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MacKerricher State Park Information

MacKerricher State Park is situated in Mendocino County near the town of Fort Bragg, on the coast of Northern California. It is considered to be one of the finest coastal parks in the entire California State Park System. The park encompassing approximately 2299 acres of which 454 offshore acres are designated as underwater park.

The southern portion of the park is a wide terrace of coastal prairie which terminates at the ocean in steep, low, rocky bluffs, with a scattering of picturesque sandy beach. The most noticeable features of the central section of the park are Bishop and Shore Pine forests which frame Lake Cleone, a 30 acre ancient coastal lagoon. The north portion of MacKerricher State Park is four miles of uninterrupted beach backed by a large complex of sand dunes.

camping

Overnight camping facilities at MacKerricher State Park include 140 developed family campsites, ten walk-in campsites and a hiker-bicyclist camp area. These areas are served by combination restroom/shower buildings.

day use areas

The Cleone Lake Picnic Area has picnic sites equipped with picnic tables, and BBQ/fire pits. Cleone Lake is planted with trout during the summer and is a popular fishing spot. The Lake Boardwalk meanders past marsh to the inflow of Mill Creek providing visitors excellent opportunities for wildlife observation and photography.

The Laguna Point Boardwalk loop, seperate from the Lake Cleone Boardwalk, provides an opportunity to observe the offshore rocks home to a large resident population of Harbor Seals. Gray Whales as well, can be observed during their annual migration.

The Coastal Access Trail, also known as the Haul Road, runs the length of the park following the route of the steam railroad that transported massive redwood logs to be milled in Fort Bragg. The Pudding Creek trestle bridge at the south end of the trail remains as an impressive reminder of the lumbering history of the region.

visitor activities

Visitors to MacKerricher State Park have a variety of activities to enjoy. You can take a guided tour on horseback, bicycle the historic Haul Road, or just walk for miles on open beach. Many visitors come to the park to dive for abalone or fish.

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