Mendocino Headlands State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mendocino Headlands State Park |
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Ford House Museum
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 Mendocino Headlands State Park
Location in California
Mendocino Headlands State Park
Location in the United States
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| Location | Mendocino County, California, USA |
| Nearest city | Mendocino, California |
| Area | 347 acres (140 ha) |
| Established | 1974 |
| Governing body | California Department of Parks and Recreation |
Mendocino Headlands State Park is a beautiful state park located in Mendocino, California. It protects 347 acres of amazing coastal land. This includes rocky cliffs, small islands, and two lovely beaches: Big River Beach and Portuguese Beach. The park also features the much larger Big River Unit, which stretches for eight miles along both sides of the Big River.
The park first opened in 1974. This happened after many people worried that the beautiful bluffs might be built on. The Big River Unit was added later in 2002, making the park even bigger.
Contents
Exploring the Mendocino Headlands
The headlands are rocky cliffs that look out over the Pacific Ocean. They surround the town of Mendocino. The part of the headlands along the south side of Main Street is narrow. It is covered with blackberry and rose bushes. To the west and north of town, the headlands become wider. This area is a coastal prairie with open grassy fields. You can explore it using Heeser Road and several walking paths.
Ford House Museum: Park Headquarters
The Ford House Museum is the main office and visitor center for the park. It is located at the east end of Mendocino town, right on the headlands. Here, you can find lots of information and watch videos about the history and nature of the Mendocino area. You can learn about the town's past when logging was a big industry. You can also discover facts about the amazing journey of gray whales. There is even a small model of the town as it looked in 1890. The museum also offers guided walks on the headlands, where you can learn even more.
Music by the Ocean: Mendocino Music Festival
The Mendocino Music Festival is a special event held on the headlands every July. Imagine listening to music with the ocean as your backdrop!
Discovering the Beaches
Mendocino Headlands State Park has two beaches that are open to everyone.
Big River Beach: Where the River Meets the Sea
Big River Beach is found where the Big River flows into the Pacific Ocean. It is a wide, sandy beach. Often, a lagoon forms here where the river water meets the ocean. You can get to this beach by walking paths from the east end of Mendocino. There is also a parking lot off State Route 1 that serves both the beach and the Big River Unit.
Portuguese Beach: A Hidden Cove
Portuguese Beach is a smaller, more private cove. It is located under the headlands at the west end of Main Street. From the end of the street, a walking path along the headlands leads you to a staircase. This staircase takes you down to the beach.
There are also many other small coves below the northern part of the headlands. However, these can only be reached by boat.
The Big River Unit: A Natural Treasure
The Big River Unit of Mendocino Headlands State Park covers 7,334 acres along the banks of the Big River. This part of the park is south of Mendocino. It includes 1,500 acres of wetlands. It also has the longest undeveloped estuary in Northern California. An estuary is where a river meets the sea, and the water is a mix of fresh and salt water.
This unit became part of the park on July 30, 2002. A group of generous donors, non-profit groups, and agencies worked together. They were led by the Mendocino Land Trust. They raised over 25 million dollars to buy the land from the Hawthorne Timber Company. Then, they gave it to the California State Park system. You can still see parts of the old Mendocino Lumber Company sawmill here.
Exploring the Big River Unit
You can reach the Big River Unit from State Route 1, just south of Mendocino. There are not many facilities here, but you will find hiking paths on both sides of the river. You can also use canoes and kayaks to paddle through eight miles of beautiful forest.
At the mouth of the river, a walking path goes north under the Highway 1 bridge. This path leads to Big River Beach and the town of Mendocino. Inland, north of the river, the unit connects to Mendocino Woodlands State Park. The hiking path on the north bank of the river allows you to walk from one park to the other. On the south side of the river, you will find Van Damme State Park.
- Mendocino Land Trust: Big River Program and About Big River
