Virgin Creek facts for kids
Virgin Creek is a small, cool stream in Mendocino County, California. It's located just north of a town called Fort Bragg. This creek is about 2.9 miles (4.7 kilometers) long and doesn't have any smaller streams flowing into it. It's a special place where nature meets the ocean!
Contents
Discovering Virgin Creek
Where Does Virgin Creek Start and End?
Virgin Creek begins high up in forested areas, about 320 feet (98 meters) above sea level. As it flows, it passes through neighborhoods before reaching a sandy beach. Finally, it empties into the huge Pacific Ocean at a place called MacKerricher State Park. The area of land that drains water into Virgin Creek is called its watershed. This watershed covers about 4.2 square miles (10.9 square kilometers).
What Lives in the Creek?
About 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) from where it meets the ocean, Virgin Creek flows over a waterfall. This waterfall is about 9 feet (2.7 meters) high. It might be a natural barrier, making it hard for some fish to swim upstream past it. However, young salmon have been seen living in the creek below the waterfall!
Fun Things to Do at Virgin Creek
There's an old road near the creek that was once used for logging. Now, it's a popular path for walking and biking. This path crosses the creek on the west side of California State Route 1 and leads right to the beach where the creek meets the ocean.
The beach at Virgin Creek is well-known as a great spot for surfing. Waves here can get as high as 6 feet (1.8 meters)! Besides surfing, people also enjoy watching birds and exploring the tide pools when the ocean water is low. Tide pools are like small natural aquariums where you can see sea creatures. Just remember, pets are not allowed on the beach, even if they are on a leash.
