Seriously one of my favorite hikes in Northern California! As a NorCal native, I can tell you that…read morehiking the Shakota Trail to the Grazini Winery at the aptly named Winery Point is a "must do" if you're in the area! ++ The hike its self is fairly easy! Not a lot of elevation change to be had or difficult scrambles. Just an easy going wide packed-dirt trail. ++ Trails are well maintained! Just be cautious after a rainy season, as mud can be an issue. ++ Gorgeous views of Lake Mendocino as you hike along the shoreline. ++ What remains of the structures at the winery are covered with an assortment of creative graffiti and street-art. My personal favorite is Cat-Dog! ++ Great spot to pack in a picnic or for photos! Grazini Winery is def a wonderful hidden gem not to be missed in Northern California's beautiful wine country! **Caution: Some portions of the remaining structures are VERY close to a steep drop-off. Use caution when navigating the area!

I've done this hike twice now both times the long way from the damn side. The winery is beautiful…read moreand a must see while it still stands.

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.

Wright Peak Summit Trail is a beautiful hike in Lake County. If you are in the Kelseyville area, I…read morewould highly recommend it. The trail is about 7.5 miles in length with a steady incline. The parking lot is a decent size so we didn't have any issues with parking. The entire trail is wide and gravelly on a lot of the trail. It feels spacious and well maintained. Be careful going downhill due to the gravel and it is best to have hiking shoes and not running shoes to prevent from slipping. There is a decent amount of bathrooms along the way, which is great! There is limited shade so if you go in the summer, consider a hat. Also if going in the warmer months, I would come early to beat the heat. Bring lots of water to stay hydrated and possibly a picnic lunch to enjoy when you reach the top! You will see a historic cabin site along the way. The best view is from the top, which gives you panaramic lake views. It's truly beautiful and such an amazing reward when you reach the top! The views are spectacular!

Great hike! Easy trail but steady incline will have you puffing. Beautiful woodlands. Fabulous…read moreviews from the summit.

Lat/Long: 39.9000 / -123.7442 Beautiful park. Husband and I…read morestopped here on a long car ride to take a break and relax for a bit. The river runs slow here and on a hot day you can go swimming because the water doesn't move very fast and there are also some deep areas. Watch for fire belly salamanders - don't handle them as there are some species that are poisonous. Gorgeous redwood trees, hiking, free parking for day use and maybe there's camping somewhere? I am not sure, but it was a really lovely place to take a break today!

Kinda creepy campsite... nobody around and littered with shell casings. Kinda had a strange feeling…read morethat we were being watched at night. Would have been ok if we were with a bigger group but it was just me and the GF and we were a little scared

Sheldon Creek has some very nice campsites way back in the valley behind Hopland. To get there you…read morehave to driving a fair way along a winding dirt road that has more than a few potholes, but the views of the valley and hills are well worth the drive. The six campsites are quite separated from each other so you don't have to worry about hearing your neighbors. It is BLM land so you don't have to keep your dogs on leash. Boudicca and Jules Verne had a Blast running around the woods while we stayed here. The majority of the trees are Madrone and I have always been fond of those trees. There is some poison oak to watch out for, but just a little here and there. Great spot for car camping!

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!

Diamond in the Bluff…read more Nice coastal trail located about one-mile south of DT Point Arena along Hwy 1. Keep an eye out for a sign that says "coastal viewpoint," as the parking lot isn't specifically mentioned. The Good: *Amazing views of the coastline and bluffs *Entire trail is an easy 3¼miles from start-to-finish *Dirt trails are in pretty good shape w/ minimal poison oak *Free parking The Meh: *Small parking lot with officially four parking spots and one handicapped spot--which doesn't make sense because the trails aren't really handicap accessible, but I digress... The Ugly: *The first 1/2mile heading north in the Pelican Bluffs Trail is noisy and far from serene as you parallel the freeway until you start to turn west. You can avoid this and cut right to the chase by taking the "return" trail and go directly west to the Blufftop Trail. TLDR: Nice trail with amazing views and worth a trip if you're staying in the area and looking for a quick hike, but not worth seeking out as a destination hike.

One of my favorite Coastal Walks…read more Pelican Bluffs is a great little loop (~2.5 miles round trip if you do the full loop) that is dog-friendly with a small, shady parking lot just off highway one. This trail provides epic views. For those will limited mobility, or injured knees, there is a flat option that provides gorgeous views along the meadow a top the bluff. For those who do not mind a bit of elevation gain, you can complete the loop down to a lower overlook where you can spot pelicans (hence the name), whales, and neighboring cows (those are fun too)! Just remember, what goes down must come back up ;) Can get windy in the later afternoon, so recommend mid-morning strolls for optimal weather!