Trailborn Mendocino
Winter on the
Mendocino Coast
Winter on the Mendocino Coast is one of California’s best kept secrets. Gray whales move across the horizon, the swells get big, the trails empty out, and Anderson Valley tasting rooms have a seat with your name on it. The best part — coming back to Hill House at Trailborn Mendocino for a fire and a slice of pizza.
Top Things to do During Winter in Mendocino
Winter Happenings in Mendocino
Mushroom Walks at Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens
Select Dates in January & February 2027
Guided walks through the Botanical Gardens' mushroom collection, with more than 160 species appearing during fall and winter.
Select Dates in January & February 2027
Guided walks through the Botanical Gardens' mushroom collection, with more than 160 species appearing during fall and winter.
Mushroom Habitats Class
Select Dates in January & February 2027
A naturalist-led class covering mushroom habitats and substrates, followed by a short walk through the gardens.
Select Dates in January & February 2027
A naturalist-led class covering mushroom habitats and substrates, followed by a short walk through the gardens.
Crab Cake Cook-Off & Wine Tasting Competition
February 6, 2027
The Mendocino Crab, Wine & Beer Festival's headline night. Local chefs go head to head on crab cakes while Mendocino winemakers pour alongside — and you get a vote.
February 6, 2027
The Mendocino Crab, Wine & Beer Festival's headline night. Local chefs go head to head on crab cakes while Mendocino winemakers pour alongside — and you get a vote.
Little River Whale Festival
February 6, 2027
Our closest neighbor takes its turn in Whale Festival — small, local, and easy to walk into without a plan. It's a way to experience the festivities without making a full day out of it.
February 6, 2027
Our closest neighbor takes its turn in Whale Festival — small, local, and easy to walk into without a plan. It's a way to experience the festivities without making a full day out of it.
Mendocino Whale Festival
March 6, 2027
The village opens whale season with wine and chowder tastings, art walks and guided whale watching off the headlands. Ten minutes from Hill House.
March 6, 2027
The village opens whale season with wine and chowder tastings, art walks and guided whale watching off the headlands. Ten minutes from Hill House.
Fort Bragg Whale Festival
March 20, 2027
The biggest Whale Festival of the season: a chowder tasting competition, downtown wine walk, beer festival and the 5K/10K Whale Run & Walk.
March 20, 2027
The biggest Whale Festival of the season: a chowder tasting competition, downtown wine walk, beer festival and the 5K/10K Whale Run & Walk.
November & December
The Holidays on the Coast
The Festival of Lights takes over the Botanical Gardens, Fort Bragg strings up its lighted truck parade, and Mendocino Village shops stay open late by candlelight. It’s the coast’s quietest, brightest stretch of the year.
Warm Up at Hill House
Gather Around the Fire
Grab a blanket, pick up something sweet at Hill House Wine & Grocer, and settle in around the outdoor firepit. Add a bottle of local wine and call it an evening.
Pour Something Local
Discover Anderson Valley wines without leaving the property. Hill House Wine & Grocer features a curated selection of local wines alongside charcuterie and everything you need for an easy picnic or late-night snack.
Settle Into Cabot Cove
Curl up with a book, spend some time in our detective library solving a murder mystery with the family, or simply find a quiet corner to let the day slow down.
Offers & Packages
From wine country escapes to cozy coastal weekends, our seasonal offers make it easy to experience Mendocino at a slower pace. Spend the day exploring the coast, then come back to Hill House for local wine, firepit nights, and a little extra downtime.
Why Visit Mendocino, CA in Winter
Winter activities in Mendocino include whale watching from the headlands, redwood hikes, Anderson Valley wine tasting, Dungeness crab season, coastal walks and seasonal experiences at Hill House.
Gray whales pass the Mendocino Coast from roughly December through April. March is the best month to watch, when northbound mothers and calves travel closest to shore.
No. The coast stays mild through winter, with highs typically in the mid-50s and plenty of clear, bright days. Layers and a good jacket are all you need.
Yes. Winter brings whale migration, peak crab season, empty trails and quiet tasting rooms inland, with far fewer visitors than summer and fall.
The Crab, Wine & Beer Festival runs in late winter, and four coastal towns host whale festivals across four weekends in March. Holiday events run through November and December.
