Mendocino Range facts for kids
The Mendocino Range is a group of mountains along the coast of California. It's part of a much bigger chain of mountains called the Pacific Coast Ranges. These mountains were formed millions of years ago when the Earth's crust slowly pushed up, creating these tall peaks. The Mendocino Range is found in northern California, south of the Klamath Range and west of the Cascade Range.
Exploring the Mendocino Range
The Mendocino Range begins in southern Humboldt County in northern California. Here, you'll find mountains like Bear Mountain, Rainbow Ridge, and Gypsy Mountain. You can also see Grasshopper Peak, which is a very important mountain inside Humboldt Redwoods State Park.
This area is incredibly beautiful, with huge forests of ancient trees. These include giant coast redwoods, Douglas fir, and grand fir. A great way to see these amazing trees is by driving along the Avenue of the Giants.
Journeying South Through the Mountains
As the Mendocino Range continues south into Mendocino County, it includes a mountainous area to the east. This part has the Mendocino National Forest and the Yolla Bolly Wilderness, which are near the Middle Eel River.
Closer to the coast, you can explore the Mendocino Range by following Highway 1. Along this scenic route, you'll see amazing views like Gilham Butte, the Chemise, and Red Mountains near the South Fork of the Eel River. You'll also find Cahto Peak, which is close to Leggett.
These mountains create a rugged landscape, including Rattlesnake Pass and other peaks along U.S. Route 101. The mountains keep going south to include Jackson State Forest and the area around the Big River. This is near towns like Fort Bragg and Mendocino. The land here goes from sea level up to about 1,710 feet high.
Further south, near Ukiah, you'll find English Ridge, the Sanhedrin Mountains, the Snow Mountain Wilderness, and Cache Creek. As you go even further south, these mountains slowly become smaller and less rugged. They eventually turn into the Mayacamas Mountains, the Sonoma foothills, and the famous wine country around the Russian River.
Amazing Plants and Animals
The Mendocino Range is home to many different and interesting plants and animals. You might spot large animals like elk and black bears. The rivers are full of fish such as coho and Chinook salmon, steelhead, and coastal cutthroat trout.
The forests are also home to special birds like the marbled murrelet, the northern spotted owl, and the majestic bald eagle. The plant life is just as rich, with large groups of sword fern and other unique plants that thrive in this rainforest-like environment. The Mendocino Range has many large protected forest areas. It is a very important part of our country's natural treasures.
