Area Attractions

The Beach
Five long miles of Manchester Beach reach from Irish Beach to the Garcia River. Ranked in the top 10 beaches in the pacific northwest.

Beach Access
In addition to the hiking trail leading to the beach from our campground you can also drive to the beach parking lot.
Golf
The Sea Ranch golf links to the south and the Little River course to the north both offer extraordinary golfing with views of the pacific ocean as well as pro shops and restaurants.
Lighthouse
The Point Arena Lighthouse has alerted mariners to the dangerous reefs along our coast since 1870. Tours of the lighthouse and museum are available from 11-2:30 daily with extended hours on the weekends and holidays.

Fishing
Salmon, steelhead, perch, smelt, cabazon can be caught near the campground, depending on the season. Manchester beach and other nearby beaches are excellent fishing spots.

Several commerical sportfishing boats run out of Fort Bragg daily.

Abalone Diving
Northern California is the best abalone diving area. This popular mollusk is the object of thousands of divers and "pickers" in this area every abalone season.
Our annual abalone contest is great fun and brings out the competive spirit in our campers who vie for the free camping prize at the end of each year.

Point Arena
The small town of Point Arena is 6 miles south and provides all the necessities, including several great restaurants and eclectic community events. The Point Arena Cove is a major port for the sea urchin industry and provides services to commerical and sports fishing boats.

The Pier
You can fish from the Point Arena Pier with no fishing license. There is a fish market, restaurant, pizza parlor and gift shop at the pier.

Whale Watching
The California Gray Whale migrates along the Mendocino Coast in the winter and spring headed for breeding grounds in Baja California to the south. In the late spring the whales may be seen again returning to Alaska. This is the longest migration of any mammal. Whale watching boats take tours out of Noyo Harbor, Fort Bragg and Point Arena. You can also take a private plane for an aerial view.
Canoeing and Kayaking
There are several outfitters in the area offering sea and river water sport rentals. You can canoe or kayak the Gualala river or kayak the ocean depending on your skill level.
Horseback Riding
Riding to and along the beach is a great way to get up close to the area. Horses are available nearby and in the town of Elk 20 minutes north of the campground.
Bicycling
Mendocino Beach KOA is centrally located to enjoy all the many hiking and biking trails. We’re 20 miles south of the town of Mendocino and 20 miles north of Gualala.
Climate —Temperatures seldom rise above 72 degrees nor dip below 50 degrees.

Here are some local sites that may be of interest
Skunk Train
Fort Ross
Mendocino Coast Chamber of Commerce
Redwood Coast Chamber of Commerce
City of Point Arena
Anderson Valley Brewery (Boonville)
North Coast Brewery (Fort Bragg)
Local Wineries
Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens (Fort Bragg)
Point Arena Lighthouse
Tides Chart for Point Arena
Local Surfing Conditions

Site designed by Jim Rutherford