Mendocino Headlands State Park

Mendocino Headlands State Park Sunset Point–Portuguese Beach, 3 beaches

2.4 mi · ▲ 124 ft · 52 min

Mendocino Headlands State Park Sunset Point–Portuguese Beach, 3 beaches is a 2.4-mile out-and-back in Mendocino Headlands State Park near Mendocino, CA. The route passes Portuguese Beach before reaching Mendocino Headlands State Park Sunset Point at the turnaround, 1.2 miles in. It is mostly level, with 124 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi33 – 128 ft2.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Mendocino Headlands Bluff Trail 39.30635, -123.80936
Nearest town Mendocino, CA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Mendocino Headlands State Park Sunset Point–Portuguese Beach, 3 beaches

2.4 mi · ▲ 124 ft · 52 min

Elevation 31–128 ft

Out & Back · Mendocino Headlands State Park

Trailhead: Mendocino Headlands Bluff Trail · 39.30635, -123.80936

Weather Sep 4: Partly cloudy, high 67°F / low 52° · precip 1% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 6:47 AM · sunset 7:43 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Mendocino Headlands Bluff Trail, heading W.
  2. 50 ftPass Portuguese Beach.
  3. 0.4 miSharp right, heading N.
  4. 0.8 miReach Mendocino Headlands State Park Sunset Point, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  5. 0.8 miBear right, heading S.
  6. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  7. 0.2 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

100% dirt

Weather

Partly cloudyTemperature 67°F52°
Precip1%Wind3 mphUV7Humidity89%
Hourly temperature
70°50°
Sunrise 6:47 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:43 PM
Sat 62°53°
Sun 64°51°
Mon 61°53°
Tue 60°57°
Wed 60°57°
Thu 63°59°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 7:23 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 7:43 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 8:10 PM.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead