I visit Mendocino every five years or so, and each time, I make a point to stop by Jug Handle Natural Reserve. On this trip, I made it down to the beach and was rewarded with a few sea glass finds, moody coastal views and a new perspective of the park. After looping along the coastal bluff trail, there's an obvious path down to the beach that's not too steep. If you're up for a longer hike, there's the Ecological Staircase trail. I've not done that hike, yet, but seems like it could be an interesting adventure. Since my last visit, I've noticed improvements on the trail and better signage. It's free to park and a great stop to stretch your legs along the Mendocino coast. Spring brings lots of wildflowers, so it's a great walk, even on rainy moody days. Always a must stop when I'm in the area. read more

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This is a great place to access a beautiful , clean beach. It's a short hike along a trail then down some stairs. It's a perfect and not crowded beach. Since I was here last, they've created some raised decomposed granite trails. These raised, packed trails look like they would be conducive for use by strollers, walkers and wheelchairs. It's a beautiful addition to these grounds. There is a decent sized parking lot, portable toilets, clear signage. The grounds and trails are clean, the beach was prestige. Kudos for the new trails. read more

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This is an awesome beach!! There is a small parking lot (free), and then a short 3-5min trail walk down to the beach. The walk down is very much an enchanted forest! However, it is not accessible to those with mobility restrictions - if there was an accessible entry, we did not see it. Lovely beach once you get out there. Cool view of the bridge from below. read more

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Slug it Out 776-acre park (est. 1976) located between the towns of Mendocino and Fort Bragg, which features a 2.5-mile trail that takes visitors through an "Ecological Staircase." The Good: *Small but free parking lot (put in 15700 CA-1, Caspar, CA into your GPS) *Restrooms and picnic tables by the parking lot *Ocean access via Jug Handle Beach, which is located adjacent to the park. *Dog-friendly for the beach and trails west of Highway 1. No dogs on the Ecological Staircase trail, as the area is too sensitive. *Shady, well-kept trails--not that the sun is much of an issue in this area. *Banana Slug central! We've never seen so many on any of our hikes as we have here. Every different length and color we could imagine. *It's nature! The Meh: *Trails weren't very well-marked The Ugly: *While fascinating, we found the trails as a whole kinda boring. I wish there was a bit more informative signage to guide us thru the "Staircase." TLDR: Definitely worth a stop if you're visiting the area, but I'm not sure it's worth seeking out for a special trip--unless you really love ecology. read more

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My experience at Jug Handle was fantastic. This park has a beach, a route that leads to a pygmy forest, and trails that go along the coastal bluffs. While I enjoyed my time at the beach and on the coastal trails, my favorite part was the Ecological Staircase Trail, which winds through 2.5 miles of forest where visitors can see giant redwoods, unbelievable mushrooms, and old-growth trees that have been stunted by the acidic soil. Two hours passed as I leisurely made my way out of the pygmy forest and stopped at each of the trail's numbered markers. Since there were none accessible in the parking lot, I recommend downloading the trail guide to your phone or printing it off. It was a great time, and you should go if you're in the region. read more

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The Jug Handle State Natural Reserve is a great place to go explore and enjoy the natural beauty of California. The trails take you through different ecological habitats home to different plants and animals. The beach is large and there is much sand to explore and relax on. The water was very calm the day I visited on the 10th of August 2019 with just tiny waves, some may call ripples, rolling in. The rocks forming the side/boundary to the beach were well exposed and beautiful. I enjoyed getting to see some California rocks outcropping at the sea's edge. The trail around the top of the sea cliffs is a scenic one and it is fun to watch for different wildlife and take-in the different blossoms decorating the trail and landscape. Some people were climbing down the rocks along the cliffs to explore little nooks of sandy beach while I was there. A fun place also to stop for a snack or go for a walk in the trees. read more

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this was the closet state park/hiking area to where we were staying in ft. bragg, so it was a no brainer to visit during our recent stay. i actually thought it would be a 4-5mi roundtrip hike, but i think it was closer to 4-5mi one way! whoops! fortunately, i wear a tracking device and promptly turned around once i reached 2.5mi, not wanting to walk 10mi during my visit! parking is free at the main parking lot, but the lot isn't that big. not too many visitors when we went so parking wasn't an issue, but i can see it filling up on a popular day. there is a porta-potty there, not well kept when i visited though...but useable! the trail from the parking lot quickly splits into 2: towards the beach (less than 1mi), and towards the forest. we chose the forest and after crossing the underpath of highway 1, we began our journey to the pygmy forest (our 2nd pygmy this weekend!). there was a set of stairs down, then we started the winding hike to the ecological staircase...saw lots of fallen logs, so of course i had to take a few posed pictures! it was quite obvious when we reached the pygmy b/c the trees got dramatically shorter and we felt the sun on us. there was a small wooden bridge that wrapped around a part of the pygmy forest, so we took a short break there. we didn't proceed much further inland since we hit a very muddy spot and didn't want to risk getting muddy/slipping. the hike back was pretty much reverse direction, and as expected, it felt a bit cooler on the way back once we reached the tree cover again. overall, a very nice trail, suitable for beginners since we didn't have to really climb. we saw a few mountain bikes here as well so definitely bike friendly. perhaps next time we'll pack a lunch and try to attempt the 10mi out and back hike! read more

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During our visit, we tried to do the "Ecological Staircase" hike, a 5.1 mile out and back trail located near Caspar, California that features beautiful wild flowers and is good for all skill levels. As much as I loved the hike, I wouldn't recommend it because it really doesn't provide any views and is more of a walk through the forrest. Instead, I'd recommend venturing down to the beach and soaking in the sun read more

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If you're in the Bay Area and are looking for a low-key weekend escape from reality (damn you Trump!), I suggest giving Mendocino County a try. With its gorgeous coastline views, diverse hiking trails, and quiet little towns, Mendocino is truly the embodiment of rest and recuperation. But when you only have 24 hours in Mendocino, where do you go? What do you do? Where do you eat? My girlfriend and I faced this exact "first-world" problem recently when we decided to make a spontaneous day-trip out to Mendocino. A very quick search of the area will bring up popular hits such as the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens and Fort Bragg's stunning Glass Beach. Both of these are definitely worthwhile on any given day of the year. But if you really want to impress your friends (or that person you like), I totally recommend making a stop at Jug Handle State Natural Reserve. We ended up visiting Jug Handle right when we arrived at Mendocino, and it was totally a surprise adventure! Jug Handle State Natural Reserve, named appropriately after Jug Handle Creek, is a unique stretch of open land on the coast of Mendocino. The amazing thing about this park is that it contains a goldmine of ecological history. Because of changes in the soil, the ebb and flow of the waves, and the shifting of land masses, Jug Handle has different marine terraces that kind of function as separate ecosystems. Basically, it's like this park has several different forests inside. Coming in, I had no idea what to expect from Jug Handle State Natural Reserve. I had read that the trail was about 2.5 miles long and that it would eventually lead to a pygmy forest. In essence, both ended up being pretty true. But, it was so much more than this... For first-timers, Jug Handle only has one trail: The Ecological Staircase. No, this doesn't mean that you'll be climbing stairs throughout; the "staircase" refers to the changing landscape throughout the park. The trail was indeed around 2.5 miles one way, and it took us about 3 hours to complete. Some may get through it quicker, but I totally suggest y'all take your time because the staircase was truly an experience for the ages. There were at least 40 (!!!!) different types of plant species to spot along the way. Each one was marked clearly on the trail and described in detail on a free map. My favorite had to be the manzanita. The branches were SO SMOOTH. And let's not forget the scenery too. The park itself was gorgeous, calm, and quiet. If you don't really have that much time, you can always just visit the first parts of the trail and loop back. This takes you to the most amazing views of the coast. Too bad there weren't any benches, otherwise we would have just stayed there and ate our lunches. The scenery was that beautiful! But, if you can make it all the way to the end, I highly encourage it. The pygmy forest was definitely something I had never seen before. Despite their age (over 100 years old), these trees looked very robust and evergreen. But best of all, they were so tiny and short!!! Even for directionally challenged newbs like me, getting to Jug Handle State Natural Reserve is quite simple. It's about a 3 hour drive from San Francisco, and all you have to remember is to go on Highways 101 North, 128 West, and 1 North in that order. The park is located right after Point Cabrillo Lighthouse, and there should be a large sign directing you to turn on the left. You'll know that you've gone too far if you hit Fort Bragg. Even though Jug Handle does not attract a ton of visitors, I recommend coming earlier in the day since the parking lot is small. Luckily, you don't have to pay an entrance fee here!! Even though I probably retained 1% of what I learned at Jug Handle State Natural Reserve, I absolutely loved the experience of being able to witness firsthand the awe-inspiring glory of ecological history. This park was definitely a hidden gem waiting to be discovered, and I hope you have the time to visit when in Mendocino. I give Jug Handle an "Omg, I'd travel 2 hours for this" rating. Relaxing, beautiful, FREE, and educational. What more can anyone ask for? Oh yea, did I mention that you get to walk UNDER A BRIDGE?? Have fun and prosper, read more

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A beautiful walk in the woods. the pygmy forest is the best part. Fortunately I downloaded the PDF of the trail brochure, because there were no more at the trailhead. However, the trail brochure was very difficult to follow. It seems like there were a lot of numbered sign posts missing. I came here because of the geology, but it is difficult to see the Marine terraces, although, you can certainly see the flora resulting from them. The trail is well maintained although a bit narrow and Brushy in places. There are tons of opportunities for amazing photographs. I even managed to do a little bit of Trail running. read more

Very nice place to come hike or just hang out. It's right off the highway with a short-ish trail to walk down to the beach. Not too crowded but definitely popular. I'd say hiking is the best part of this place, there are trails that take you left or right from the main trail. read more

Jug Handle State Natural Reserve - View from main trail - Parks Near Me - Fort Bragg, California

Amazing sunsets - amazing whale-watching!! Mr & I were looking for any random pathway to take a little walk after a full day of driving around & as luck would have it, Jug Handle State Natural Reserve was the next turnoff Nice pathway takes you out along the bluff & has a wonderful view of breaking waves all around plus a fantastic vantage point from which to watch the whales migrating by. We saw lots of spouts & backs & even a few tails on the 2 evenings we were there.... & we didn't even have binoculars! The sunsets were likewise nice - we had 1 clear evening so got all the oranges & pinks of the setting sun The other evening was overcast but it allotted for better whale-watching so it was a true win-win We'd recommend this stop to anyone looking for a nice, relaxing, picturesque stop read more

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The Mendocino coast is the most gorgeous piece of coastline in California, and Jug Handle State Natural Reserve is one of the crown jewels of the Mendocino coast. Every time I go to Jug Handle, the experience lands somewhere on the scale between fine and magical. It's the only place in California where I've encountered a phosphorescent algae bloom. We waded across a creek to get to the beach at night, with the algae surging up the creek with the tide. The algae glow when agitated, so with every step we took while wading across, the water lit up. The surf glowed with each crashing wave. I love running or hiking on the trail that runs 2.5 miles inland up the "ecological staircase" to the pygmy forest at the top. Jug Handle Creek hops from one side of the beach to the other from year to year. The preserve is the first place I ever took my kids to look for salamanders. The beach is small and deep, with waves crashing against the rocks and cliffs framing both sides of the beach. Last time we visited we went mushroom hunting and the expert in our group scored more than a pound of chanterelle mushrooms. We had a picnic on the beach and gave my daughter's puppy her first encounter with the ocean. Um....what I really meant to say is that Jug Handle sucks out loud, and that you should avoid it. Especially when I'm in the area. read more

Jug Handle State Natural Reserve - Parks Near Me - Fort Bragg, California

Beautiful beautiful beach I've ever been to Sand and water water temp was perfect it's so pretty

This is definitely a good spot to explore! I like it because I feel like it's somewhat less trafficked than other spots around. The parking lot may have a couple cars in it or almost full but it still will feels like you're the only ones the majority of the time. You could walk down to beaches and be the only one there for hours. We just walked around some, as there are plenty of walking paths going in all directions. On our way out a group asked where the actual jug handle was, we weren't sure as we spent most of our time hanging out on the beach but I guess you could walk out and be neat surrounded by water on the "jug handle" where there weren't clear signs pointing towards any direction but don't think it's a big deal getting a little lost here, so beautiful! read more

Jug Handle State Natural Reserve - Pretty sweet spot to explore! - Parks Near Me - Fort Bragg, California

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What: - View of Pacific Ocean - Beach - Coastal hiking trails - Deer More Info: - Free parking - Free admission - Trails are not very well marked Although the GPS did not take us to the exact spot, clear signs on CA1 highway led us to the right place. After parking the car, we headed on the trail that splits into two, the one to the right leads you to the beach and the one to the left leads you to the trails that run along the coastal bluffs. View of a bridge and the lagoon from the Jug Handle Beach - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/jug-handle-state-natural-reserve-caspar?select=xr_96hvJMR8zn8oASt2NVQ#xr_96hvJMR8zn8oASt2NVQ We took the trail to the right and within 5-10 minutes we were in the white sands of the beautiful, family-friendly beach. A small lagoon connects to the beach. We noticed a tenacious pelican curled up on the beach sands, completely undaunted by any of the humans around. View of Jug Handle Beach from the top of the coastal bluff - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/jug-handle-state-natural-reserve-caspar?select=xr_96hvJMR8zn8oASt2NVQ#pmTEWtl_kOv6hZp2v7cJmw After spending some time at the beach, we continued on our trail back to the parking lot to take the other trail to walk along the coastline. One can see the beach at Jug Handle from the top of the coastal bluff and as we walked along the trail we noticed several hole in the rock formations. Our jaws dropped looking at the beauty of the California coastline and the shades of blue in the water. The water was so clear that we could see the ocean bed. The clear sunny day, revealing the shades of colors in the ocean and added to the beauty of the Pacific. View of the ocean from the coastal bluff - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/jug-handle-state-natural-reserve-caspar?select=xr_96hvJMR8zn8oASt2NVQ#8wzNDrDyBTsxYmMFYdyFUA There are trail markers along the way and they are marked with numbers. However, I don't believe the numbers mean anything at all. They were just so haphazard. We simply continued walking on the trail assuming that it would form a loop and take us back to the parking lot. All of a sudden, we heard rustling sounds in the bushes nearby. Looking around, we noticed a herd of deer peeking at us. The deer were camouflaged in the dry brown bushes and it was so cute to see their two cute ears prominently sticking out. We continued walking slowly towards the deer, but the intimidated animals hopped off. Deer - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/jug-handle-state-natural-reserve-caspar?select=xr_96hvJMR8zn8oASt2NVQ#bJDnW4xvf0mdVnJG4V98aQ The so-called trail was way too narrow and bushy; there were certain times when we did not even know whether it was a proper trail. We continued walking and walking, just hoping that we would reach the parking lot soon. Finally we saw the cars on CA1 from a distance. Phew! What a relief! However, the trail did not lead us directly to the parking lot, it led us somewhere on CA1 and we walked for a bit to reach the Jug Handle parking lot. We returned to the Jug Handle State Reserve the next day to watch the sunset. Sunset from a viewpoint - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/jug-handle-state-natural-reserve-caspar?select=xr_96hvJMR8zn8oASt2NVQ#P2Ml4HvuQjqKd2-8XJrrYQ Tips: - Take the coastal trail, but do not continue on the trail that forms a loop; the trail is narrow, bushy and just not worth it - Excellent viewpoint to see the sunset read more

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Amazing beach that is not too crowded. This beach is not too visible from the highway and you need to take a very short hike to get there, but it's definitely worth it. One of the most beautiful beaches I have seen on highway 1 all the way from Pismo to Fort Bragg. Great sand and blue colored waves. read more

Jug Handle State Natural Reserve - On the hike near Jug Handle Beach - Parks Near Me - Fort Bragg, California

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If you have few friends and a beach blanket and a volleyball or football, this is your beach. Huge, flat, contained (good for dogs that way) and pretty deserted in the off season and on non holidays. Great break, short walk from the beach. If you want to take a really awesome hike though, get the helpful green train map with information and checkpoints, take the trail that goes to the beach but veer off to the right and under the highway, and have fun exploring a half dozen ecological zones that are really pretty interesting, and culminate with the most interesting miniature pygmy forest (trees that are hundreds of years old but shorter than you thanks to low nutrients in the soil). It's a great hike for kids. you see a lot of locals with their kids. you can access a half way point from a nearby residential road if you are less mobile, but the whole hike isn't very long. read more

I came here on the recommendation of a friend of a friend. He said "oh man, you have to check out the Pygmy Forest. It's super awesome!" So off we go, on the last day of our visit in Mendocino to take a quick 2.5 mile trek into the wilderness in search of the infamous Pygmy Forest. The geological history of this terrain is interesting, if you're into that. Read about the multi-layered Ecological Staircase that makes up this reserve. I love history, so I soaked it up. The initial trail takes you out towards the rugged coastline. There are some amazing viewpoints that stretch out into the sea. If not too windy there are what I like to call 'death walks' which are narrow paths that will take you out over the water for a good spritz of sea air, paired with an undisputed view of the Mendocino coast. Take a moment to hear the waves, the sound is natures orchestra. The other half of this nature reserve takes you back towards the parking lot into the woods. The path literally takes you through the underbrush of some trees then exits towards the freeway overpass. From here is the start of the trail towards the Pygmy's. I've been on many a hike and I can honestly say the path was less than well maintained. There were some fallen trees and the path markers were not very visible. We followed an arrow pointing the way, that was put down by another hiker made out of sticks. Yeah, like that! Once we finally made it to the Pygmy Forest, I experienced a moment of relief that our 2 hour hike was over, immediately followed by a moment of deflated satisfaction at the sight of the mini forest. I was expecting something super cool and all I got was some miniature pine trees. read more

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Beautiful little park. Nice little walk to stretch the legs and take in some breath taking scenery. read more

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Looking to get a quick run in before having Thanksgiving at my sister hone in Fort Bragg. This little gem had plenty of parking, dog friendly and views that cleared my mind. Taking the trail to the right of the parking lot will send you down to a beautiful beach cove. To take in a bit more go straight/left and you'll enjoy walking on the bluffs with the powerful waves of Nor Cal so close below you can feel the energy. read more

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This is my kind of place to get my hike on! You can hike 4 miles up to The pigmy forest or down to the beach. I wish I could upload the smell of the forest! This is a perfect place to commune with nature and get up close and personal with the beauty of the Northern California Coast. read more

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Absolutely beautiful. Cannot begin to convey it in words. If your near by stop in. Hike down to the beach. Easy trails so kids can join this hike. The trails lead yoi under the freeway and through the ravine. Its soo amazing read more

Jug Handle State Natural Reserve - Parks Near Me - Fort Bragg, California

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We hiked the entire trail from the beach area to the pygmy forest. This was a beautiful walk. I think it was about 6 miles round trip. It was pretty easy, but there is a set of stairs with over 90 steps. Some reviewers have been disappointed with the pygmy forest, but if you study the "ecological staircase," you will probably be impressed with the drastic geological change from the beginning of the beach hike and the ending in the pygmy forest. At first we were a little disappointed when we entered the pygmy forest, but we were determined to take the hike to the very end where you cross a boardwalk with plenty of descriptive illustrations and information. It is really is amazing if you put some thought into the drastic change of environment. Whether or not the pygmy forest is disappointing to you, this hike is gorgeous and free! read more

Beautiful ocean views, caterpillars all over the place! Maybe it was the time we went but on our walk we saw more then a half dozen seemed a lot for us. The cliff sides are just gorgeous and you can walk down some of the cliffs and go down to the tide pools. Very cool, short hike from the parking lot as well. Good place to picnic or just enjoy the California Coast! read more

Great place to take the family, or if you have time to yourself, this is a great place for a walk. Enjoy one of the beauties of The North Coast. #MoneyMikeChallenge read more

Hidden beach and amazing dog friendly forest path (grab a green info map and head to the right of the parking lot, the numbered items on the path tell you interesting facts or plant life). The hike to the pygmy forest is an easy 2 miles and worth it. We went at 5pm and there was NO ONE on the trail, a few beach goers in the hidden beach, but otherwise the main trail was empty! read more

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My absolute favorite beach. I'm local, I've been to them all. Haha. I like the easy stairs down to the beach. It's very protected from the wind there in the cove. It's always warm. The creek is fresh, and maybe 6 inches deep, so I let my toddlers play in the water there without having to worry about them falling in or getting swept away. The dog can drink it too. I like that it's way down the stairs, far from traffic, so I let my dog off leash here. He is very well-behaved and under voice command, so we have never had an issue. The waves usually don't have a strong undertow here like at some other beaches (big river, pudding creek, virgin creek, mackerricher all have very strong undertow. I don't let my kids in the waves there.) read more

We were not able to see the pygmy forest because we did not know how to get there, but we were still able to enjoy a portion of the park. I'm looking forward to our next visit. We will find that pygmy forest and we will conquer it :) read more

This park is just south of Ft Bragg and so worth a day of exploring. We had a picnic near the parking lot before our "expedition". Grab a map by the larger info sign before you start. The trail heads to the beach where you discover the different terraces the area has. The views are amazing. Follow the trail under the highway, down the stairs, and you are at the beginning of the different forests. Each terrace has different vegetation and trees. You will end up at the Pygmy Forest. There is a boardwalk and a rest area a short distance in. The trek in took us about 2 hours at a leisurely pace and stopping to read about each marker. Coming back was just about one hour. A must see. read more

Great, safe beach for kids (not in the ocean). The waves are dangerous in mendicio area. Here is a tiny little creek that meets the ocean. It provides a great, safe alternative while still being at the ocean!! Quiet & great for a picnic/full day of fun with little ones. All 4 (3,7,9,&11) had hours if fun building dams with rocks in the creek, catching little fish, running in the sand, and enjoying the gorgeous views. read more

Beautiful views and so many different ecosystems makes this hike a real treat. We arrived around 10 and finished at 12:30. We stopped to snack at the Pygmy forest. The Pygmy forest is a must see. There are trees decades old just a foot or so high. It was quite impressive. For such a short hike there was so much to see. It's a must visit. read more

I went to the Jughandle State Reserve after reading the review on yelp, it was awesome! A great trail that had a little bit of everything, redwood trees, the ocean, a creek, pygmy forest, etc...I will definitly go again! read more

Great little secluded beach. Lots of breaker waves...not a calm beach for those with small children, though there is a small inlet/tide pool. Lots of trails going along the cliffs and in the coastal forests. Beautiful! read more

The Jughandle Creek Farm was great! The people running the place are fantastic hosts. I stayed in one of the cabins and it was perfect. I stayed for 2 nights, which wasn't long enough. I could have easily spent 1 week there. It felt like home. The property and hikes were beautiful. There is a hike to the beach and also to a pygmy forest. It is right in the middle of Mendocino & Fort Bragg. It's a great location to hop around to both towns while also maintaining a secluded relaxing environment. I would recommend this place to anyone looking to spend time on the Northern California coast. www.jughandlecreekfarm.org read more

Short hike down to the beach (about a 100' change in elevation). Beach is charming and clean. The sand is soft. It is ringed with rough but climbable rock faces giving access to a number of tide pools. The water is very clear (almost no turbidity) but is cold. It is feed by a warm creek that is too shallow to swim but makes for nice wading. read more

Gorgeous area, short hike in... beautiful and clean. My family and I really enjoyed the time we spent here.

I don't know how you could give a bad review to this place. I hadn't been to any beach for a while. Maybe that's why when I dropped down onto the warm sand in the pocket on this sunny day I felt like it was the best place in the world. Oh, and succulent plants attached to cliffs in amazing places, finding just enough soil to get by. Yes, a lot of beaches on the coast have that; but it was like... the best happy little plants I ever saw (please people, look don't touch; not that you could for most of them). No, I didn't partake of any local herbs. I'm not into that. It was just my mood I guess. Big Sur, eat your heart out. This place is gorgeous and now that I live closer to it I won't be just dashing around trying to get back home before I'm too tired to drive. read more

Went there in the early evening and it was deserted and absolutely loved it!