Mendocino Headlands State Park

Mendocino Headlands State Park is absolutely stunning! The park offers dramatic coastal bluffs, sweeping ocean views, and plenty of scenic walking trails right along the edge of the cliffs. It’s an easy spot to access from the town of Mendocino, making it perfect for a quick stroll, a picnic, or just sitting and soaking in the views. We loved exploring the trails at sunset—watching the waves crash against the rocks was unforgettable. Parking is convenient, and the park feels peaceful and uncrowded compared to other coastal spots. If you’re visiting Mendocino, this park is a must-see for its breathtaking scenery and relaxing atmosphere.

Absolutely stunning vistas right outside of town. There's no gate, park closes at sundown, not at 5. No benches so bring your own chairs. I think these are puffins of some sort, penguins don't travel this far north

One of my favorite stops on our trip. Stunning view with a land bridge you can walk across. Beautiful flowers blooming, Cute town too!

One my favorite cities in the world, Mendocino and one of my favorite state parks! Filled with tons of hiking trails that can take you into the forest or down to the shores. No matter which way you decide to go, you will find beauty and breathtaking views all around. View Big river to the south and look for the light and the horn of the lighthouse as you hike the headlands trail all the way north. The best guide for the trails is The Hiker's Hip Pocket Guide to the Mendocino coast! And if you do go to the park make sure to go down to Portuguese beach. I call it the stairway to heaven, and once you go, you'll see why.

An absolutely beautiful place. As you walk along the paths you see magnificent rock formations, waves and birds. For the adventurous, trails take you a bit closer to the beauty. Lots of places to sit and relax. Very pet friendly. This is a must stop and see spot.

Has several trails to choose. Pick 1, or 2 or an afternoon exploring. Easy to moderate trails.

This review is overdue since we have been here several times over the last decade and I'm not sure why I haven't written a review before now, as this is such a beautiful and tranquil place. Mendocino Headlands State Park is conveniently located near the downtown area in Mendocino. It's absolutely gorgeous with lots of trails along the rugged coastline. Some of the trails lead down to secluded beaches. There are plenty of trails all along the coastline and you can walk/hike as little or as much as you would like to. You can take your pup on a leash here since furry friends love this place as well! The views are spectacular, especially at sunset. Whatever time of day you go, the views are beathtaking and you can find a nice secluded place and have a picnic if you would like as well. This is a very peaceful area that you can spend hours at. I also love that you can enjoy the restaurants and shops in the downtown area for some retail therapy and delicious food and then venture out on the trails to soak up nature and the views!

A beautiful and idyllic location. The coastal line inspires me a lot and gives an inner peace. A blissful place and must visit.

Very nice and easy walking tour of a typical northern California coast. Even if you stay on Heeser Drive as you walk the loop road, there are many nice views of the coastline. Stepping off onto a trail to get closer to the shore is great, too, with varying levels of ease of walk or difficulty. Good for the young and old. You can walk to a natural rock bridge or have a great view of it without even having to get out of your car. If staying overnight in Mendocino, it's a great walk to start the day early in the morning.

Visited while spending a weekend in Mendocino. There is ample parking available along different stretches of the headlands. Very convenient to check out various viewpoints. Stunning views where you can see waves crashing against the land from above. There are trails and you can also wander a little off trail, especially as you get closer to the water, but just be careful, especially as you're near the edge. Lots of birds flying around as well as some cool ocean wildlife if you're fortunate enough to stumble upon it. Pet friendly. Honestly, these headlandsare what visiting Mendocino is all about, not necessarily the town itself.

This review is overdue since we have been here several times over the last decade and I'm not sure why I haven't written a review before now, as this is such a beautiful and tranquil place. Mendocino Headlands State Park is conveniently located near the downtown area in Mendocino. It's absolutely gorgeous with lots of trails along the rugged coastline. Some of the trails lead down to secluded beaches. There are plenty of trails all along the coastline and you can walk/hike as little or as much as you would like to. You can take your pup on a leash here since furry friends love this place as well! The views are spectacular, especially at sunset. Whatever time of day you go, the views are beathtaking and you can find a nice secluded place and have a picnic if you would like as well. This is a very peaceful area that you can spend hours at. I also love that you can enjoy the restaurants and shops in the downtown area for some retail therapy and delicious food and then venture out on the trails to soak up nature and the views!

Gorgeous, amazing, the best part of Mendocino, etc. The reason why you go to Mendocino is for this park which has absolutely gorgeous and sweeping views of the coastline as well as the absolutely beautiful starry night. Came in mid-January and here are my favorite parts as well as some tips: - On AllTrails, they say to hike the park which I actually don't recommend because you can just drive directly to the viewpoints inside. - Come during sunset for the beautiful views and the windy waves loudly crashing onto the coastline. - Especially when you come in the wintertime, you have to wear warm clothes and bring a blanket to sit on the ground as it does get chilly. - You're not REALLY allowed to do this, but you should come into the park for even 5 minutes to see the night sky. Especially on a clear day, Headlands Park is something else as the sky looks like you sprinkled pixie dust on it as the sky is covered with clusters of stars. You can even watch the constellations move overhead as the time inches on, it really is something else and one of the best night skies I have seen in the States. Overall, cannot recommend the Headlands Park more and the best thing to do in Mendocino.

One of the most spectacular views ! Absolute tranquility and calm. Must do for nature lovers :)

This was not in our plans, we just winged it because someone had mentioned this place randomly and I am so happy we came. We explored for a while, going through the paths, driving and parking and exploring various parts of this park. It was beautiful, easy to navigate. We didn't think we would hike and venture this much but it was nice and clean and clear of where you could go and view and it was just a great afternoon of exploring. Beautiful place.

There are two main sections of Mendocino Headlands State Park: 1) The namesake headlands section, capping the rocky cliffs that surrounds the town of Mendocino on three sides, and 2) a sliver of land along the Big River estuary, to the SE of town. The vast majority of Yelp reviews are focused on the former section. I did short hikes in both parts. (At the time I didn't know they were in the same park). Both sections were beautiful in their own way. I strolled the headlands section and admired the gnarled trees, the succulents, the bright flowers, and waving grasses. The sun was peeking through the last of the morning fog; and the cold sea breeze was bracing. It was an ideal setting for me to explore for 30 minutes or so before I grabbed a coffee in town. Afterwards, I made the short drive downhill to the Big River section, which seemed to be less popular with visitors but certainly a destination for some locals who were walking their dogs. I skipped the beach portion and decided to walk upriver. The Big River Trail was a wide, mostly-flat stroll with views of the slow-moving water, which included areas of marshes and mudflats. I spotted cormorants, egrets and even saw a few seals basking on a sandbar. The river was also popular with kayakers and canoers, so the distant sound of splashing paddles was frequent. After savoring this lovely atmosphere for about 4 miles (2 there and 2 back) I was finally ready for more driving.

I was driving along on an absurd road trip and happened upon this spot as I was passing through Mendocino county. Just saw a sign for the park and pulled in. There's no charge, it's easily accessible just off CA 1, and there are a few spots with some parking that get you right up to the coast. As far as I could tell there aren't any services, but who needs em? The town is just down the street so it's not remote and it doesn't take a lot of planning to get here if you're in the area. So with those details aside, let me say this. This place is stunningly beautiful. There are a variety of walking paths that you can stroll to get one breathtaking view after the next. I feel like I could type for days and still fail to describe the experience of stumbling upon this and seeing it for the first time. Do not...under any circumstances, drive past this park without visiting.

I was reading Facebook page The Pudding Creek Trestle which is a go to site for information on things to do on the Coast and surrounding areas. Mendocino is this cute little village located in #MendocinoCounty, which tourist flock from all walks of life to enjoy this million dollar view.

Surreal cliff views!!! So glad we stopped by before leaving Mendocino. Photos don't do it justice. Stop by and to see why the Mendocino Coast is so beautiful. Luckily we came before the late morning when the fog started to set in.

Gorgeous views! One of the best views we saw during our different scenic views in Mendocino. Come during sunset; you won't regret it! There is parking close by to catch views of the cliff and the scenery is serene and amazing.

The Northern California Coastline is stunning!! A good place to visit and enjoy the coastline is at Mendocino Headlands Park. There are many trails to hike and beaches to roam. Unfortunately, our time was very limited with the family so we did very little exploring. Look forward to spending more time at Mendocino Headlands Park in the future. From what we did see, the park is beautiful. Terrific place to visit for the family or only for yourself.

Went to a wedding there in August- was beautiful- the area was clean and inviting/ highly recommend for a sunset wedding

An absolute all-time favorite place to view the majestic cost of California! Mendocino Headlands Park is a micro-mini-mini-mini version of Marin Headlands if you can imagine that. As you approach the town of Mendocino, crossing the Big River Bridge, the rugged coast displays herself in all her majesty. Once across the bridge, you hit the first stoplight at the entrance of Mendocino town, on Little Lake Road. This town could be in any one of Stephen King's movies. It is the quintessential, idyllic, picturesque location all writers seek for their novel. But you do not have to be a writer to enjoy Mendo, as the locals proudly call it. There are trails throughout the headlands for you to explore. You can even take the wooden stairs down to Portuguese Beach if the tide is out. Right now the vegetation is extremely vibrant. I don't know what the beach succulent looking vegetation is called, but they were in shades of orange, yellow and green. Stunning! Along with the beach there are a few coves where the waves crash and swirl in a show of magic you really wouldn't want to be swimming in. On your way back towards town take a different route and stroll through the village. It might entice you to want to own a bit of real estate there. There isn't a lot in town proper but there are still some undeveloped lots.

Must visit when in Mendocino. Just be careful when you're on the cliffs when you're zoning out taking in the views and listening to the crashing waves during high tide. Appreciate the forces of nature and Mendocino Coast in all its glory.

We tried the "Mendocino cliffs trail", a .9 mile relatively flat hike that provides gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean along with the Mendocino coastline. I'd highly recommend stopping by just before sunset to get some amazing views

Absolutely stunning views. Parking is easy as there are a few different parking locations. Great place to meander around. Lots of dog walkers. Very clean. Again, the views of the water and rock formations are outstanding.

The views here are absolutely breathtaking! It's amazing the power of the ocean and the continuous crashing of the waves against the jagged shores. The rock formations are uniquely dispersed along the coast and are home to colonies of birds just hanging out on the white-capped surface. Highly recommend a stop here for a photo opportunity, stroll along the cliffs or a simple picnic while soaking in the views.

Absolutely nothing compares to the Mendocino Headlands! Yes, that's a bold statement, I'm aware; but when it's true, it's true! ++ The rocky coastline of Northern California is really on display here! With secluded beaches, glorious wildflowers, plenty of tide-pools, and a few leisurely trails there's plenty of ways to take in its splendor. ++ Its close proximity to the town of Mendocino make you the perfect spot to catch a sunset or bring a picnic. Just make sure to bring a jacket or a sweater. The weather on the Northern coastline tends to be much cooler. ++ Speaking of weather, if there's fog when you arrive in the morning - don't fret! The afternoon sun tends to burn it off. You'll have a wonderfully cool sunny day in no time. ++ Views, on views, on VIEWS! There's so many choice photo ops in the area. Including my favorite that captures the town above the jagged coastal cliffs and the rolling waves. The Mendocino Headlands are the epitome of the Northern California coastline! If you find yourself in the area it's an absolute must see. You'll thank me later.

Gorgeous views all around. Easy flat winding trails that criss-cross around the sea cliffs and down to rocky tidepools that are full of purple urchins, mussels, little crabs, and green anemones. The stairs down the the beach is kind of washed away at the bottom so you have to scramble down rocks, a hanging log ladder, or a rope for the last 6-10 feet. The beach has soft sand and lots of little pebbles and rocks closer to the water with little treasures like sea glass, snail and mussel shells, and iridescent abalone shell fragments and pieces, if you are lucky you might find an intact one. There is a mossy "waterfall" trickling down the rock cliffs and little structures built out of driftwood. A curious seal was frolicking just off shore as well. We spent a couple hours here easily.

The beautiful coastline, with secluded beaches and many miles of trails makes up the fantastic area of Mendocino Headlands Park. Photo opportunities around every bend with beautiful sea arches, wild flowers and the amazing coastal cliffs. Day visits allowed only with no camping or overnight stays. Perfect area for hiking, surfing or fishing. Plenty of free parking all along the coastline and dog friendly. The views are amazing with plenty of areas to sit and watch the waves crash on the rocks while the sun sets. The park surrounds the town of Mendocino, just off Highway One.

The trails are wonderful and such a gorgeous view. I highly recommend that anyone in the area come to walk these trails. They are right on the water and have a gorgeous view of the ocean. The trail is easy enough if you stay up on the upper trail for children. I brought my dog and she did well. It is somewhat of a sandy trail, which can get your dogs feet dirty. Also there aren't any trash cans so be sure to bring any trash back with you. There are a number of different areas to park along the trail. It also is fairly close to the downtown area of the city.

Beautiful easy coastal hikes situated nearby nostalgic town reminiscent of east coast New England. With its' Victorian homes and Bed & Breakfast, landmark bldgs like former church turned to grocery market, quaint shops etc. lends to its' Mendocino Charm. Absolute Northern California gem.

A must. This isn't really a park with hiking trails (none that I could find) but a coastal area with walking paths. The views are magnificent. Jagged cliffs, soaring birds, colorful wildflowers, crashing waves. You get it. Bring a jacket/sweater as it's much colder over here. And of course, your camera.

Great trail along the coast just west of the main downtown area of Mendocino. Can easily spend several hours here. Trails were very flat, but recommend hiking shoes if you want to walk over the rocks. It's a good place to grab some food from town and have a picnic. On the south side, there's a small beach that we saw some people swimming. We saw a seal, jellyfish and several types of birds.

Mendocino Headlands is a must visit when in the area. It's free to park and walk the coastal bluffs. I could spend hours admiring the crystal bright blue water, rock formations and various sea caves. With various overlooks and places to just be, watching the waves crashing against the rocks is essential to the Mendocino experience. There are lots of easy trails along the bluffs and it's quite easy to enter from the village shopping area. There are many birds and plants you can also admire along the way and it's a great place to watch the sunset. The Mendocino headlands are beautiful, majestic and peaceful all at once. Take some time to meander the paths here, pause to watch the ocean and bask in this amazing stretch of coast.

This is what Mendocino is all about, folks. Not the clapboard gift shops. Not the faux-New England ambiance. Not the overpriced eateries. It's here in this stretch of rugged coastline, crashing waves and strolling trails surrounding the town that defines its fabled beauty. Gee, I should write tourist brochures... I bid farewell to the state of old New York My home away from home In the state of New York I came of age When first I started roaming And the trees grow high in New York State And they shine like gold in the autumn Never had the blues from whence I came But in New York State I got 'em Talk to me of Mendocino Closing my eyes I hear the sea Must I wait Must I follow Won't you say come with me And it's on to South Bend, Indiana Flat out on the western plain Rise up over the Rockies And down on into California Out to where but the rocks again And let the sun set on the ocean I will watch it from the shore Let the sun rise over the redwoods I'll rise with it till I rise no more Talk to me of Mendocino Closing my eyes I hear the sea Must I wait Must I follow Won't you say come with me * Look at my photos in the gallery. Hell, look at all the photos in the gallery. Gorgeous, I'm telling you...especially on a crisp morning in winter when Indian summer happens upon the area. Perfect. No wonder they make all those movies up here. * PS...that's Kate McGarrigle's chestnut of a song. If you've never heard Linda Ronstadt's version, you should.... http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-music&field-keywords=ronstadt+mendocino

One of the best parks in California to chill and get your ocean Zen on. Thanks so much, see you soon!

My best friend was married overlooking this beautiful backdrop. It was a really beautiful place on the coast of Mendocino, so we decided to check it out the day we were leaving. We parked by the restroom areas and found the trail that leads you through the trees to the clearing. Once you get to that opening between the trees you can see the ocean and it's just so beautiful. We walked along the edge and out to the furthest peak of the coast in this park area. My sister and I sat out and took pictures of the ocean that looked like you were sitting on the edge of the world. Hawks soared in the sky and it was really fun to watch. There are lots of succulents growing off the edge of the cliff. We took about a million pictures each and I would upload them all, but you should see it for yourself. A must stop in Mendocino.

Stumbled upon this place on accident. This place is absolutely beautiful with light blue water. Lovely place

I highly recommend a nature walk around Mendocino Headlands Park. It's not really a spot you go "hiking" per se, but there are gorgeous views and it's pretty much flat all around. There are tide pools, cliffs, and even some hidden beaches. Go check it out!

First time in Mendocino and did not know what really to expect. As I wanted to be surprised and no be overly prepared in what to see, visit, explore, etc, I did not read anything and just let my boyfriend show me the places he had been to. He fully recommended the Headlands Park (where there were so many white tents for a concert that night, so cool) so we went walking towards the almost turquoise waters beach. It was really a pretty scenery. I am very used to SoCal beaches as i lived in San Diego for many years, so the architecture of the area and the wild beach was totally new to me and blew me away. Nice warm weather, pristine waters, people making fortresses with abandoned logs, walkable paths, this park is a must visit while in Mendocino.

The best ocean view of the three we tried in Mendocino County. Drive through the quaint town of Mendocino to find a park that buffers the city from the ocean. We found a prime spot to stop (say that fast ten times) at a gravel parking lot where Little Lake St turns into Heeser Dr. With a view of Goat Island (didn't see any goats) and two sea arches, we walked over an arch and scrambled to the multi-colored water.

I have wanted to walk this land ever since I was a child watching Murder She Wrote with my grandmother! We are staying at a home overlooking the entire headlands in Agate Cove and the rocks, whales and waves are breathtaking. A must do and see, simple walk but stay close to the path, it's a straight drop off!

We just stopped in briefly and everywhere from downtown Mendo to this spot offer stunningly beautiful, breathtaking views with crystal cyan waters and fresh air. Tons of photo ops.

Oh my god what's not to love here! I love to go walking walk run around the headlands. I love to climb out on the cliffs and look down at the farm in surf and have the spray come up and smell it smells like the ocean it's beautiful! If you're in the area you need to drive over here park your car and take the time to walk out on all the cliff edges and look down and enjoy the ocean! I highly recommend it

Highlight of Mendocino! The walk along the cliffs offers stunning views, and the trails down to the surf are exciting, with edible plants to nibble, driftwood logs to jump around, clear tidepools to admire, and sea mammals if you're lucky! Friendly locals and an electric energy from the waves all around make it a delightful spot!

Breathtaking views with a perfect photo op wherever you go. Beautiful headland trails that go for miles. Lots of foliage, beautiful wildflowers, redwoods, and cypresses throughout and adorn this beautiful land. This was the perfect place to watch the sunset.

What: - Hiking - Abalone Diving - Big River Beach - View of Mendocino Bay - View of Pacific Ocean - Natural grottos More Info: - Free parking - Free admission Mendocino Headlands State Park is a treat to people of all age groups and interests. Whether you are a casual explorer or a hiker or an abalone diver or a photographer or somebody who simply wants to relax in the beach, this state park will satiate you. There are a few parking lots in the state park, where one can park the car and walk on the coastal trails. It all depends on you, whether you want to simply get out of the car and capture gorgeous views or hike the ~5 mile coastal trail. The plethora of natural grottos along the coastal bluffs amazed us and there are a few places where one can safely walk on top of the grottos. Natural grottos - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/n_cJl-06vEzdnTeudJSQRg?select=rKCTnKny6a7PQOH96-XcSQ#rKCTnKny6a7PQOH96-XcSQ We walked on the rugged coastal terrain and simply sat there for a long time enjoying the beautiful waters, unique rock formations and the thunder-storm like sounds of the water hitting against the rocks. To the far right was the family friendly Big River Beach emptying into the Mendocino Bay. The Mendocino Bay Overlook, a spectacular viewpoint of the Mendocino Bay can also be seen from the trail. Mendocino Bay to the far left - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/n_cJl-06vEzdnTeudJSQRg?select=rKCTnKny6a7PQOH96-XcSQ#owVMiQt-OvwYpEsQsHWecA While walking on the coastal trail, we noticed a couple of folks going abalone diving in the ocean. We spent over an hour here and took off to our next destination, Mendocino Bay Overlook which is less than a mile from the Mendocino Headlands State Park. Tips: - Excellent viewpoint to see the sunset - Mendocino Music Festival is held here in July; check out more about the music festival here http://www.mendocinomusic.com/gateway.html

Pretty pretty pretty. Almost killed myself by plummeting into the watery abyss below once, and I swear a potato bug ate my little toe at one point (I later found it, where it belonged), but absolutely beautiful views and waves.

Can't believe no one has yelped this yet. Beyond beautiful. This sparkling gem of a park surrounds the far end of Mendocino. Lots of easy trails. It was established as a state park in the mid-1970's thanks to a concerted effort by the locals to prevent massive development .

Beautiful. Calming. Loved loved loved our time here. A must see for the Northern California coast experience. We've made nice memories here and plan on coming back.

Mendocino Headlands is absolutely beautiful! If you're visiting town make sure to take the short walk from downtown area and wander around some! You could walk around cliff side, with breathtaking views or hike down to beach (Driftwood Beach, I believe) which is easy to understand why it's named that, there's tons of driftwood! I will say we caught up to a group of older folks who were attempting to get down to beach, which has its difficulties near bottom, the stairs disappear and it gets a little steep, there was a rope there when we visited to use to get down. It's very do-able but not for everyone. I also would like to mention that I was carrying my camera tripod and decided to stash it on the side of trail near beach to retrieve when I made my way back up. It didn't cross my mind that anyone would take it, but sure enough it was gone we I returned, less than 30 minutes. I hoped that someone maybe took it thinking it was lost but we followed up with visitor center, which seemed like a good go-to place for lost and found and nothing, it never showed up. So, keep any belongings and valuables close by, which I would recommend anywhere really, unfortunately. Anyway, besides that mishap, Mendocino is a wonderful place to explore! And I highly recommend that if you're going to wander around town take the extra few steps and explore the Headlands as well, it's all so beautiful!

Amazing view all around you. Cannot stop looking toward the ocean and enjoying the nature playing its melody. Just amazing...

At first I was afraid to go here, because the signs say that deaths are common. Hmm, I've never heard that before. But I asked at the front desk of our hotel, and they said it's just to be safety conscious and that not a lot of people die. Ok, I'll try it. Well, I wouldn't take a little kid, because the path does sometimes go quite close to the edge of the cliff. And it's important not to act like an idiot trying to get your selfie. But if you're reasonable, I don't think you're in danger. Unless you're not surefooted, like if you're elderly or have a disability. It's very windy. It's a beautiful view. You can have a really long hike, even though you're never far from the town. My spouse stopped to take some pictures, and I went ahead. Within half a minute, I couldn't see him due to the tall grasses and uneven ground. It looks even and like you could see a ways, but no, you can't. It's amazing to watch the water churning below. There's one place where you can (carefully!!!!) go down to a small beach, so we did. There was a lot of driftwood that was really cool to look at, and look at the rock/cliff face. I'd definitely come back here.

My husband and I enjoyed a walk along the headlands when visiting Mendocino recently. Many good photo opportunities. It wasn't busy midweek and everyone was socially distancing nicely.

GORGEOUS! Can't think of a way this park could be made better. We visited this spot 3 times on a 3 day trip to Fort Bragg, because we couldn't get enough of it. Fantastic views, whimsical wildflower trails scattered. It's all pretty open, and much of it send you cliff side. Easy to walk! Getting down to the tide pools and water were slightly more challenging in most areas. Go for the views and a wonderful spring wildflower and succulent stroll!!

The view is stunning! This was our second visit and I think I could never get tired of looking at this coast line. Parking is adequate and close walking to all the viewpoints.

A lovely walk down to the beach was in order and not far from our B&B. Although it rained the night before we still were able to navigate our way down close to the shore for some great natural shots and quality time with each other. Mendocino Headlands Park is for lovers. Period.