The Hiker's hip pocket Guide to the Mendocino Coast—4th Edition
Bob Lorentzen
Now with 32,000 copies sold, our most popular book details all public trails on and near the coast between Gualala/Sea Ranch in northwestern Sonoma County and Chemise Mountain on the southern Lost Coast. Thirty-two years after our first edition, a wealth of new trails and abundant changes on the original trails make this the most essential new edition in years. Includes all the classic hikes, plus essential updates to our marvelous Mendo coast cornucopia of trails.
The new trails covered include Fort Bragg's Coastal Trail at Noyo Headlands State Park, four trails in the vast Big River State Park, new trails at Montgomery Woods State Reserve, Usal’s fine new Peter Douglas Trail at Shady Dell, Caspar Uplands Trail, Cypress Abbey Trail north of Pt. Arena and Stornetta Ranch units of California Coastal National Monument, many other short links in the Mendocino Coast Coastal Trail: Newport/Kibesillah Trail, Caspar Headlands to Caspar Beach, Navarro Point Preserve, and many more updates and changes.
The "What Kind of Trail Are You Looking For?" section after the Contents makes it easy to find the hikes you want: Fifteen Trails Not to Miss, Trails with Wheelchair Access, Trails Where Dogs Are Allowed, Trails for Backpacking, Trails for Mountain Bikes, Trails for Equestrians, Trails for Joggers, and Canoe/Kayak Access. Appendix includes Common & Scientific Names of nearly 300 Plants Along the Trails.
Includes trails from easy walks to challenging backpacks and everything in between. Many more trails open to dogs, improved ADA access, improved easy-to-read maps.
Be sure to check out this article about the new edition of the Hiker's hip pocket Guide to the Mendocino Coast from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.
"The best guidebooks [to the Mendocino Coast]."
&VIA
272 pages, 4" x 9", full-color cover, 30 maps, 38 illustrations, index, December, 2018.
ISBN 0-939431-45-8. trade paper.
Bored Feet is not currently accepting retail orders. We will still be filling wholesale orders for the foreseeable future. We apologize for any inconvenience.
"Both serious nature lover and casual looker should find it
worth the price."
-L.A. Times
Special note regarding hike #40, Big River Laguna Trail
There are two routes to the Laguna from Comptche-Ukiah Road. The book describes the route which starts at MP 6.52 on the road. The other route leaves the road about 6.8 miles out, just past a wide parking area with some large cement blocks and exposed tree roots. Both routes are similar in terms of difficulty, both are unsigned, and both are infrequently maintained. Our advice is that if one is too badly overgrown, try the other.
CONTENTS
PREFACE TO THE FOURTH 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 17
The Climate 19
Get Ready, Get Set, Hike! 20
THE TRAILS
King Range Conservation Area
1. Hidden Valley to Chemise to Whale Gulch 21
2. Chemise Mountain from Nadelos or Wailaki 26
Sinkyone Wilderness State Park 29
3. Whale Gulch 31
4. Needle Rock Visitor Center to Bear Harbor 33
5. Sinkyone’s Lost Coast 37
6. Sally Bell Grove/Wheeler Road 46
7. Usal Waterfall 49
8. Hotel Gulch 52
9. Peter Douglas Coastal Trail 55
Near Westport
10. DeHaven Creek to Wages Creek 59
11. Angelo Coast Range Reserve 63
12. Bruhel Point 70
13. Newport/Kibesillah Coastal Trail 75
MacKerricher State Park 77
14. North to Ten Mile River 78
15. Laguna Point 83
16. Lake Cleone 85
17. MacKerricher South Headlands 87
Fort Bragg
18. Glass Beach/Pudding Creek Headlands 90
19. Fort Bragg Coastal Trail, Northern End 94
20. Fort Bragg Coastal Trail, Southern End 99
21. Fort Bragg History Walk 102
22. Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens 107
Jackson State Forest 112
23. N. Fork of S. Fork Noyo River Trestle Tr. 113
24. Chamberlain Creek Waterfall 119
Jughandle State Reserve 121
25. Jug Handle North Headlands 121
26. Jug Handle Ecological Staircase 125
27. Caspar Headlands to Caspar Beach 133
28. Caspar Uplands Section, Coastal Trail 135
29. Point Cabrillo Preserve 138
Russian Gulch State Park 142
30. Waterfall Loop 142
31. Blowhole Walk 146
32. South Headlands 148
Town of Mendocino 151
33. Mendocino History Walk 151
Mendocino Headlands State Park 157
34. Mendocino Headlands West and North 157
35. Mendocino S. Headlands to Big River Beach 162
Big River State Park 164
36. Big River Haul Road 165
37. Pygmy Woods/Pole Line Tr. to Big River Tr. 170
38. Dry Dock Gulch to Upper Big River Tr. 172
39. Forest History Trail 176
40. Laguna Trail 180
Montgomery Woods State Nature Reserve 184
41. Montgomery Grove Loop 184
42. Little North Fork of South Fork Big River 190
Van Damme State Park 198
43. Spring Ranch/Chapman Point Headlands 194
44. Little River Point 198
45. Fern Canyon 201
46. Pygmy Forest/Upper Fern Canyon Loop 205
47. Navarro Point Preserve 208
48. Navarro-By-The-Sea 211
Hendy Woods State Park 214
49. Gentle Giants Loop 215
50. Discovery Loop 216
51. Navarro River Hike 218
South Coast
52. Greenwood State Beach 221
53. Manchester State Park 223
54. Point Arena Lighthouse & Headlands 227
California Coastal National Monument 229
55. Stornetta Lands from Lighthouse Road 230
56. Cypress Abbey from Pt. Arena City Hall 234
57. Pelican Bluffs 237
58. Moat Creek to Bowling Ball Beach 240
59. Schooner Gulch North to Whiskey Shoals 243
Gualala Point Regional Park/Sea Ranch 247
60. Headlands to Beach Loop 247
61. River Trail South 251
62. Blufftop Trail 253
63. Salal Trail 257
64. Other Sea Ranch Trails 259
Common and Scientific names of plants along the trails 262
FURTHER READING 266
INDEX 268
ABOUT BORED FEET 270
WHAT KIND OF TRAIL ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
FIFTEEN TRAILS NOT TO MISS
9. Peter Douglas Coastal Trail
15. Laguna Point
19. Fort Bragg Coastal Trail, Northern End
20. Fort Bragg Coastal Trail, Southern End
22. Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens
26 Jug Handle Ecological Staircase
29. Point Cabrillo Preserve
30. Russian Gulch Waterfall Loop
35. Big River Haul Road
Big River Laguna, either from #35 or #40
41. Montgomery Grove Loop
47. Navarro Point Preserve
55. Stornetta Lands from Lighthouse Road
56. Cypress Abbey Trail
58. Moat Creek to Bowling Ball Beach
TRAILS WHERE DOGS ARE ALLOWED ON LEASH
1. Hidden Valley to Chemise Mountain to Whale Gulch
2. Chemise Mountain from Nadelos or Wailaki
7. Usal Waterfall
9. Peter Douglas Coastal Trail
10. DeHaven Creek to Wages Creek
12. Bruhel Point
13. Newport/Kibesillah Coastal Trail
14. North to Ten Mile River—southern 1½ miles
15. Laguna Point
17. MacKerricher South Headlands
18. Glass Beach Pudding Creek Headlands
19. Fort Bragg Coastal Trail, Northern End
20. Fort Bragg Coastal Trail, Southern End
21. Fort Bragg History Walk
22. Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens
23. North Fork of South Fork Noyo River Trestle Trail
24. Chamberlain Creek Waterfall
25. Jug Handle North Headlands
26 Jug Handle State Reserve—west of highway only, not on beach
27. Caspar Headlands to Caspar Beach
28. Caspar Uplands Section, CCT
29. Point Cabrillo Preserve
31. Blowhole Walk
32. South Headlands—use South end access. Dogs OK west of highway
33. Mendocino History Walk
34. Mendocino Headlands West and North
35. Mendocino South Headlands to Big River Beach
36. Big River Trail
39. Forest History Trail
40. Laguna Trail
42. Montgomery Woods North of Road
43. Spring Ranch & Chapman Point Headlands
44. Little River Point
47. Navarro Point Preserve
48. Navarro-by-the-Sea
51. Navarro River Hike
52. Greenwood State Beach
55. Stornetta Lands from Lighthouse Road
56. Cypress Abbey Lands from Point Arena City Hall
57. Pelican Bluffs
58. Moat Creek to Bowling Ball Beach
59. Schooner Gulch North to Whiskey Shoals
60. Headlands to Beach Loop
61. River Trail South
62. Blufftop Trail
63. Salal Trail
64. Other Sea Ranch Trails
TRAILS WITH ADA ACCESS (WHEELCHAIRS)
12. Bruhel Point—see Other Suggestion
14. North to Ten Mile River—see Other Suggestion
15. Laguna Point
16. Lake Cleone
17. MacKerricher South Headlands
19. Fort Bragg Coastal Trail, Northern End
20. Fort Bragg Coastal Trail, Southern End
21. Fort Bragg History Walk
22. Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens
29. Point Cabrillo Preserve—call ahead
30. Waterfall Loop—first 1½ miles
33. Mendocino History Walk
36. Big River Haul Road—first 1/8 mile, possibly more
46. Pygmy Forest, plus dirt trail for ½ mile beyond
49. Gentle Giants Loop
60. Headlands to Beach Loop
Other trails may be accessible with assistance for marginally handicapped
.TRAILS FOR BICYCLES
10. DeHaven Creek to Wages Creek—see Other Suggestion
14. North to Ten Mile River
17. MacKerricher South Headlands—see Other Suggestion
19. Fort Bragg Coastal Trail, Northern End
20. Fort Bragg Coastal Trail, Southern End
30. Waterfall Loop—first 1 ½ miles
36. Big River Trail
45. Fern Canyon
60. Headlands to Beach Loop
TRAILS FOR MOUNTAIN BIKES
1. Hidden Valley to Chemise Mountain to Whale Gulch
2. Chemise Mountain from Nadelos or Wailaki
4. Needle Rock Visitor Center to Bear Harbor
6. Sally Bell Grove
8. Hotel Gulch
10. DeHaven Creek to Wages Creek—see Other Suggestion
11. Angelo Coast Range Reserve—on main road only
37. Pygmy Woods/ Pole Line Trail to Big River Haul Road
38. Dry Dock Gulch Trail to Upper Big River Haul Road
39. Forest History Trail
42. Montgomery Woods North of Road
46. Upper Fern Canyon Loop to river ford
48. Navarro-by-the-Sea—see Other Suggestion: Navarro Ridge
51. Navarro River Hike
TRAILS FOR JOGGERS
14. North to Ten Mile River
18. Glass Beach/Pudding Creek Headlands
19. Fort Bragg Coastal Trail, Northern End
20. Fort Bragg Coastal Trail, Southern End
22. Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens
29. Point Cabrillo Preserve
30. Waterfall Loop
34. Mendocino Headlands West and North
36. Big River Trail
43. Spring Ranch & Chapman Point Headlands
44. Little River Point
45. Fern Canyon
46. Upper Fern Canyon Loop
51. Navarro River Hike
53. Manchester State Park
55. Stornetta Lands from Lighthouse Road
56. Cypress Abbey Lands from Point Arena City Hall
60. Headlands to Beach Loop
62. Blufftop Trail
TRAILS FOR EQUESTRIANS
1. Hidden Valley to Chemise Mountain to Whale Gulch
2. Chemise Mountain from Nadelos or Wailaki
3. Whale Gulch
4. Needle Rock Visitor Center to Bear Harbor
5. Sinkyone’s Lost Coast
6. Sally Bell Grove
8. Hotel Gulch
14. North to Ten Mile River
17. MacKerricher South Headlands
36. Big River Haul Road
37. Woodlands Fire Station to Big River
38. Dry Dock Gulch Trail to to Upper Big River Haul Road
40. Laguna Trail
48. Navarro-by-the-Sea—see Other Suggestion: Navarro Ridge
51. Navarro River Hike
53. Manchester State Park
TRAILS FOR BACKPACKING
1. Hidden Valley to Chemise Mountain to Whale Gulch
2. Chemise Mountain from Nadelos or Wailaki
3. Whale Gulch (to Environmental Camps)
4. Needle Rock Visitor Center to Bear Harbor
5. Sinkyone’s Lost Coast
6. Sally Bell Grove (to Wheeler)
23. North Fork of South Fork Noyo River Trestle Trail
45. Fern Canyon (to Environmental Camps)
CANOE/KAYAK ACCESS
- South Fork Eel River: Highway 1 at MP.105.00
- Highway 101 at many points
- Ten Mile River: Highway 1 at MP.69.67
- Lake Cleone: see Trail #16
- Noyo River: Fort Bragg. Access from N. or S. Harbor Drive or logging roads
- Big River: N. Big River Road at MP.50.35
- Albion River: Turn onto Albion River North Side Road at MP.43.95
- Navarro River: Highway 1 at MP.40.15 or various points along Highway 128
- Garcia River: Highway 1 at MP.18.48
- Gualala River: See Trails #60 and #61 or from various side roads