Recreation on The Mendocino Coast
Our Favorite Area Recreation
Learn more about the beautiful Mendocino Coast NY Times TOP THREE Places to Visit!
Located on the grounds of The Stanford Inn by the Sea Exploring Big River and beyond
Historic Railway offering Passenger Excursions for the whole family
Coastal Walking Trails:
Parks:
Where to Experience the Redwoods
The ancient redwood forests of Northern Mendocino, part of the California Coastal Forests ecoregion, are home to some of the tallest, oldest, and most massive trees on Earth. Many redwoods have thrived for over 2,000 years, reaching heights beyond 300 feet (90 meters). These old-growth forests also support an extraordinary diversity of life, rivaled by few other ecosystems around the globe.
Fun Fact: It would take around 30 adults standing shoulder-to-shoulder to encircle the base of the largest redwoods.
Explore vast redwood groves in places like Jackson State Forest, spanning 55,000 acres, and Montgomery Woods, home to the 367-foot Mendocino Tree—once the tallest known tree per the Tall Trees Club. (See specific listings below.)
From the lush layers of moss and fungi carpeting the forest floor to the elusive marbled murrelets that only nest in old-growth canopies, these forests nurture ecosystems far more diverse than younger wooded areas.
Redwoods are usually found within 40 miles (65 km) of the coastline, spread across a mosaic of environments—Douglas fir-tanoak forests, oak woodlands, bogs, coastal grasslands, and more. They often thrive in low-lying valleys with frequent fog and intermittent flooding every few decades. The climate stays moist year-round due to Pacific storms in winter and fog in summer.
Featured Redwood Locations
- Montgomery Woods: About 1 hour east of Fort Bragg on Comptche-Ukiah Road
- Jackson State Demonstration Forest: 30 minutes east of Fort Bragg on Hwy 20 toward Ukiah
- Highway 128, Anderson Valley: 30 minutes south of Fort Bragg on Hwy 1, then south on 128 (en route to Wine Country)
- Drive-Thru Tree & Park, Leggett: 30 minutes north of Fort Bragg on Hwy 1
- Richardson’s Grove: In Garberville, 1 hour north of Fort Bragg on Hwy 1
- Avenue of the Giants: Also near Garberville, 1 hour north of Fort Bragg on Hwy 1
Horseback Riding
Riding along the Mendocino Coast offers a unique blend of dramatic Redwood groves and expansive Pacific beaches, creating memorable moments filled with serenity, beauty, and adventure.
Trail Riding & Rentals:
- Ricochet Ridge Ranch, 24201 N Hwy 1, Fort Bragg – (707) 964-7669
- Ross Ranch, Elk, CA – (707) 877-1834
Walking & Hiking Trails
- Visit mendowalks.org for walking trails.
- Visit mendocinolandtrust.org for hiking options.
Highlight: The Ten Mile Coastal Trail
This scenic stretch of the California Coastal Trail (CCT) accommodates walkers, cyclists, equestrians, and wheelchair users. Starting at the historic Pudding Creek Trestle behind The Beachcomber Motel, it extends through MacKerricher State Park and beyond.
Guests often sign a trail log at the Beachcomber front desk, joining hundreds who’ve explored the path. Built along a former logging and railroad route, the trail runs seven miles north to Ten Mile River. A three-mile extension continues through sand dunes to the river’s mouth.
This uninterrupted trail is ideal for whale watching and offers a variety of nature activities like tidepooling, birdwatching, and surfing. Learn more at the official Ten Mile Coastal Trail site.
Additional Outdoor Activities
Bicycling
Tennis & Fitness Clubs
Golfing
Swimming