Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens
Beautiful gardens with the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean
Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens is a unique natural treasure located on the bluffs of Northern California. Since the 1960s, the Gardens has cultivated a wide array of plants that are both sustainable and beautiful. The nonprofit botanical wonder is highly photogenic and offers world-recognized collections and a diversity of flora all year long. Rhododendrons, camellias, and magnolias tower over displays of dahlias, begonias, and roses. The Gardens also stewards nationally recognized collections of conifers, heaths, and heathers.
The Gardens, gift shop, and plant nursery are open daily with only a couple of exceptions. Rhody’s Garden Café offers lunch with a view seasonally (Apr – Oct). Bring the whole family and make a day of it! Dogs are welcome and enjoy free admission! The Gardens are located at 18220 North Highway One in Fort Bragg, California. For more information call 707-964-4352, or visit http://www.gardenbythesea.org.
Annual Events:
Rhododendron Show – First weekend in May
Art in the Gardens – First weekend in August
Festival of Lights – Begins the day after Thanksgiving and runs each Friday, Saturday and Sunday for four weeks
Hidden Beach
Hidden Beach of Fort Bragg
Accessed through a tunnel of a rockwall at the north end of Seaside Creek Beach during low tide. Very remote and perfect for exploring, but don’t get caught by the tide before you head back through!
NO TRAILS
NO TIDE POOLS
NO RESTROOMS
NO FIRES
PARKING
DOGS
MacKerricher State Park - Laguna Point
MacKerricher State Park – Laguna Point
MacKerricher Beach is great for wildlife viewing and tidepooling and a prime seal watching station. There is a boardwalk path over the wetlands to the beach, directly next to the parking lot, so getting to the beach is easy.
TRAILS
TIDE POOLS
RESTROOMS
NO FIRES
PARKING
DOGS
Jefferson Way Beach Access
Jefferson Way Beach Access
A deep pocket cove and beach with rocks, cliffs, and dunes at the waters edge. It has a 0.7 mile long access trial from the parking area. Incredibly scenic and also a popular surf spot.
TRAILS
NO TIDE POOLS
NO RESTROOMS
NO FIRES
PARKING
DOGS
Noyo Harbor Beach
Noyo Harbor Beach
A sandy strip of beach that is very popular for surf fishing rather than swimming or sunbathing. There’s lots of driftwood around and it’s a nice beach stroll. Also a nice spot to enter the water on a paddleboard, boat or kayak.
No HIKING
NO TIDE POOLS
RESTROOMS
NO FIRES
NO PARKING
DOGS
Jug Handle State Natural Reserve
Jug Handle State Natural Reserve
About midway between the towns of Mendocino and Fort Bragg is stunning Jug Handle Creek Beach. The beach impresses the visitor with a deep sandy cove, clear blue water and steep bluffs on both sides. The park is known for its hiking trail: the Ecological Staircase Trail which winds you through geological features and ends up at the Hans Jenny Pygmy Forest. Trails also explore the the headlands above the cove providing gorgeous views of the sea and coast.
HIKING
No TIDE POOLS
RESTROOMS
NO FIRES
PARKING
NO DOGS
Babcock Beach
Babcock Beach
A deep cove and beach with rocks, cliffs, and dunes at the waters edge. There is a 0.7 mile long access trial from the parking area which is well worth the walk for this incredibly scenic beach. Popular with surfers too.
HIKING
TIDE POOLS
RESTROOMS
NO FIRES
PARKING
DOGS
Glass Beach
Glass Beach
One of Fort Bragg’s main attractions, Glass Beach is a beautiful beach filled with seaglass and great for beachcombing with family and friends. It is a part of the MacKerricher State Park and easily accessible from the Coastal Trail.
HIKING
TIDE POOLS
RESTROOMS
NO FIRES
PARKING
DOGS
Belinda Point Beach
Belinda Point Beach
A small scenic cove secured by The Mendocino Land Trust organization.
Maintains a 0.6 mile long access trail that leads to a boardwalk into the narrow and rocky beach.
HIKING
TIDE POOLS
RESTROOMS
NO FIRES
PARKING
DOGS
Pudding Creek Beach
Pudding Creek Beach
A wide and sandy beach below an old wooden train trestle. Pudding Creek flows into the ocean here and there are overlooking bluffs lined with many trails to meander on. Great for picnics, hiking, biking, sunbathing, tidepooling, exploring, and swimming!
HIKING
TIDE POOLS
RESTROOMS
BBQ PIT
PARKING
BIKING