Surfwood's Up!

MacKerricher State Park Camping

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. Bear Hug

    This 5.5-mile loop through Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park explores one of the newest segments of the acclaimed Bay Area Ridge Trail, one redolent with trees ranging from madrone and manzanita to buckeye and blue elderberry (with a bubbly post-hike bonus).

    View
  2. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  3. Bikers and walkers on the Bay Area Ridge Trail with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them

    National Park City Walk

    See San Francisco the way locals do by hiking the Presidio, a national park right in the city! Wooded trails, secluded beaches, and epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge feature on this 5.5-mile out-and-back on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It’s a lovely slice of the City by the Bay.

    View
  4. Bucks Up!

    Come on in, the water is beautiful. Whether you like swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddling, or heading out on a bigger boat, Bucks Lake is a high mountain haven that’s easy to access, blissfully uncrowded, and surrounded by sandy beaches, picnic areas, pines, and aspens.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Coming Up Roses

    Looking to spice up your hiking life? Give your partner a rose—Mount Rose! The 10-mile out-and-back peak hike goes up to one of the grandest views in all of Lake Tahoe. Get ready f

    View
  2. Two kayakers on Upper Klamath Basin on tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures

    Zen & the Art of Kayaking

    It’s the most meditative and relaxing experience you’ll ever have on a kayak. Yes, you read that right, a Zen experience on a kayak. It all happens in beautiful Klamath County when you head out on a guided tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures.

    View
  3. Lake Nacimiento
    Sponsored

    Savor Summer in Paso Robles

    Ready for the “Great California Road Trip”? Keep it real and rolling in bucolic and beautiful Paso Robles. This down- to-earth destination has everything you need to enjoy the coolest experiences.

    View
  4. A Rose in the Pines

    A crackling fire, a bottle of wine, a bubbling Jacuzzi tub with a waterfall … now the big question: Marvin Gaye tunes or not? In the morning (ahem) it's breakfast in bed and a leis

    View