There’s no coastal region in Northern California that’s quite as mystical, dreamy, and pristine as Mendocino. Each time I travel here, I am completely awestruck by the natural beauty and windswept salty charm. For the best Mendocino hiking and views, read on for some of my favorite state parks, hiking trails, wildlife preserves, beaches, and vista points in coastal Mendocino County.
I guarantee that you’ll be dreaming of traveling to Mendocino by the time you are done :).
Van Damme State Park
Van Damme State Park is the first park you’ll hit before reaching the town of Mendocino. This park offers many scenic trails at varying levels of difficulty.
For a shorter trail try the 4-mile Pygmy Forest and Fern Canyon loop.
For a longer, more strenuous hike (my favorite hike here!) try the 9.15-mile Fern Canyon Lollapalooza trail. This trail will take you uphill before winding through the Pygmy Forest and then back along the Old Logging Road trail to Little River.
Mendocino (town of) and Mendocino Headlands
Located a little over three hours North of San Francisco, the small and quintessentially charming coastal town of Mendocino is perfectly situated to enjoy the best coastal sites and hiking trails in Mendocino County.
The town itself is tiny-but offers the advantage of being easily walkable and offering up stunning ocean views just steps from its compact center (where you’ll find a cafe, bakery, restaurant, pub and market..).
The natural preserve area with trails that run along the rugged cliffs and surround the town on three-sides is actually a state park. This area, encompassed within the Mendocino Headlands State Park, offers miles of trails as well as a couple of different beaches and great views of rock arches, headlands and wildlife.
Start out on the trail that leads out to the headlands, behind the Visitor’s Center, and ramble along the cliffside pathways in either direction for spectacular views, access to semi-private beaches and a glimpse of a brilliant array of wildlife. The Mendocino Headland trails offer uninterrupted access to the coast within steps of the town itself.
This is incredibly rare in Northern California.
Russian Gulch State Park
Two miles north of Mendocino, lies Russian Gulch State Park. This park offers fifteen miles of trails, starting with a few miles of trails that will take you through a canyon and fern-lined forest before leading you out to coastal trails. This is one of the best spots for hiking in Mendocino within just a short distance from town.
For a shorter hike with ocean views try the Headlands Trail in Russian Gulch State Park. For a longer hike that leads to a waterfall take the Fern Canyon Trail.
Jug Handle State Park and Beach
A few miles further north you’ll find Jug Handle State Natural Reserve where you can take a wonderful hike through the pygmy forest, see some lovely wildflowers, and then hang out on a gorgeous white sand beach afterward. The hike to the pygmy forest and back is pretty short (about five miles), so you’ll have plenty of time to fit in a couple of other stops such as nearby MacKerricher state park or the Noyo Headlands/Glass Beach.
North of Fort Bragg
Fort Bragg-Noyo Headlands, Glass Beach, and Pacific Star Winery
Just ten miles north of Mendocino, Fort Bragg is a coastal city that offers a wealth of wildlife preserve, headlands, trails, and beaches to explore. My favorite places to go in and around Fort Bragg for long walks and views are the Noyo Headlands, Glass Beach (located in the Noyo Headlands area-and accessible from the same parking lot), and Pacific Star Winery.
There are miles of footpaths at Noyo Headlands that allow visitors to walk, run, or bike alongside stunning views of the Pacific and witness a spectacular array of wildlife. Benches and picnic tables are distributed throughout the trail areas to make sitting and enjoying the views even easier. The area is a nature preserve that provides a home or respite for many different species of wildlife and is an equally popular spot with locals and visitors.
Point Arena Lighthouse and Point Arena-Stornetta Land Preserve
For those who opt to take the long (and windy) way home along Highway 1 all the way, instead of cutting back inland, I highly recommend a stop to explore the coastal headlands in and around the Point Arena lighthouse, an hour south of Mendocino.
This area has been officially designated as a California Coastal National monument. The area is comprised of coastal prairies, bluffs, and cliffs (the area is considered one of the most interesting geologic sites on the California coast) and plays host to a wide variety of wildlife and bird life. There are miles of trails to walk that wind around the cliffs and along the coast and offer a series of perfect vantage points.
Interested in my suggestions for a 3-4 day Mendocino itinerary that includes wine tasting? Listen to the below podcast episode.
Travel to Mendocino, California – Amateur Traveler Episode 783
Mendocino Accommodation Recommendations:
Headlands Inn Bed and Breakfast (Mendocino)
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