Visiting State Parks in Mendocino County With Your Dogs
Visitors and residents regularly take their dogs with them. Everywhere. California's State Parks often welcome your canine friends. However, not each and every beach, trail, woods, valley, mountain (you get the idea) are suitable for dogs and, more importantly, may not be permitted. We suggest you check with the California Parks website—Parks.Ca.gov—for specific information. Beyond that, we're pleased to bring you the rules, and a bit of information on each of the 11 parks:
• Dogs must be on a maximum 6-foot leash at ALL times, physically under your control.
• Vicious or unusually noisy dogs will not be allowed in the park.
• Dogs must not be left unattended. Overnight campers must keep their dog in a tent or vehicle.
• Do not take your dog (unless your dog is a service animal*) into buildings or undeveloped areas, or on trails, unless specifically designated as being open to dogs on leash. (In general, dogs are not allowed on trails, near rivers or creeks, in open forests and meadows, or in environmental campsites.)
• Dogs are not permitted on most beaches. Before taking your dog to a state beach, check with the Parks.Ca.Gov website.
• Remember to clean up after your dog.
• Service animals* are allowed in areas open to the public; however, misrepresenting a dog as a service animal is considered a misdemeanor. (California Penal Code 365.7) Emotional support animals (ESAs), therapy dogs and comfort dogs are not considered service animals; therefore, must comply with the above dog regulations to ensure public safety and resource protection.
• All dogs entering a State Park may be required to provide proof of appropriate immunizations and valid licenses. The 11 are:
Hendy Woods State Park: located in the Anderson Valley, it is known for its old-growth coast redwoods and provides camping facilities near local wineries. NOTE: Dogs allowed in campground and day-use area. Dogs not allowed on trails.
Jug Handle State Natural Reserve is located on California Hwy 1 north of Caspar. NOTE: Dogs allowed on beach and headland trails west of Hwy 1. Dogs not allowed on Staircase Trail or areas east of Hwy 1.
MacKerricher State Park is 3 miles north of Ft. Bragg. Covering 9 miles of coastline, it contains several types of coastal habitat: beaches, dunes, headlands, wetlands, tide pools, forest, and a freshwater lake. NOTE: Dogs not allowed: Seal Rookery, Virgin Creek Beach, Ten Mile Beach and Dunes (Inglenook Fen—Ten Mile Dunes).
Manchester State Park/Beach is located along State Route 1, 7 miles north of Point Arena. It features sand dunes, flat grasslands and five miles of gentle, sandy beachfront. NOTE: Dogs allowed in campground. Dogs not allowed on beach or on trails.
Mendocino Headlands State Park consists of 347 acres of undeveloped seaside bluffs and islets surrounding the town of Mendocino, two beaches and the much larger Big River Unit. NOTE: No restrictions noted.
Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve is located in the county's Coastal Range. The Reserve is accessed from a parking area along Orr Springs Road, 15 miles east of Comptche. NOTE: No restrictions noted.
Navarro River Redwoods State Park consists of 660 acres of second-growth redwood forest in a narrow stretch 11 miles long on both banks of the Navarro River. The park may be reached via State Route 128. NOTE: No restrictions noted.
Point Cabrillo Lighthouse is located between Pt. Arena and Cape Mendocino, just south of of Caspar. A federal aid to navigation since 1909, it is part of the California state park system. NOTE: No restrictions noted.
Russian Gulch State Park lies betweenMendocino and Fort Bragg. NOTE: Dogs allowed in campground, beach, and trails west of Highway 1. Dogs not allowed on Fern Canyon Trail or trails east of Highway 1.
Van Damme State Park consists of 1,831 acres of land near the town of Little River on State Route 1. Most of the park lies on the inland side of State Route 1 and includes ten miles of hiking trails. NOTE: Dogs allowed in campground, beach and Spring Ranch. Dogs not allowed on Fern Canyon Trail, Old Logging Road Trail, or Pygmy Forest Trail.
Westport-Union Landing State Beach is located 19 miles north of Fort Bragg on Highway 1. Covering over 3 miles of rugged and scenic coastline, this beach consists of 46 campsites with ocean and mountain views. NOTE: No restrictions noted.
