Must do for a family visit to this area. read more

[+] Bathrooms (w/ showers, quarter operated) [+] Beach access is walking distance [+] Seals! [+] Tide pools [+] The boardwalk contains educational information about animal life [+] Whale skeleton display and educational information at front [+] Nearby ranch offers horse guided rides along the beach [+] Plenty of running/walking along coast/beach (terrain: paved, dirt, sand) [+] Lovely variation of contrast among vegetation [-] Can get quite cold (but that's expected) [-] Horse poop on a couple trails [-] I too noticed "punk kids" riding around on bikes [-] Campgrounds are fairly close together Overall, a pleasant campground with a beautiful coastline. If you run out of things to do there, there are plenty of places nearby. In Fort Bragg, there is Glass Beach which is pretty neat. Also, if you're a succulent nut like I am, there is a place called Simply Succulent in Fort Bragg as well. Just outside of Fort Bragg is Pointe Cabrillo which is a historic light station. Very cool. A little ways past Pointe Cabrillo is the quaint little town of Mendocino. It is by far the cutest place I have ever been. It has a bunch of unique little shops and rests on the coast overlooking the water. Definitely worth a visit. Happy camping! read more

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The camping prices for the state parks over there are ridiculous at $45 a night, but I still pay it to support the parks. The park is very clean and it has the best campsites. Not too far from the beach and each sight offers a lot of privacy. The rangers tend to mind their own business unlike other parks where they literally breath down your back. So thanks for that. Also great for seal watching. The day use area tho has really disgusting bathrooms, not the parks fault tho people are just disgusting. read more

MacKerricher State Park - Seal in the ocean - Parks Near Me - Fort Bragg, California

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This is a really awesome and beautiful park at the north end of Fort Bragg. I love coming here to see the tide pools and nature-watch. When I visited in late 2014 a storm had washed sand over the road so the day-use parking was not available and we had to walk from further away to get to the beach, but that didn't stop many dozens of families from visiting, just like us. It was a gorgeous sunny day and we saw ravens, gulls, turkey vultures, a hawk, ground squirrels, seals, cormorants, oystercatchers, and lots of shorebirds and waterbirds I wasn't quite able to identify. It tends to be cold and windy here so bring warm clothes. And binoculars! We saw whales spouting off the coast!! There are public restrooms if you don't mind a nice, modern pit-toilet. My only issue was the low pressure in the toilet made it so I couldn't use a set cover - it just got sucked right in with the airflow! Well, that keeps it from being stinky too. Oh well. Beautiful trails and trees and ocean and rocks. Really I can't recommend this place enough. The park staff I met when I was there yesterday were cool and very helpful. Oh, there's also camping for a fee, and there is an equestrian ranch across the highway that sells group horse rides on the beach. Cool!! read more

We only saw a very small portion of State Park, but OH, OH, OH (jumping up and down) we saw seals and sea lions, and even whales spouting in the FAR distance. Great little view stations built overlooking the ocean in all its amazing glory. Tons of seals and sea lions bobbing up and down in the water. It's an awesome sight to see a large wave, and a bunch of seals figures within it! Way off in the distance, we saw several spouts of water shoot into the air. Whales! Never really did see the actual thing, but they were out there. And everyone was very excited. read more

MacKerricher State Park - Seals and Sea Lions - Parks Near Me - Fort Bragg, California

Incredible view. The tide pools are always fun, check for low tide. I've found jellyfish, star fish, and crabs. The best part is north of the campgrounds--the dog park. It's less busy with a magical walk to the bluffs. read more

We tent camped at MacKerricher SP and really liked the park. We didn't check out the visitor's center, but the views and campsite were all good. A huge grey whale skeleton and huge humpback greet you on the rt just before the Stop sign-check in point. We hiked around Lake Cleone short hike like 1 mile, easy, well stocked bathrooms nearby. We loved the headland and seeing the seals. Just awesome. Recommended if in the area. FREE Parking and Access; camping there is a fee...best to make reservations. read more

Where do they get off charging 40 bucks a night for an unimproved campsite? California is robbing many families of the camping experience with the exorbitantly outrageous fees. Ended up staying the night along the highway and had a great time. I'm surprised we weren't beaten, tazed and arrested for attempting to enjoy the coast. California sucks. read more

Lake Cleone is beautiful in the mist and fog! The ducks curled into balls by the lake, and let you get *very* close to them before moving away. The black sand beach is surprisingly warm during the day, even though the ocean is pretty freezing cold. Wheelchair-accessible and everyone is highly amused by all the fat squirrels running around. There are seals in the water happily playing close to shore, and tide pools to poke through. Fun for the whole family! read more

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This was more like 4.5 stars for us. And mostly because it's FREE for those stopping by for an afternoon! The Visitor's Center was closed today (Monday) but there was a very friendly woman at the entrance gate ready with directions and a map for us. Don't forget to look to your right as you arrive at the entrance - to see the impressive Gray Whale Skeleton. You can walk right up to it and take pictures galore. Driving past Lake Cleone to the Boardwalk that will lead you easily out to Laguna Point is what most day visitors are interested in. Once there you can take some very steep stairs down to the tide-pools. I had to balance atop some "not so solid", dried seaweed/kelp covered rocks to get out quite a distance before I saw anything of much interest in the tide-pools though. But finally... some anemones and a couple starfish. Lots of flies and a lot of potential to twist an ankle or get some shoes wet though. The other great draw depending on the time of day is the seals who sun themselves on the rocks at Laguna Point. This afternoon (4ish) there were very few and too far away to see with the naked eye. If you're luck you might see whales on the horizon (we didn't). The boardwalk is fantastic - seems brand new. There is beach access and reasonable restrooms and picnic tables. Lake Cleone is filled with trout and people fish there. If there was a charge for this park I'd have brought it down to 3 stars - but being totally free it's a GREAT stop without feeling like you have to stay a while to get your money's worth! read more

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Really nice all state beach park just north right outside of Fort Bragg California.. Beautiful views but they need to keep their bathrooms a little bit cleaner read more

This review is regarding the Ten Mile Dunes and lnglenook Fen (http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=25200). My dad and I started this hike from the north at the Ten Mile River. We followed the Old Haul Road southbound as dunes overtook it and as it feel to pieces and we had to walk the coastline. We had a hard time deciding between the road and the coastline because the coast was fantastic, but up on the dunes and road you had even better views of both directions. We walked rapidly and were at Lake Cleome in just about 2 hours. After the wilderness we had just passed through the rest of Mackerricher seemed terribly crowded and developed! We high tailed it back north to the Ten Mile River and spent time enjoying the plover, dunes, and Ten Mile coastline. We ran into park employees preparing the area for removal of the old haul road. I was glad I was able to experience this place before the upcoming changes, but I am also glad it will remain a preserve, ultimately. It is a special section of the map on the California Coastline. Walk it! read more

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A must see park for anyone that loves outdoors and the beach! It's so beautiful and breathtaking. The entrance into the park is free for day use. Ask the park ranger were to head to for day use parking. We stopped by during the summer and it was busy with many people. Parking was easy to find and the boardwalk starts immediately after you park. The boardwalk goes along the coast that's wheelchair friendly. This park has it all hiking trails, beach, tide pools, seals, squirrels, and if you're lucky whales. On the day we went we had many squirrels following us along the trail. Many of them were close to people so they're used to people being around. When we got towards the boardwalk that faces the beach many people were talking about whales. They began to point out the whales to me as I looked on. Truly a beautiful place to visit. read more

Absolutely GORGEOUS!! My boyfriend and I were there during the Whale Watching Festival (actually got to see a whale!!) and the staff there was super friendly and helpful. The park is huge and is perfect for families, couples, or friends. We hope to go back in the near future. read more

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Stopped first at the Visitor Center just inside the park. Had to see that huge Gray Whale skeleton up close! Inside the center they had lots of local wildlife on exhibit. Our main purpose was to explore the tidepools...so off we went. Before walking out to the ocean, we had a picnic sitting at one of the tables overlooking the ocean. There is a boardwalk which makes for an easy hike out to a lovely overlook. Hiked down to the tidepools...just missing low tide we didn't see a whole lot of creatures, but just enough to keep our daughter looking for more! read more

MacKerricher State Park - Gray Whale Skeleton - Parks Near Me - Fort Bragg, California

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Love this campground! Amazing views! Clean sites, love that they are secluded. Showers and group sites! Seals and whales to be seen at the boardwalk. All kinds of fun to be had with friends and family. read more

These are the most beautiful beaches on the entire North Coast in my opinion!! So breathtakingly clean and expansive--mostly accessible to pedestrians and bicyclists! It is well worth spending the day exploring this portion of the cost! And so fun for kids since it's not overly crowded, but dogs are not allowed on all portions of the beaches. It's a must if you're in Fort Bragg! read more

Nice place to come enjoy the surf and sand bring your dog bring your cat bring your favorites bring your wife bring your children but leave the crocs at home. Where are some supportive shoes if you plan to go down to the beach and flip-flops and cracks will not cut it unless you want to get wet all the way up to your thighs. Have fun enjoy please keep the environment safe and clean. Peace read more