Surfwood's Up!

MacKerricher State Park Camping

06.16.2016

Headlands, wetlands, lakefront, and tide pools: MacKerricher State Park in Mendocino County delivers nine miles of diverse coastline and a seaside gem for spending the night: Surfwood Campground is a laid-back oasis with 45 lush coastal campsites—including 10 secluded walk-ins close to both the Pacific Ocean and the park’s 30-acre tidal lagoon. A beach wheelchair is also available for use (free of charge) upon request.

Wetsuits dangling from makeshift drying lines and beach cruisers loaded with inner tubes rightfully designate Surfwood a water-lover’s paradise. Barbecue on the neighboring shores of Lake Cleone, or walk west to oceanfront Laguna Point Trail for a 0.6-mile boardwalk loop with vistas sweeping from Fort Bragg to the Lost Coast. Five interpretive viewing platforms and a shallow cove with tide pool access lead to the seal watching station, a promontory overlooking herds of sunning harbor seals.

Top off the day with an evening bike ride along the Haul Road—a 3-mile (one-way) multi-use path from Ward Ave. in Cleone to Pudding Creek Trestle in Fort Bragg. Pick up the trail at the edge of Surfwood for a slightly shorter traverse south through sensitive dune habitat and bluffs.

Sea Pal Cove restaurant in Fort Bragg Noyo Harbor

BONUS DELICIOUS FISH & CHIPS: Drive to the eclectic and lively Noyo Harbor from Main Street Fort Bragg for a fish & chips bonanza at Sea Pal Cove, located right on the dock. Order your fresh fish & chips along with some beer, wine, or hard seltzers, and kick back on the rustic deck as fishing boats pass by. Dog-friendly! 

BONUS EVENTS: MacKerricher State Park is hosting Campfire Story Time (June 16; s'mores included!).

MacKerricher State Park is 3 miles north of Fort Bragg on Hwy. 1. It has four campgrounds and over 140 campsites. Reserve. There are wheelchair accessible campsites. Free day use! Dogs allowed on leash in restricted areas. Consult park brochure for details and trail maps.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories

  1. Hidden Botanical Garden

    Forget a dozen roses. Give your love a botanical garden. Hidden on the western slope of Sonoma Valley’s Mayacamas Mountains, Sonoma Botanical Garden has one of the Bay Area’s best displays of Asian flora—and it’s a brilliant place for a quiet picnic and some calming contemplations.

    View

  2. Sunnyvale and Salty

    For up-close bird watching, it’s hard to beat a walk along the San Francisco Bay. This 5-mile loop on the Sunnyvale coast is a favorite of local wildlife photographers.

    View
  3. A man takes a break at a temple spot on a hike at Dragon Mountain in Milptas

    Dragon Quest

    The newly reopened, 4-mile out-and-back hike at Dragon Mountain in Milpitas mixes the physical with the spiritual for a serene hiking experience.

    View
  4. woman hiking Buck Gulch Falls Novato

    Buck Wild!

    Tucked back beyond the residential ranch-style homes and golf courses of Novato in the North Bay is a wild and wondrous 30-foot waterfall that springs to life in the rainy season. Buck Gulch Falls in Novato’s Ignacio Valley Preserve is in peak flow right now, and it’s a short and Middle-earthy hike to reach it.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. A woman stands at Dante's View in Death Valley, looking out to Telescope Peak and Manly Lake, Badwater Basin below.

    Sunset Hike at Dante's View

    It’s one of the world’s best places to watch a sunset. Dante’s View is a 5,476-foot vantage of the whole southern basin of Death Valley from the top of the Black Mountains. Right now there's a banner and bonus view of a rare lake formation that appears only after big rains.

    View
  2. Keough's Hot Springs

    Soaking Up History

    When you slide into the soothing water of Keough’s Hot Springs, you’re bathing in a piece of Owens Valley history.

    View

  3. It's a Waterfall Life

    Tahquitz Canyon’s crystalline stream and lush stands of desert lavender, honey mesquite, and leafy sycamores is home to an easy day hike with a big bonus: a 60-foot waterfall that runs with remarkable gusto after winter rains.

    View
  4. Grover Hot Springs

    State Park Soaker

    Set in an alpine meadow at 6,000 feet and surrounded by the 10,000-foot granite peaks of the Sierra, Grover Hot Springs State Park—just outside the town of Markleeville—has its very own hot springs.

    View