For a quiet time by the sea

Some of our favorite more secluded beaches and cliff-top walks

Last week, we put out a list of recommendations for good places to safely go, eat, taste wine, and experience life in Mendocino during this season of social distancing. We got a lot of good responses from guests and friends, as well as several requests that we do another list focused mainly on beaches. Being ocean-lovers ourselves, we of course quickly agreed! We even added in some of the more quiet walks that go along the tops of our beautifully rugged Mendocino bluffs, where you can stare out at the waves and feel the salty breeze on your cheeks while strolling peacefully by.

Note: While these walks and beaches tend to be pretty quiet, with less likelihood of interaction with other people, it is still a good idea to have your mask handy just in case you do need to pass someone else looking for a quiet corner too.

A beautiful, sunny morning along 10 Mile Beach, just us and the waves

10 Mile Beach. We love the openness of this 3.5 mile stretch of sand and windswept dunes, which expands even more at low tide. We usually go in the morning or later in the evening, when the light reflecting off the water is stunningly gorgeous and when there tend to be fewer other visitors. When you go, keep a weather eye out for sand dollars, barnacles, and crab shells that have washed up on the beach, as we have found some amazing specimens ourselves out there.  You can access this beach either by parking at the western end of Ward Avenue off Highway 1, or by going up to the little parking space just off Highway 1 right before you cross 10 Mile River. The southern entrance (off Ward Avenue) is at the northern terminus of the Coastal Trail and leads almost directly to the beach. The northern entrance (by the river) leads out to the water over the rolling dunes (not always a clear path, but plenty of open sand to walk on).

MacKerricher Beach. This lovely, open beach at the northern end of MacKerricher State Park is actually connected with 10 Mile Beach when the tide is low enough. There are often families with kids that come out here to play in the sand, but there has always been plenty of space for social distancing whenever we go. The best way to get to this beach is to drive up to MacKerricher State Park in Cleone, then follow the signs out to Laguna Point. Park in either the parking lot at Laguna Point itself, or a just before passing the mini lake.

A solitary stroll out to the end of Belinda Point

Belinda Point. There was no other living soul to be seen when we wandered down this almost hidden trail to the headlands just south of Fort Bragg. It’s hard to avoid people on the narrow path if someone else happens to be going the other way, but so beautifully quiet once you’re out along the bluffs. Turn off from Highway 1 on Ocean Drive, .75 miles south of the Botanical Gardens. The trailhead and dirt parking lot are immediately on your left.

Point Cabrillo Lighthouse. While there are usually some other people out along the broad path that goes down to the lighthouse (but we have never seen it crowded), our favorite thing to do once we get down to the bluffs is to follow the little dirt trail north from the lighthouse and find a quiet spot a little ways off the beaten path where we can sit essentially alone and contemplate the waves crashing below us. It’s a half-mile walk down from the parking lot to the lighthouse, and you may go another quarter to half a mile out along the bluffs to find your favorite spot to just be alone.

Spring Ranch has so many quiet corners to hide away from the world

Spring Ranch. Under the jurisdiction of nearby Van Damme State Park, this walk along the bluffs is both gorgeous and usually pretty quiet. We usually feel like the only people in the world when we wander out this way. Also, depending on the tide and how much adventure you’re up for, there are a few spots where you could clamber down to tiny, secluded beaches, where you might find abalone shells or just a hiding place from the world. A quarter mile south of the inn, turn into the dirt parking lot on the west side of the highway. Follow the dirt trail out to the bluffs. Alternately, park at the Glendeven Inn a little bit farther south and jump across the highway to catch the trailhead that you’ll see a sign for at a break in the fence.

Navarro Beach. Another beautifully open beach, this driftwood-strewn stretch of sand at the mouth of the Navarro River just makes us happy. When going south, turn right to cross the bridge over the Navarro River and continue onto Highway 1 (if you go straight and don’t cross the bridge, you’ll be heading down Hwy 128). Immediately after the bridge, turn right down the little road that leads out to the beach.

Ours were the only feet to mar the sand along Manchester Beach that day

Manchester State Beach. Gorgeous. Much like 10 Mile Beach, this beach goes for several miles, with plenty of space for any visitors to more than safely distance themselves. Unlike 10 Mile, the dunes here have much more plant life – we love exploring the flowers in the dunes and strolling down to the water’s edge, where we can see the Point Arena Lighthouse to the south. The main entrance to this park is located about ½ mile north of the hamlet of Manchester, just off Highway 1.

Pelican Bluffs. We discovered this cliff-top walk just south of Point Arena last year, and we absolutely fell in love with it. There were a couple of other people exploring the trails at the same time as us, but we easily avoided them and kept to ourselves as we breathed in deep the fresh air wafting up to us from the waves below. Oh, and another plus of coming out here is that you will be forced to drive through Point Arena by our favorite bakery ever, Franny’s Cup & Saucer… Can you resist? Lookout for the shaded parking area for this trail about 1 mile south of Point Arena, on the west side of the highway.

The trail along Pelican Bluffs has some stunning views, and not a ton of visitors

Want a few more ideas? Check out this blog post from last summer, which features a few of the places listed above, as well as a couple other fun ones. Also, do you have your own favorite hideaways on the Mendocino coast? Let us know!

Words and pictures by Laura Hockett