California Official Visitor's Guide 2024 - 179

GARBERVILLE
Richardson Grove State Park. Visit an exceptional
grove of lowland trees, including one so big you can walk
through its trunk, at one of California's first redwood
parks, which has grown to 1,800 acres. Swim or fish for
steelhead in the South Fork of the Eel River.
707/247-3318; parks.ca.gov
KELSEYVILLE
Clear Lake State Park. Located on the shores of California's
largest freshwater lake, this park is a popular
spot for fishing, boating, swimming, and water sports.
707/279-4293; parks.ca.gov
KLAMATH
Trees of Mystery. Redwood Hwy. 101. Explore Trees of
Mystery. Experience the SkyTrail Gondola and the new
Redwood Canopy Trail. Walk among redwood carvings.
Visit the museum. CLIA member. 800/638-3389;
treesofmystery.net See ad, p. 175
LEGGETT
Smithe Redwoods State Natural Reserve. Find the
beautiful Frank and Bess Smithe Grove of redwood
trees, as well as a 60-foot waterfall. Bring a picnic, a
swimsuit, and your fishing pole. 707/247-3318;
parks.ca.gov
Chandelier Drive-Thru Tree. This towering redwood
has stood for more than 2,400 years and served as a
reliable photo-op spot for more than 80 years. Drive
your car through the six-foot-wide tunnel, which
was carved into its trunk in 1937. 707/925-6464;
drivethrutree.com
LITTLE RIVER
Van Damme State Park. Find a scenic trail system,
lush fern-filled groves, kayak tours, and year-round
camping. View stunted trees in the pygmy forest and
watch salmon spawn in Little River. 707/937-5804;
parks.ca.gov
LOWER LAKE
Anderson Marsh State Historic Park. Visit a
10,000-year-old archeological site of the Southeastern
Pomo and a 19th-century ranch house at this 1,065-acre
park. Explore protected habitats through hiking and
boating trails. 707/279-2267; parks.ca.gov
MANCHESTER
Manchester State Park. A " catch basin " for sea debris,
this five-mile-long beach is great for strolling at the base
of sand dunes and searching for sea treasures. Also
found here: wildflowers of all hues, tundra swans, and
grazing sheep. 707/882-2463; parks.ca.gov
MCKINLEYVILLE
Azalea State Natural Reserve. Thanks to its namesake
flora, each spring this reserve explodes with pink and
white blossoms, their fragrant scent filling the air (April
and May are peak bloom months). 707/677-3570;
parks.ca.gov
Little River State Beach. Serene and undeveloped,
this broad beach and its rolling dunes are bordered on
the north by the Little River and on the south by Clam
Beach County Park, which offers camping facilities.
707/488-2041; parks.ca.gov
MENDOCINO
Big River Beach. This broad, sandy beach where Big
River meets the Pacific Ocean is ideal for strolling,
dog-walking, picnicking, and birding. 707/937-5804;
parks.ca.gov
Caspar Headlands State Natural Reserve. Four
miles north of the town of Mendocino, this dog-friendly
reserve features a jagged, rocky shoreline, wildflowers,
and pounding surf. Camping is available at the adjacent
Caspar Beach and RV Campground. 707/937-5804;
parks.ca.gov
Ford House Visitors Center and Museum. Find travel
information and volunteers to help plan your Mendocino
County vacation in the historic 1854 Ford House. Visit
the museum to see local artifacts and several works by
Emmy Lou Packard. 707/937-4700; mendoparks.org
Kelley House Museum. Learn how lumbermen first
moved to Mendocino in the late 1800s and started
building homes out of the region's coast redwoods.
Browse artifacts, photographs, and documents.
707/937-5791; kelleyhousemuseum.org
Mendocino Art Center. Founded by Bill and Jennie
Zacha in 1959, this art center lured legions of artists to
settle in Mendocino. See works by local creatives, shop
the gallery store, or take a ceramics class. 707/9375818;
mendocinoartcenter.org
Mendocino Headlands State Park. Hiking, surfing,
whale watching, and fishing are popular activities at
this park's broad beach. It's minutes from the village of
Mendocino. 7087/937-5804; parks.ca.gov
Point Cabrillo Light Station. Visit this California
State Historic Landmark to see a fully restored 1909
lighthouse and blacksmith and carpentry shops. On 270
acres of coastal bluffs. 707/937-6123; pointcabrillo.org
Russian Gulch State Park. Hike a 3-mile trail through
a lush wash of greenery. Take in pristine beaches and
a 36-foot waterfall. Watch the tumultuous Devil's
Punchbowl. Also: bike, fish, dive, and kayak.
707/937-5804; parks.ca.gov
ORICK
Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. Sandy beaches,
giant sequoias, and fern- and lichen-draped trails are
this park's signature attractions. Hike and camp or rent
a cabin, and keep your eyes peeled for Roosevelt elk.
707/488-2039; parks.ca.gov
PHILO
Hendy Woods State Park. Two groves of towering
redwoods are preserved at this park, located in the
heart of Anderson Valley wine country. See trees that
are 300 feet tall and nearly 1,000 years old. Enjoy
hiking, camping, swimming, canoeing, and kayaking.
707/895-3141 ; parks.ca.gov
POINT ARENA
Point Arena Lighthouse & Museum. Standing watch
over the rocky shore of Point Arena, this light station-
the tallest on the Pacific Coast-offers guided tours.
877/725-4448; pointarenalighthouse.com
Point Arena-Stornetta Public Lands. Hike 8 miles
of marked trails along the rugged coastline. View sea
arches, sandy beaches, and a milk barn dating back to
the early 20th century. 707/468-4000; blm.gov
Schooner Gulch State Beach. This beach and its
headlands are a scenic spot to commune with the
Mendocino coast. Picnicking, surfing, and fishing are big
draws, as is the minus-tide attraction known as Bowling
Ball Beach. 707/937-5804; parks.ca.gov
SMITH RIVER
Pelican State Beach. Just south of the Oregon
state line, the relatively small, secluded stretch of
coastline preserved here is great for sandy walks and
beachcombing. 707/464-6101; parks.ca.gov
TRINIDAD
Humboldt Lagoons State Park. Freshwater ponds
meet the wide open ocean at this sprawling park. Spot
whales, elk, and pelicans, and fish for trout and salmon.
Kayaks available for rent. 707/677-3570; parks.ca.gov
Sue-meg State Park. Lush forests meet the sea at this
park, where visitors camp, watch for migrating whales,
observe sea lions and seals, or explore tidepools. You
can also visit a native plant garden and reconstructed
Yurok plank-house village. 707/677-3570; parks.ca.gov
Trinidad Museum. Housed in a renovated turn-of-thecentury
Italianate bungalow, this museum has Native
American artifacts as well as exhibits on the Gold Rush
and the region's whaling, shipping, fishing, and logging
industries. 707/677-3883; trinidadmuseum.org
Trinidad State Beach. Dramatic rocky outcroppings
and stands of alders dot this secluded cove, which
surrounds a sandy beach. Open sunrise to sunset, come
here during low tide to wander amidst the waves, picnic,
or simply get away from it all. 7078/677-3570;
parks.ca.gov
UKIAH
Grace Hudson Museum. American painter Grace
Hudson and her ethnologist husband spent the last
years of their life in Ukiah. Visit their historic home
and adjacent museum dedicated to their life and work.
707/467-2836; gracehudsonmuseum.org
Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve.
This daytime-use-only reserve is home to towering
redwoods, most notably the magical Kellieowen Grove,
which is accessible via the two-mile Montgomery Trail.
707/937-5804; parks.ca.gov
Visit Mendocino County. Magic is real in Mendocino
County! Experience breathtaking coastlines, vibrant
vineyards, and charming boutiques. A haven for
outdoor enthusiasts, wine lovers, and artists.
visitmendocino.com See ad, p. 175
Visit Ukiah. Ukiah is known for its scenic landscapes, for
outdoor adventures, wine, culinary experiences, and a
culture of innovators, creators, and mavericks. Discover our
treasures, inspire your senses, enjoy a relaxed pace, and
" Just Be U. " 707/462-4705; visitukiah.com See ad, p. 175
WEOTT
Humboldt Redwoods State Park. One of the best
places to view soaring redwoods by car is via the
32-mile Avenue of the Giants, an enchanting route that
parallels Highway 101. The park also has more than 250
campsites and 100-plus miles of trails. 707/946-2409;
parks.ca.gov
WESTPORT
Westport-Union Landing State Beach. Camp along
the rugged North Coast shoreline-86 first-come,
first-served family campsites on the bluffs overlooking
the Pacific provide magnificent views. 707/964-4406;
parks.ca.gov
WHITETHORN
Sinkyone Wilderness State Park. This 60-mile stretch
of rugged terrain features the kind of untamed wilds
that once dominated the Mendocino Coast. Trails are
steep; campsites are primitive. This is how the Lost
Coast earned its name. 707/247-3318; parks.ca.gov
WILLITS
Mendocino County Museum. Dive deep into local
history with artifacts including a 10,000-year-old
Clovis point spearhead, 19th-century stagecoaches,
and recovered items from a famous shipwreck.
707/459-2736; mendocinocounty.org
VISITCALIFORNIA.COM | 179
California Official Visitor's Guide 2024

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