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The Hiker's hip pocket Guide
to the Mendocino Coast
by Bob Lorentzen
New printing for 2003! Includes hikes in the new Big River State Park and trail updates through November, 2002.
Our most popular book, now with 29,000 copies in print, details all the public hiking trails on and near the coast between Gualala and Whale Gulch. Includes all the state parks: Russian Gulch, VanDamme, MacKerricher, Jughandle, Navarro River Redwoods, Hendy Woods, Montgomery Woods, Manchester, and more, plus the Northern California Coast Range Preserve, the best of Jackson State Forest, and many little known coastal access points.
This is the only guide that details all the hiking trails of Sinkyone Wilderness State Park on the famed Lost Coast. This completely new edition has a new cover, several new maps, and more information about finding the magic along the majestic Mendocino coast.
“Essential. An excellent and accurate book for exploring on foot. The best guide-books [to the Mendocino coast.]” ~Motorland/Via
“Both serious nature lover and casual looker should find it worth the price.” ~L. A. Times
“Thoroughly organized, detailed and illustrated—and they actually fit in your pocket.” ~Backpacker
From the back cover:
Goddess Earth lives and magic is afoot on the Mendocino coast. Find the magic of nature with this comprehensive guide in your hip pocket. It leads you along 54 great trails from short easy walks to remote backpacks.
Discover all the new and classic hikes in this fully revamped edition, the first in ten years!
Bob Lorentzen has written seven acclaimed guide books to northern California. He first wrote this guide in 1986 because nobody had described the hiking trails of the Mendocino coast. Now in its third edition, this book has sold more than 20,000 copies. Bob has lived in Mendocino County for 24 years and hiked most of these trails many times. He and his family love to explore new country and find new trails, reveling in the magic of nature.
240 pages, 4" x 9", full-color cover, 30 maps, 38
illustrations, index, 1999.
ISBN 0-939431-17-3. trade paper.
Price: 15.00
The Table of Contents:
PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION 1
WHAT KIND OF TRAIL ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? 9
GENERAL MAP OF THE COAST 12
INTRODUCTION 13
How to Use This Book 13
The Dangers 14
The Symbols 15
The History 18
The Climate 20
Get Ready, Get Set, Hike! 21
THE TRAILS
King Range Conservation Area
1. Hidden Valley to Chemise to Whale Gulch 23
2. Chemise Mountain from Nadelos or Wailaki 28
Sinkyone Wilderness State Park
3.Whale Gulch 33
4. Needle Rock to Flat Rock Creek 35
5. Bear Harbor 38
6. Lost Coast 42
7. Sally Bell Grove/Wheeler Road 50
8. Usal Waterfall 53
9. Hotel Gulch 57
Near Westport
10. DeHaven Creek to Wages Creek 59
11. Angelo Preserve 63
12. Bruhel Point 70
MacKerricher State Park
13. North to Ten Mile River 77
14.Laguna Point 82
15. Lake Cleone 84
16. MacKerricher South Headlands 86
Fort Bragg
17. Glass Beach/Pudding Creek Headlands 88
18. Fort Bragg History Walk 91
19. Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens 97
Jackson State Forest
20. North Fork of South Fork Noyo River 102
21. Chamberlain Creek 108
22. Mendocino Hiking & Equestrian, Part 1: Sherwood Road 110
23. MHE, Part 2: Hwy. 20 to Sherwood Road 115
Jughandle State Reserve
24. Jughandle North Headlands 119
25. Jughandle Ecological Staircase 123
26. Point Cabrillo Preserve 130
Russian Gulch State Park
27. Waterfall Loop 134
28. BlowholeWalk 139
29. South Headlands Loop 140
Town of Mendocino
30. Mendocino History Walk 145
Mendocino Headlands State Park
31. Headlands West and North 150
32. South Headlands to Big River Beach 154
Near Mendocino
33. MHE, Part 3: Little Lake Rd. to Hwy. 20 157
34. Forest History Trail 161
35. Montgomery Woods State Reserve 166
36. Chapman Point & Spring Ranch Headlands 172
37. Little River Point 176
Van Damme State Park
38. Fern Canyon 179
39. Pygmy Forest/Upper Fern Canyon Loop 183
40. Navarro-By-The-Sea 186
Hendy Woods State Park
41. Gentle Giants Loop 191
42. Discovery Loop 193
43. Navarro River Hike 195
South Coast
44. Greenwood State Beach 197
45. Manchester State Park 200
46. Point Arena Lighthouse and Headlands 204
47. Moat Creek to Bowling Ball Beach 207
48. Schooner Gulch to Whiskey Shoals 210
49. Schooner Gulch 213
Gualala Point Regional Park/Sea Ranch
50. Headlands to Beach Loop 216
51. River Trail South 220
52. Blufftop Trail 222
53. Salal Trail 226
54. Other Sea Ranch Trails 228Common and Scientific names of plants along the trails 232
FURTHER READING 236
INDEX 238
ABOUT BORED FEET 240
What Kind Of Trail Are You Looking For?
The Hiker's hip pocket Guide
to the Mendocino Coast also includes this cross referenced list to help you find the kind of hike you are seeking.
TRAILS FOR BACKPACKING
1. Hidden Valley to Chemise to Whale Gulch
3. Whale Gulch (to Environmental Camps)
5. Bear Harbor (to Environmental Camps)
6. Lost Coast
7. Sally Bell Grove (to Wheeler)
20. North Fork of South Fork Noyo River
22. Mendocino Hiking and Equestrian, Part 1
23. Mendocino Hiking and Equestrian, Part 2
33. Mendocino Hiking and Equestrian, Part 3
38. Fern Canyon (to Environmental Camps)
45. Manchester State Park (to Environmental Camps)
TRAILS WHERE DOGS ARE ALLOWED
1. Hidden Valley to Chemise Mountain (to 6 miles)
2. Chemise Mountain
5. Bear Harbor
8. Usal Waterfall
10. DeHaven Creek to Wages Creek
12. Bruhel Point
13. North to Ten Mile River
14. Laguna Point
17. Glass Beach/Pudding Creek Headlands
20. North Fork of South Fork Noyo River
21. Chamberlain Creek
22. Mendocino Hiking and Equestrian, Part 1
23. Mendocino Hiking and Equestrian, Part 2
28. Blowhole Walk
29. South Headlands Loop
31. Mendocino Headlands West and North
32. Mendocino South Headlands to Big River Beach
33. Mendocino Hiking and Equestrian, Part 3
34. Forest History Trail
35. Montgomery Woods State Reserve
40. Navarro-By-The-Sea—see OTHER SUGGESTION: Navarro Ridge
43. Navarro River Hike
44. Greenwood State Beach
45. Manchester State Park
47. Moat Creek to Bowling Ball Beach
48. Schooner Gulch North to Whiskey Shoals
54. Other Sea Ranch Trails
TRAILS FOR EQUESTRIANS
1. Hidden Valley to Chemise Mountain
2. Chemise Mountain
3. Whale Gulch
5. Bear Harbor
6. Lost Coast (Bear Harbor to Wheeler)
7. Sally Bell Grove
9. Hotel Gulch
13. North to Ten Mile River
16. MacKerricher South Headlands
22. Mendocino Hiking and Equestrian, Part 1
23. Mendocino Hiking and Equestrian, Part 2
33. Mendocino Hiking and Equestrian, Part 3
40. Navarro-By-The-Sea—see OTHER SUGGESTION: Navarro Ridge
43. Navarro River Hike
45. Manchester State Park
TRAILS FOR MOUNTAIN BIKES
1. Hidden Valley to Chemise Mountain
2. Chemise Mountain
7. Sally Bell Grove
9. Hotel Gulch
10. DeHaven Creek to Wages Creek‹see OTHER SUGGESTION: Blufftop North to Howard Creek
13. North to Ten Mile River
22. Mendocino Hiking and Equestrian, Part 1
23. Mendocino Hiking and Equestrian, Part 2
27. Waterfall Loop‹first 1-5/8 miles
33. Mendocino Hiking and Equestrian, Part 3
38. Fern Canyon
39. Upper Fern Canyon to river ford
40. Navarro-By-The-Sea—see OTHER SUGGESTION: Navarro Ridge
43. Navarro River Hike
TRAILS FOR BICYCLES
10. DeHaven to Wages—see OTHER SUGGESTTON: Blufftop North to Howard Creek
13. North to Ten Mile River
27. Waterfall Loop‹first 1-5/8 miles
33. Mendocino Hiking and Equestrian, Part 3
38. Fern Canyon
50. Headlands to Beach Loop
TRAILS FOR HANDICAPPED ACCESS
10. DeHaven to Wages—see OTHER SUGGESTION
14. Laguna Point
15. Lake Cleone
18. Fort Bragg History Walk
19. Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens
26. Point Cabrillo Preserve
27. Waterfall Loop‹first 1-5/8 miles
30. Mendocino History Walk
38. Fern Canyon
39. Pygmy Forest (plus dirt trail ½ mile beyond)
41. Gentle Giants Loop
50. Headlands to Beach Loop
Other trails may be handicapped accessible with assistance or for marginally handicapped.
TRAILS FOR JOGGERS
13. North to Ten Mile River
17. Glass Beach/Pudding Creek Headlands
19. Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens
23. Mendocino Hiking and Equestrian Trail, Part 2
27. Waterfall Loop
31. West & North Headlands
32. South Headlands to Big River Beach
33. Mendocino Hiking and Equestrian Trail, Part 3
36. Chapman Point
37. Little River Point
38. Fern Canyon
39. Upper Fern Canyon Loop
43. Navarro River Hike
45. Manchester State Park
50. Headlands to Beach Loop
52. Blufftop Trail
CANOE ACCESS
South Fork Eel River: Highway 1 at M.105.00, Highway 101 at many points
Ten Mile River: Highway 1 at M.69.67
Lake Cleone: see Trail #15
Noyo River: Fort Bragg. Access from N. or S. Harbor Drive or logging roads
Big River: N. Big River Road at M.50.35
Albion River: Turn onto Albion River North Side Road at M.43.95
Navarro River: Highway 1 at M.40.15 or various points along Highway 128
Garcia River: Highway 1 at M.I8.48 or from Miners Hole Road (M.17.55)
Gualala River: See Trails #50 and 51, or from various side roads