AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Van Damme, State Park - 3544096338.jpg
Jimmy Coupe · CC BY 2.0
Van Damme State Park

Peterson Viewpoint & Van Damme State Park Beach via Chapman Trail

2.7 mi · ▲ 58 ft · 56 min

Peterson Viewpoint & Van Damme State Park Beach via Chapman Trail is a 2.7-mile out-and-back in Van Damme State Park near Mendocino, CA. The route passes Peterson Viewpoint before reaching Van Damme State Park Beach at the turnaround, 1.4 miles in. It is mostly level, with 58 ft of elevation gain. It scores 22/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi36 – 131 ft · steepest grade: 16%2.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.28899, -123.79464
Nearest town Mendocino, CA
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Peterson Viewpoint & Van Damme State Park Beach via Chapman Trail

2.7 mi · ▲ 58 ft · 56 min

Elevation 37–131 ft

Out & Back · Van Damme State Park

Trailhead: 39.28899, -123.79464

Weather Sep 4: Partly cloudy, high 67°F / low 52° · precip 1% · wind 8 mph · sunrise 6:47 AM · sunset 7:43 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 0.5 miBear left onto Chapman Trail, heading S.
  3. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  4. 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
  5. 350 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  6. 350 ftBear left, heading SW.
  7. 0.4 miPass Van Damme State Park Beach.
  8. 50 ftReach Peterson Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  9. 0.4 miBear right, heading N.
  10. 350 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  11. 350 ftBear left, heading N.
  12. 0.3 miBear right, heading NW.
  13. 0.5 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/peterson-viewpoint-van-damme-state-park-beach-out-back-via-chapman-trail

Trail surface

38% paved33% dirt29% unspecified

Weather

Partly cloudyTemperature 67°F52°
Precip1%Wind8 mphUV7Humidity77%
Hourly temperature
70°50°
Sunrise 6:47 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:43 PM
Sat 62°52°
Sun 71°50°
Mon 79°47°
Tue 76°53°
Wed 73°51°
Thu 80°59° 16%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.0 mi in (~1 min). Leave by 7:22 PM for the 7:43 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:59 PM — 11 min before dark. Trailhead visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Mendocino, California