The Mission of the California Department of Parks and Recreation is to provide for the health, inspiration, and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state's extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation.
The Mendocino District is part of the California State Park system. Comprising of 17 parks Mendocino District is located along the California coastline 150 miles north of San Francisco. From Highway 101 at Cloverdale exit to Highway 128 going west. At the juncture of Highway 128 & 1 head north or south on Highway 1 to visit any one of our 13 coastal parks. You may have noticed on your journey by way of Highway 128 to the coast 3 out of 5 of our inland parks: Hendy Woods, Mailliard, and Navarro River Redwoods. Montgomery Woods, another inland park can be visited up the Comptche Ukiah road just south of Mendocino.
During the winter months Highway 128 may be closed due to flooding from the Navarro River. Before traveling to the Mendocino coast at this time of year check road conditions. The Road Map to the Mendocino Coast page will assist you in finding other picturesque routes to the Mendocino coast.
The Mendocino coast is one of California's rapidly diminishing frontiers in fact and in spirit. This remote and vast country has been harsh to its settlers at times, but it has also allowed time to pursue an independent life close to nature. Here the mountains meet the sea in a precipitous coastline with but few harbors. The ocean is cold and often ROUGH & DANGEROUS; the land deeply dissected and heavily forested.
Steep canyons and narrow valleys carry runoff from the abundant winter rainfall to the sea. Summer fog sends fingers up the valley and spills over low ridges, providing needed moisture for tall redwoods. The few plains have been cleared for farms and ranches, and small towns located generally near rivers or harbors. Road building has been inhibited by the lands rough terrain, forests, and rivers.
The forests are the basic resource, providing employment in logging and mills. Fishing, long second in the county's economy, has been superseded by wine grape production in the hot interior valleys. Both are finding strong competition from tourism. The region attracts visitors for fishing, hunting, and scuba diving, but probably draws most people to the area between the Navarro and Ten Mile Rivers for the scenic beauty of the coastline, the charm of Mendocino, and the world reknown coast redwoods. Mendocino State Parks, assisted by the Mendocino Area Parks Association provide interpretive programs about the history of the area. To learn more about what the coast has to offer go to the Fort Bragg-Mendocino Coast Chamber of Commerce web page.
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