Family-oriented or easy walks are spread along the coast. Here are some suggestions:
Pomo Bluffs Park (Fort Bragg): this is a relatively new city park (opened April 22, 2006) on the bluffs overlooking the Noyo Harbor entrance and, of course, the Pacific Ocean. There is a paved walkway here suitable for wheelchairs or strollers. And there are benches along the way if you want to sit down. The trail is probably less than a mile, but you can walk as short of a distance as you like and turn around. Interpretive signs along the way cover history, flowers, and animals.
Background
The park consists of 25 acres of spectacular bluff-top property on the south headlands above Noyo Bay in Fort Bragg. Acquisition and construction of the park were financed with grants from the State Coastal Conservancy and CalTrans, with input from park neighbors, the broader citizenry of Fort Bragg, local and state agencies, and City officials. As a City park, the public’s opportunity to view this striking piece of coastline and to walk along its bluffs and promontories will be preserved and protected in perpetuity.
Access: South of the Noyo Harbor bridge at the stoplight next to the Emerald Dolphin Inn is the street leading to the park. A sign points the way.
Glass Beach and MacKerricher State Park (Fort Bragg): Glass Beach is a favorite spot for visitors because the entire beach is composed of finely-tumbled glass. The beach is now part of MacKerricher State Park, and you can walk from Glass Beach north across the Pudding Creek Trestle, and follow the old haul road (no motorized traffic) along the ocean for miles in MacKerricher State Park.
Access: follow Highway One to the north end of Fort Bragg, and go left at the light on Elm Street. You’ll come to a parking area for Glass Beach. You can also go further north to MacKerricher State Park, which has several access points for the haul road along the ocean.
Mendocino Headlands State Park (Mendocino): the headlands wrap around the village of Mendocino, along Main Street. The trails weave across the headlands, some at the ocean’s edge and some through the wildflowers and grasses. They are good for walking, but mostly not suitable for wheelchairs. The trails are essentially foot trails, but there is a wider section accessible at the end of Main Street. Views are spectacular. Stay away from the cliff edge becauses it can crumble and send you tumbling over the edge. Go and enjoy, but be careful. You can walk a few hundred yards or stretch it into a couple of miles.
Access: There are access points at Kasten and Main streets and at the end of Main. You can also follow Heeser Road around the headlands, and park at any of several parking areas.
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