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Outdoor Activities in Fort Bragg, CaliforniaThat the world's adventure travelers flock to Fort Bragg is no surprise. With uncrowded beaches, pristine rivers, sheltered bays and savage coastlines, you can find the exact spot to suit your thrill-seeking heart. Chase your adventure with a pint of local beer or wine, take a break beneath a giant redwood, then do it all over again. Water AdventuresWe want you to enjoy all the water activities that Fort Bragg offers. But beware the dangers of the sea! The Mendocino County Water Safety Coalition has created the following materials so you can learn more ocean safety and abalone diving.Abalone DivingAnnually, on April 1st, the Highway One corridor awakes from it's winter slumber to visitors and locals alike, anxious to participate in an annual treasure hunt. The treasure? Abalone! Although the commercial and recreational sale of abalone is banned, divers of all ages still engage in the hunt for this elusive mollusk, known as a delicious delicacy coveted for any dinner table. Adventurous divers brave the frigid and unpredictable waters of Fort Bragg annually in hopes of bringing in their limit of abalone. For more information about regulations regarding Abalone Diving, visit the California Department of Fish & Game. For current diving information, or to buy or rent equipment, please check: Deep-sea FishingThe Fort Bragg Coast is a haven for sport fisherman, and local seasons for salmon, rock cod, and crab bring enjoyment for visitors and locals alike. Many charter boats in Noyo Harbor offer deep sea fishing excursions. Many seasons are restricted, so check with local outfitters or the Department of Fish and Game for sport fishing availability.
KayakingSub-Surface Progression in Fort Bragg rents kayaks for both ocean and river exploration. However, ocean kayaking should not be attempted without some instruction. Liquid Fusion Kayaking offers both instruction and guided tours for river and ocean kayakers. Several of Fort Bragg's rivers are navigable by kayak, including the Noyo River. Gentle currents (check local tide charts) provide endless hours of family enjoyment along the rivers, viewing sea lions, harbor seals, and many species of birds. SurfingBeginning, intermediate and advanced surfers can find the types of waves they seek along the Fort Bragg coast. Winter weather brings monster waves, attracting advanced surfers, while gentle summer surfs create perfect practice waves for the more novice surfer. Fort Bragg's Virgin Creek Beach is a favorite for local surfers. A short walking trail from Highway One brings you to MacKerricher State Park, for access to Virgin Creek Beach.
Whale Watching
Whale Watching is one of Fort Bragg's most popular attractions during the winter and spring months, when Gray and Humpback whales make their annual migration along the coast. After spending the summer months feeding in the waters of the Arctic, these giant creatures travel south to Baja, California to mate and nurse their young. In late spring, the whales head north again, for another summer of feeding. Whales can very often been seen just offshore at MacKerricher State Park, or many of the other headlands along Fort Bragg's shoreline. Daily Whale Watching trips depart from Noyo Harbor, and take interested spectators out on the Pacific for a closer glimpse at these gentle giants. The Fort Bragg Whale Festival held in mid-March, brings regional microbreweries to town, offering their best pilsners, stouts and ales for tasting at historic Eagle's Hall. Other events include arts & crafts fair, chowder tasting, art exhibits and guided whale walks at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens and MacKerricher State Park. While in Fort Bragg, don't forget to plan a whale watching boat tour on the sea with Whale Watching Charter Boats out of Noyo Harbor. Also that weekend, the Point Cabrillo Lighthouse offers great activities for the whole family, including information on the migration of our gentle giants of the Pacific. All of the companies listed under Deep-sea fishing above also run whale watching excursions during the whale migrations. The whales can also be viewed from shore at these locations: Bird Watching
Four top spots for birdwatching are MacKerricher State Park, the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, a tiny island off the northwest end of the Mendocino Headlands, and out to sea. MacKerricher offers birds a freshwater pond, pine and cypress forest, grassy ocean bluffs and offshore rocks beloved by shore birds. A huge variety of birds, from small marsh wrens to great blue herons, can be seen there every day. Two easy walks offer great viewing opportunities. One starts at the lake parking lot and circles Lake Cleone. Look for the beautiful wood ducks at the east end of the lake. The other starts at the beach parking lot and leads to the viewing platform at Laguna Point. High tide is the best time to view shorebirds as they huddle on the rocks at the point. Bird life is also abundant at the Gardens. 130 bird species visit or live in the gardens year-around. Volunteers from The Mendocino Coast Audubon Society lead regular bird walks at the Gardens, including a session for beginning birders on the first Saturday of each month. Thousands of birds, sometimes greater than the population of the nearby village, use the grass-topped island of rock just offshore the northwest corner of the Mendocino Headlands. Some species nest atop the island, while others build their nests on small cliff ledges or lay their eggs in burrows dug deep into the hillside. For a special treat, join Shearwater Journeys on one of their exciting pelagic trips to observe some of the mega-rarity wildlife off Fort Bragg's special coast. The Mendocino Coast is an Audubon Society Important Bird Area, or IBA, with sites that provide essential habitat for one or more species of bird. The Mendocino Coast IBA includes sites for breeding, wintering, and migrating birds.ParksMendocino Area Parks Association supports State Parks in the Mendocino District as a cooperating association. Supported by volunteers, the goals of our non-profit association include providing educational activities, interpretive programs, and exhibits. MAPA operates the Visitor Centers in six State Parks, publishes and sells publications on local natural and cultural history, and consistently raises money to "keep things local" and improve the park experiences for visitors, local residents, and the abundant flora and fauna that thrive along the magnificent Mendocino Coast. City Parks
The Wiggly Giggly Playground and Harold O. Bainbridge Park are located on Laurel Street between North Harrison and North Whipple Streets, across from the Fort Bragg Library. The park offers a childrens' playground, tennis courts, and shady picnic areas. 
Otis R. Johnson Wilderness Park is located at the east end of Laurel Street, directly southeast of Fort Bragg Middle School. The park offers shady walking trails and a close-up experience with nature.
Pomo Bluffs Park, located on Todd's Point, offers spectacular views with outlook points and benches, coastal pedestrian and bike trails, as well as interpretive exhibits. Off Highway 1, take Ocean View Drive to Cliff Way. State Parks
Glass Beach State ParkOnce a Fort Bragg dump site, this gorgeous beach located at the northern end of Fort Bragg is still covered with glass and pottery shards that have been polished over time by waves and sand. A favorite stop for visitors and locals alike, Glass Beach is now a part of MacKerricher State Park. Please remember to leave the glass on the beach, for others to enjoy. Taking anything from State Park property is prohibited. MacKerricher State ParkMacKerricher State Park offers a variety of habitats, including beach, bluff, headland, dune, forest and wetland. Vistors can tidepool along the shore, observe harbor seals and sea lions in their natural habitat, and watch for whales from a variety of popular lookout points. More than 90 species of birds visit or live near Cleone Lake, a formal tidal lagoon. Enjoy hiking, jogging, cycling, horseback riding and fishing within the park and along Ten Mile Beach. MacKerricher State Park is the only park within the California State Park system that was at one time a part of the Mendocino Indian Reservation. It's popular campgrounds offer tent and camper facilities, picnic areas, showers, and a variety of activities. Wheelchair accessible. CyclingFort Bragg and the surrounding areas provide some great terrain for cycling. Whether you are looking for an easy glide along the Old Fort Bragg Haul Road, or more challenging terrain of old Jackson State Forest logging roads, cycling enthusiasts will find a bounty of roads and trails to explore. Easy family access is available just north of Fort Bragg as well as in Jackson State Forest.
Family FunYour family may enjoy golfing, horseback riding, bowling, or taking a ride on the Skunk Train, in addition to swimming and roller skating at the local recreation center or sports clubs. A new golf course and aquatic center are on the horizon for Fort Bragg, soon to add to the family activities already available. Mendocino Coast Recreation & Park District Redwood Health Club Hiking & WalkingFort Bragg offers some of the Mendocino Coast's most varied terrain for great day and overnight hikes. Meander through fern canyons or on ocean front bluffs, follow a self-guided trail around Lake Cleone or handicapped accessible boardwalk to Laguna Point at MacKerricher State Park. Explore the 47 acres of trails at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. Whatever you decide, you are sure to find a peaceful walk or an fun-filled adventure while hiking in Fort Bragg.
Horseback RidingCanter along deserted ocean beaches, ride the bluffs while the Pacific crashes against rocks far below, and meander on mossy trails through the redwoods in Jackson State Forest. This is an area of great beauty, rich in wildlife, where time flows at it's own pace; the ghosts of Russian, Spanish and English adventurers tenaciously cling to this isolated part of the world. Fort Bragg has one of the last beaches remaining in the United States where horseback riding is permitted right at the ocean's edge. Ride with one of Fort Bragg's outfitters, or bring your own horse to our area for quality riding on Ten Mile Beach and in the 54,000 acres of Jackson State Forest. Camping with horses is also available in the Fort Bragg area. Please check with MacKerricher State Park and Jackson State Forest for rules regarding horse riding in these protected areas. Join The Shoreline Riders, a local Fort Bragg riding club, for it's annual rodeo's and playdays, including cattle roping, bull riding, barrel racing and other fun equestrian sports. PicnicsTide Pooling & Marine Mammal ViewingLife Below the Rack LineJust north of Fort Bragg, visitors and locals can visit MacKerricher State Park for tidepooling adventures. Tidepools, exposed at low tide, occur at the intertidal zone between the shore and the ocean, and are teeming with life, including the California Mussels, Red Abalone, Giant Green Sea Anenome, and the Purple Sea Urchin. Please visit our tidepools with care, and remember to take only photos and leave only footprints. Sharing this diversified habitat is a variety of marine mammals including the Harbor Seal and the California Sea Lion, which can be expected in many flat, rocky areas off the coast of MacKerricher State Park. Pupping season can bring some great thrills, with pups being born daily in the rookeries offshore. This is a wild habitat, and it is important to remember that these animals, while seemingly docile, can be dangerous. Please do not approach our Marine Mammals and report any stranded Marine Mammals to the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito. A team of trained local volunteers will be dispatched to investigate the health and stability of the animals. To Learn More: MacKerricher State Park Marine Mammal Center |
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