The best running trails in Van Damme State Park

This beautiful 720-acre park is home to stunning and majestic towering redwoods. It offers sizeable private group camping facilities with full-service cabins, accommodating up to 200 people. The day-use area features eight miles of hiking and biking trails, along with over 25 miles of routes leading to the adjacent Jackson Demonstration State Forest.

The Big River is the longest undeveloped estuary in the state, stretching 41.7 miles and nestled amid towering old-growth redwoods. It is a sanctuary for wildlife and a stunning feature of Mendocino Headlands State Park. As you ride through this idyllic landscape, you'll see plenty of waterfowl that inhabit this peaceful setting.

Enjoy endless views of the Pacific Ocean and incredible California cliffs as you hike in Headlands Park. The large park is wild and windy but incredibly beautiful and can be easily explored via the flat, 8-foot-wide trail that traverses the Headlands.

Surrounding the town of Mendocino is Mendocino Headlands State Park, with rocky shorelines, an abundance of hiking trails, windswept foothills, panoramic ocean views, and chances to see whales in the ocean. Some of the best hiking trails stretch along the cliff, a prime spot to see the arches and rocky sea caves that dot the cliffs. Take the stone stairs that lead to the remote but beautiful Portuguese beach. Or take the cliff path down to Big River Beach, the perfect place to sit with a book and do nothing for a while.

Agate Beach is two miles of solitude and splendor with fantastic beachcombing. Beachcombing is just one of the attractions of this long, secluded beach. For some, Agate Beach is the ideal place to observe wildlife. Whales, sea lions, and numerous shore birds share the beach with humans. The occasional purposeful flight of brown pelicans along the beach is just one of the many natural treasures to be experienced. With a sharp ebb and flow, Agate Beach is definitely not suitable for swimming, and visitors are advised to exercise the utmost caution. Never turn your back to the waves or trust that you can stand in what you think is a small wave. It's not worth the risk. But Agate Beach is far from the water and is a perfect place to contemplate the breathtaking power of the sea and fantasize about the exotic locations far beyond the western horizon.

The Fern Canyon Scenic Trail is a vibrant and fern-filled forest. It feels like stepping into a world from a time long ago as you look up at the towering giants of the forest and down at the lush fern-covered ground. Along the trail, you'll encounter charming bridges and the soothing sounds of the nearby creek.

Explore the Pygmy Forest Discovery Trail, a short 300-yard loop boardwalk at Van Damme's eastern end, just two miles inland from Highway One. Over the course of 300,000 years, the forces of nature, including poor acidic soil and hardpan, have created a miniature wonderland resembling a bonsai forest. As you stroll along the boardwalk, you'll encounter interpretive panels that reveal the fascinating story behind these diminutive trees. Here, you'll find Bollander pine (exclusive to the pygmy forest), bishop pine, dwarf manzanita, and Mendocino cypress. Trees that would typically grow over 100 feet tall elsewhere are only a few feet tall here, with trunks as thin as a quarter-inch. The boardwalk hovers just above the forest floor to protect the nutrient-rich lichen. In some spots, you'll be eye-level with these ancient, tiny treetops. Don't miss the chance to explore this living testament to nature's forces!

Old Town Mendocino is a charming coastal village steeped in history, walk along the main street to find stunning historical houses and more. Discover quaint shops, art galleries, and savor the charm of this historic coastal gem.