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

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.

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!

Great tide pool find! Check tide times online before going so you know the best time to visit, go…read moreat low tide to be able to see and explore more of the rocks and creatures. Starfish, hermit crabs, larger crabs, sea urchin, fish

Free access day today…read more Beautiful, well maintained, clean restrooms, accessible to all levels of mobility, leashed dogs welcome, gift shop. Plenty of trash receptacles. Wood sidewalk/path plus smooth trails. Cool whale skeleton and information. Something for a everyone whether you want to camp or day use. Clean beaches, flowers, plants, birds, greenery, deer. Friendly staff members

Wow, what a cool park with lots of great equipment-- even for the parents! My favorite thing though…read moreis the entirely padded floor here, which means when my kid fell off the swing, he wasn't injured. They have the coolest variety of swings here, like standing see-saw types, purple plastic seaters that parents can sit across from and see-saw swing with their kids, kiddy swings, regular swings, and a big circular one with seats that spins like a fair ride. A mega playground climbing structure with many slides, and a smaller one for littles. There's a bathroom here, and it's right across the street from the Fort Bragg library which also has bathrooms. Free street parking. Even a giant skateboard thing you can balance on. A workout area for adults. Lots to do here.

Spent a few hours at the park with two of my favorite humans. The park is such a blessing for the…read morecommunity and all of my children have played there. Great spot, lots of different activities that are well spaced out. Take your kids today.

Good walk to get out there from the parking lot all the way out to the light station…read more instructions- you're supposed to leave your car in the first parking lot, don't drive it all the way to the lighthouse because that road has a pedestrians only sign. lighthouse itself is very clean and well maintained, compared to others ive seen along the california coast. very much cared for. interesting free museum inside that building. you cant go up but you can look around the first floor

During weekends, the Cabrillo Light Station does full-on tours of the lighthouse all funded by…read morevolunteers. It entails walking about a flatish half mile (one way) on a paved road to the lighthouse, ending in panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, a couple of picnic tables, and even some cabins to rent, if staying a couple of days to unwind is part of the plan! On a Sunday morning after a canoe paddle down the Big River, we did the half-mile trek to the lighthouse. It was fairly busy, with 3 or 4 groups ahead of us. On the tour, volunteer guides on each of the four levels explain the need for the lighthouse, its inner workings, and how innovation and technology changed it over the years. There are four levels to climb: after the first flight with two handrails, there is only one handrail up the steps, making it a great core workout in addition to a historic and informational experience! After (or before) the tour, wander around the museum/gift shop, where there is a souvenir for every lighthouse aficionado to buy sprinkled with more historic information and pictures not only of the lighthouse, but also of the surrounding environment and wildlife. If lighthouses are your jam, the weekend is a great time to go with the tour, museum/gift shop, and even a place to stay if you want! Convenient to downtown Mendocino, after the tour, the charming downtown is a great place to grab a bite and do some shopping! Young and old alike, this is a great experience!

This past weekend my family went camping at Hendy Woods SP for the first time. Upon arrival we were…read moregreeted by multiple park rangers at check in (it was the most staff I've ever encountered in a check in, which was nice because it made it go quickly). The roads were a bit bumpy but nothing we couldn't handle. Restrooms were well maintained. We didn't use the showers, but it was nice knowing we had the option if needed... and it seemed like they were nice and hot since other guests were using them and the mirrors were fogging up (not complaining). We did notice a lot of brush piles, so hopefully they are actively taking care of the forest to prevent forest fires. Loved that we weren't too far from the beaches and enjoyed a day at Fort Bragg. We will definitely return.

Uniqueness: Redwoods galore here! Drive Time:…read more [x][x][x][x][x] Scenic Quality: [x][x][x][x][x] Setting: [x][x][x][x][x] Cost: [x][x][x][x][ ] Recommendation? Come early and enjoy a beautiful hike in the redwoods with barely a crowd! Morning drive to Mendocino made us make a pit stop at Hendy Woods State Park as we heard there were beautiful spots of Redwoods that we must check out before going on our way. Pay fee was $8 dollars to get in which wasn't the worst but as we kept driving, we got a little worried about where the Redwoods were as a portion of the drive looked pretty sparse & dry. But worry not, once we got very deep into the drive near the end where the hike begins, the trees started popping up everywhere! Trail was clean and so much greenery everywhere, from the tall Redwoods to the short ferns growing all over the place. We stumbled upon a massive felled Redwood tree which was perfect for photo captures. This place is a perfect spot to stop by if you want to spend a couple of hours soaking in the fresh air and nature!

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.