Big River–Mendocino Headlands State Park Beach, 4 sights is an 8-mile out-and-back in Mendocino Headlands State Park near Mendocino, CA. The route passes Mendocino Headlands State Park Beach and Big River. It climbs 635 ft, with sections as steep as 16% grade. It scores 58/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi13 – 597 ft · steepest grade: 16%8.2 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Big River Road 39.30309, -123.78522
Nearest town Mendocino, CA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Big River–Mendocino Headlands State Park Beach, 4 sights
8 mi · ▲ 635 ft · 2 hr 59 min
Elevation 15–596 ft
Out & Back · Mendocino Headlands State Park
Trailhead: Big River Road · 39.30309, -123.78522
Weather Sep 4: Partly cloudy, high 67°F / low 52° · precip 1% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:47 AM · sunset 7:43 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Big River Road, heading NE.
- 50 ftPass Mendocino Headlands State Park Beach.
- 50 ftPass Big River.
- 2.3 miBear left onto Ames Lodge Trail, heading S.
- 0.9 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Pole Line Trail, heading N.
- 0.6 miReach Big River, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.6 miBear right, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Ames Lodge Trail, heading SE.
- 0.8 miBear right onto Big River Road, heading S.
- 2.3 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
34% dirt66% unspecified
Weather
Partly cloudyTemperature 67°F52°
Precip1%Wind5 mphUV7Humidity83%
Hourly temperature
70°50°
Sunrise 6:47 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:43 PM
Sat
61°53°
Sun
65°50°
Mon
79°47°
Tue
76°53°
Wed
73°51°
Thu
80°59°
16%
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.4 mi in (~12 min). Leave by 7:11 PM for the 7:43 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:08 PM — 2 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
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