WELCOME TO MENDOCINO
Our Field Guide is your go-to resource for uncovering the best of Mendocino County. From wind-sculpted headlands to redwood-lined valleys, it offers the inside scoop on the local cultural and culinary gems that make this one of America’s favorite coastal areas.
See and Do
Ride the Rails
One of the most memorable ways to explore the area is aboard the Skunk Train, a historic rail line winding through redwood forests between Fort Bragg and inland valleys. Today used entirely for recreation, the railway cuts through a lush forest of coastal redwoods, and on weekends runs evening trips to a lively ‘secret bar.’
Try a Railbike
Active visitors can also explore the rail line on electric-assisted railbikes—quiet, two-person vehicles that ride atop the tracks. Options include a 7-mile round-trip from Fort Bragg or a more demanding half-day ride 25 miles east from a collapsed tunnel.
Stroll Botanical Gardens
So striking is the area’s natural beauty it doesn’t seem possible a human could add to it — but these non-profit gardens are a must-see. Set on a 47-acre property in Fort Bragg, rhododendrons flower in the spring and other collections continue to bloom into the fall, attracting over 180 species of birds.
Learn at the Noyo Center for Marine Science
As warming seas disrupt California’s marine ecosystems, the nonprofit Noyo Center for Marine Science aims to respond. It operates a small Discovery Center in Fort Bragg and a Crow’s Nest site with exhibits and a tide-pool aquarium, with plans for a future research campus on a former lumber mill site.
Visit the Point Cabrillo Light Station
Point Cabrillo Light Station, just north of Mendocino, is an ideal spot to catch sunrise or sunset. Reached by a short dirt path or paved road, the century-old lighthouse still uses its original Fresnel lens and offers seasonal gray whale viewing, typically from late November through early May.
Hikes
Mendocino Headlands Trail
One of Mendocino’s most beautiful walks begins right in town, winding along blufftop paths with sweeping views of coves, tidal pools, and crashing surf. Multiple access points allow flexibility, but the full route runs south from behind the Presbyterian church, then west along the coastline.
Fern Canyon, North, and Waterfall Trails
An escape from the crashing Pacific, Fern Canyon follows a creek along the canyon floor beneath ever-taller coastal redwoods. A few miles in, a loop leads to waterfalls; or for a quicker exit, turn onto the North Trail to climb to the rim and circle back to the trailhead.
Big River Trail
This trail stretches more than nine miles inland along a gently sloping former logging road, making it ideal for biking or jogging whatever distance you wish. Despite its name, the ‘river’ is a long, undeveloped estuary with calm, aquamarine waters, interpreted by placards that explain the area’s logging past and restoration.
Spring Ranch Trail
This trail offers sweeping coastal views and a sense of remoteness missing from the Mendocino Headlands. Starting near Highway 1 south of town, it winds through pines to the bluffs, then follows the surf. Various spurs head inland, but the best return is by the same route.
The Dunes at Ten Mile Beach
Part of MacKerricher State Park, this expansive beach and its otherworldly dunes stretch nearly 20 miles north of Mendocino. Named for the Ten Mile River, the area protects California’s only coastal fen and serves as a snowy plover sanctuary; dogs are prohibited. Access is via a small pullout near Ten Mile Bridge.
Mendocino Bars, Restaurants, and Wineries
Mendocino’s restaurants, bars, and nearby wineries are a feast for the senses. Here are our favorites:
Café Beaujolais
Among Mendocino’s best restaurants, Café Beaujolais operates out of a former family home, serving seasonal dishes and an extensive wine list at a dozen cozy tables.
The Brickery
On a property adjoining Café Beaujolais, the owners opened a more casual brick-oven pizzeria and outdoor garden. The thin-crust pies and smashburgers taste even better seated outside amidst a profusion of wildflowers.
The Waiting Room
Another spinoff of Café Beaujolais, stop here for quick artisanal coffees and pastries, or plunk yourself down on a velvet chair by the wood-burning stove.
Fog Eater Café
The Fog Eater Café is a hip vegetarian diner that blends influences from the Deep South and Northern California. Patrons sip elegant cocktails and natural wines at its 10-seat bar.
Fog Eater Bottle Shop & Wine Bar
A bottle shop on the rear of the Fog Eater Cafe highlights organic, biodynamic wines from around the world. Pore over the floor-to-cieling shelves of bottles, or take a seat and let them pour a flight or two, with accompanying cheeses.
GoodLife Café and Bakery
For the heartiest breakfast in town, this friendly eatery serves a full menu and baked goods including a respectable New York–style bagel.
Sea Pal Cove Restaurant
In Fort Bragg harbor, alongside fishermen swabbing their decks and sea lions and seabirds waiting for scrap you’ll find Sea Pal Cove, which serves burgers, fried fish, and excellent chowder from a dockside shack.
Princess Seafood
Another restaurant in the harbor, Princess Seafood has a nice deck to enjoy a draft beer and local fresh seafood straight from the fishing boat.
The Golden West Saloon
This Fort Bragg dive is the town’s oldest bar, drawing locals and visitors to its carved wooden bar, pool tables, shuffleboard, and jukebox.
Navarro Winery
One of Anderson Valley’s largest wineries, Navarro retains a relaxed feel, producing an unusually wide range of varietals from vineyards spanning cool valley floors to high hillsides.
Husch Winery
The oldest winery in Anderson Valley, Husch sits on 60 acres at the valley’s northern end, with a quaint tasting room and patio, and remains family-owned.
Explore over a long weekend
DAY 1
Arrive in Mendocino and step out onto the Mendocino Headlands Trail to get your bearings, tracing rugged cliffs and coves on the blufftop path. With multiple access points, it’s easy to tailor the walk to your energy level.
As evening settles in, enjoy dinner at Café Beaujolais, a longtime favorite for seasonal cooking and an excellent wine list. For something more casual, the brick-oven pizzas and garden seating at The Brickery make for an easy first night in town.
DAY 2
Start the day with coffee and pastries from The Waiting Room or a hearty breakfast at GoodLife Café and Bakery, then head north to Fort Bragg.
Spend the morning aboard the historic Skunk Train, which winds through towering redwood forest and fern-lined canyons. Those looking for a more active option can swap in an electric-assist railbike ride along the same route.
Refuel with a casual dockside lunch at Sea Pal Cove Restaurant or Princess Seafood. Then on the drive back toward Mendocino, wander the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, a dramatic 47-acre garden perched above the Pacific, where coastal bluffs meet carefully tended plant collections. You can also stop at Point Cabrillo Light Station, a century-old lighthouse still using its original Fresnel lens. It’s an ideal spot for late-day light — and from late fall through early spring, for spotting migrating gray whales offshore.
DAY 3
Ease into your final morning with a walk or bike ride along the Big River Trail, a flat former logging road that follows a calm, undeveloped estuary inland. Interpretive signs along the way offer insight into the area’s logging history and ongoing restoration.
In the afternoon, drive south into Anderson Valley for wine tasting. Navarro Winery offers an unusually wide range of varietals in a relaxed setting, while family-owned Husch Winery provides a quieter, classic tasting experience.
Back in Mendocino, close out the trip with dinner and cocktails at Fog Eater Café, where inventive vegetarian comfort food, natural wines, and a lively bar make for a memorable final night.
