Most visitors to the Mendocino Coast stick to Fort Bragg and the headlands. The spots worth finding are further inland, further up the coast, and in one case inside a 50,000-acre working forest. These are six places that regular visitors come back to, and what makes each one worth the drive.
Big Hendy Grove, Hendy Woods State Park
Hendy Woods sits in the Navarro River valley, about 15 miles east of Mendocino on Highway 128. The park has two old-growth redwood groves, and Big Hendy is the larger of the two. The trail runs alongside the Navarro River through old-growth canopy, and the light here changes noticeably between morning and afternoon.
The Discovery Loop is just over a mile. The All Access Trail is shorter and flat, good for all ability levels. Hendy also sits directly on the Highway 128 wine country route from the Bay Area, so it fits naturally into a Mendocino drive without adding time.
Best for: first-time redwood visitors, families, Bay Area travelers arriving via Highway 128.
Peter Douglas Coastal Trail, Shady Dell
This 2.3-mile trail runs through Shady Dell, a coastal redwood property north of Fort Bragg managed by Save the Redwoods League, Mendocino Land Trust, and the California Coastal Conservancy. The trailhead is just off Highway 1. The trail moves through second-growth redwood forest and reaches coastal bluff views over the Pacific.
It is quieter than most people expect for something this close to the highway. Open dawn to dusk. No dogs or bikes. Easy to moderate, and you are back at your car within two hours.
Best for: Fort Bragg visitors, solo walkers, photographers.
Usal Creek, Usal Redwood Forest
Usal Creek runs through the southern section of Usal Redwood Forest and drains into the Pacific at Usal Beach. The riparian corridor upstream is where the creek is most worth seeing: moss-covered alders and redwoods lining both banks, clear water over a gravel bed.
The Redwood Forest Foundation has been managing this watershed since 2007. In April 2025, California Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists confirmed coho salmon fry in South Fork Usal Creek for the first time since 2013. The log structures the fry were sheltering in are visible from the bank.
The Candelabra Trees, Usal Redwood Forest
Centuries ago, fire moved through the base of a single old-growth redwood here. The tree survived, and six separate trunks grew up from the same root system over time. Several of them now stand over 100 feet tall, all connected below ground.
The ATV tour stops at the Candelabra Trees, and the guide walks through what the original fire likely looked like and how coast redwoods respond to that kind of disturbance. Standing at the base with other people in the frame gives you the scale that photos do not quite capture.
Usal Creek Bridge, Lost Coast
The Usal Creek Bridge sits along Usal Road at the southern edge of Sinkyone Wilderness State Park, where the road crosses the creek before it continues down to the beach. Large woody debris has settled across the creek below the bridge over time, and the combination of the logs, the clear water, and the riparian canopy overhead makes it one of the better stopping points on the drive down.
Most people pass over it without stopping. It is worth getting out of the car. The bridge is accessible by driving Usal Road off Highway 1. Allow about 20 minutes from the highway to reach the creek, and another 20 minutes to continue down to Usal Beach.
Best for: photographers, anyone driving Usal Road to the beach.
The Old Homestead at Usal
Along one of the forest roads on the ATV tour route, there is a red cabin with a moss-covered roof and a rusted 1950s truck parked alongside it. Both are left from the logging era that preceded the Redwood Forest Foundation's ownership, and the forest has been reclaiming them ever since.
Usal Beach at Sunset
Usal Beach sits at the end of Usal Road, a four-mile unpaved descent from Highway 1. The beach is black sand, the coastline runs undeveloped in both directions, and the sea stacks offshore shape the sunset in a way the Mendocino headlands do not. There is a small BLM campground at the beach for overnight stays.
Best for: campers, sunset photography, anyone who wants a beach without services or crowds.
How to Put This Into One Trip
Drive up via Highway 128 and stop at Big Hendy Grove on the way in. Book the Usal ATV tour for the first full day, which covers the Candelabra Trees, the old homestead, and Usal Creek in one 2.5-hour ride. End the afternoon at Usal Beach. Walk the Peter Douglas Coastal Trail the next morning before heading home.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the best thing to do on the Mendocino Coast?
For a nature experience beyond the standard headlands walk, the guided ATV tour at Usal Redwood Forest is the most distinctive option on the coast. It covers old-growth forest, active restoration zones, and coastal ridgeline terrain across a 50,000-acre working conservation property.
2. Is the Mendocino Coast worth visiting in summer?
Yes. May through September has the most reliable weather and longest daylight. Summer fog tends to sit offshore rather than onshore, which makes coastal views clearer and hiking more comfortable. The Usal ATV tour runs through summer, and Usal Beach road conditions are at their best in the dry season.
3. What is Hendy Woods State Park known for?
Hendy Woods is a California state park in the Navarro River valley with two old-growth coast redwood groves. Trails are flat and suitable for all ability levels. It sits on the Highway 128 wine country route from the Bay Area, making it a practical stop on any Mendocino trip.
4. Can you drive to Usal Beach?
Yes, via Usal Road, a four-mile unpaved descent from Highway 1. Most vehicles with standard clearance can manage it in dry conditions. Not recommended after heavy rain or for low-clearance cars. Small BLM campground on site.
5. What is the Peter Douglas Coastal Trail?
A 2.3-mile trail through Shady Dell, a coastal redwood property north of Fort Bragg managed by Save the Redwoods League, Mendocino Land Trust, and the California Coastal Conservancy. Open dawn to dusk. No dogs or bikes.
