AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Mendocino Headlands State Park

Big River–Dry Dock, 7 sights

12 mi · ▲ 1,301 ft · 4 hr 39 min

Big River–Dry Dock, 7 sights is a 12-mile out-and-back in Mendocino Headlands State Park near Mendocino, CA. The route reaches Big River at the turnaround, 6 miles in. It climbs 1,301 ft, with sections as steep as 16% grade. It scores 71/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi10 – 863 ft · steepest grade: 16%12.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: North Boundary Trail 39.33513, -123.75641
Nearest town Mendocino, CA
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Big River–Dry Dock, 7 sights

12 mi · ▲ 1,301 ft · 4 hr 39 min

Elevation 11–863 ft

Out & Back · Mendocino Headlands State Park

Trailhead: North Boundary Trail · 39.33513, -123.75641

Weather Sep 4: Clear, high 68°F / low 50° · precip 0% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:47 AM · sunset 7:43 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Parallel Action, heading E.
  2. 1.5 miBear right onto Gas Tank, heading SE.
  3. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Gas Cap, heading SE.
  4. 0.4 miTurn right onto Endo, heading SE.
  5. 0.4 miTurn right onto O No!, heading E.
  6. 0.2 miTurn right onto Dry Dock, heading S.
  7. 1.3 miBear right onto Big River Road, heading SW.
  8. 1.8 miReach Big River, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  9. 1.8 miBear left onto Dry Dock, heading NE.
  10. 1.3 miTurn left, heading S.
  11. 0.2 miContinue straight onto O No!, heading E.
  12. 50 ftTurn left onto Endo, heading E.
  13. 0.4 miTurn left onto Gas Cap, heading NW.
  14. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Gas Tank, heading NW.
  15. 0.4 miBear left, heading NW.
  16. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Parallel Action, heading W.
  17. 0.7 miBear left, heading NW.
  18. 0.4 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/big-river-out-back-22-km

Trail surface

59% dirt41% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 68°F50°
Precip0%Wind5 mphUV7Humidity86%
Hourly temperature
70°50°
Sunrise 6:47 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:43 PM
Sat 65°52°
Sun 64°47°
Mon 77°46°
Tue 74°52°
Wed 71°49°
Thu 78°57°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.1 mi in (~29 min). Leave by 6:54 PM for the 7:43 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:25 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from North Boundary Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Mendocino, California