The Mendocino Coast is well known for its rugged and spectacular coastline, with rocky shorelines and coves washed with aqua ocean waves. There is ample opportunity to go birding, whale watching, tide pooling, hiking, and fishing, all-the-while enjoying nature. When finished with your outings, Noyo Harbor and Fort Bragg have many fine seafood and other eateries, frequent festivities, and other tourist attractions.
Marine Science
Noyo Center for Marine Science
Noyo Center for Marine Science hosts 3 facilities, which marine science enthusiasts may explore:
Drop by the Discovery Center, located in downtown Ft Bragg on 338 N. Main Street Thursday – Monday 11 AM – 5 PM to learn, tinker, experience and see a range of marine science exhibits, ranging from rotifers to the world’s largest orca skeleton.
Take a walk along the Ft Bragg headlands to reach the Crow’s Nest Interpretive Center where you can learn and chat with a docent about tide pools, marine wildlife, and our local marine ecosystem. Open Daily from 11 AM – 3 PM
The Noyo Center for Marine Science Field Station is located in Noyo Harbor and is open by appointment to learn about urchin ranching, marine mammal stranding, and other programs that the Noyo Center is engaged in. Contact info@noyocenter.org to request a tour of the field station with a Noyo Staff member.
Birding
The Mendocino Coast offers year-round birding, including excellent locations for gulls, shorebirds, breeding birds, and vagrants.
The Mendocino Coast Audubon Society has bird-related information for the Mendocino Coast including upcoming field trips and other events, conservation efforts, education opportunities, and scholarships. For the best birding locations to go, depending on the season, see the MCAS Birding page.
Hiking and Observing Wildlife
Bluff trails and Haul Road – 10 miles of hiking, biking, birding.
MacKerricher State Park – Very scenic beaches and coastal trails for birding, wildlife viewing, camping, and other recreational activities.
Point Cabrillo Light Station – Incredibly scenic, historic, and good birding
Ten-mile Beach -Native dune habitat – shorebirds, gulls
Russian Gulch State Park – Scenic ocean bluffs and coves, sinkhole
Jughandle State Natural Reserve – Scenic ocean bluffs and coves, ecological staircase
Kayak Mendocino – Ocean kayaking from Van Damme State Park or up-river from Noyo Harbor.
Fishing and Whale Watching
Anchor Charters
Bird watching, fishing, whale-watching, crabbing, at-sea services
Restaurants and other Eateries
Noyo Harbor Inn
Donates a portion of each meal to Noyo Center for Marine Science
Princess Seafood Market and Restaurant
All-female crew, donates fish carcasses for chum on Noyo Pelagics trips
Visitor Attractions
Glass Beach and Musuem – Historic, good birding at the beach.
Skunk Train – Take the train up and hike back for great birding
Guest House History Museum – Native American and settler history
Downtown Fort Bragg Information – Family owned, shops, cafes, restaurants
Town of Mendocino – Beautiful and historic; good shops; Out of this World binocular and telescope shop.
Westport – Scenic town up the coast; good birding
Elk – Scenic town down the coast; Greenwood Cove; good birding
Point Arena Lighthouse– Dramatic ocean, Garcia River mouth; great birding
