A scenic coastal park featuring a sheltered sandy cove, rugged headlands, and panoramic ocean views ideal for wildlife viewing and beachcombing.
Hours may vary seasonally
How to Get There
From Fort Bragg (7 mi): Drive south on CA-1, turn right onto Point Cabrillo Drive, and continue west to reach the beach access and parking area.
Overview
The Caspar Headlands State Beach is a small California state beach on the Mendocino coast, protecting a stretch of undeveloped shoreline next to the Caspar Headlands. Wikipedia lists it as established in 1972, and it has been managed by California State Parks since the state took ownership in 2002. The beach sits in a sheltered cove framed by bluffs and coastal terraces, with miles of undeveloped shoreline, ocean views and wildflowers in spring. It is a quiet, uncrowded alternative to busier beaches nearby, and visitors come for beachcombing, picnicking, fishing and watching for migrating gray whales from the bluffs. It also lies along the California Coastal Trail, which links the beach to Point Cabrillo Light about a mile to the south.
Access
The beach is on Point Cabrillo Drive near the village of Caspar, about two miles north of Russian Gulch and roughly 7 miles south of Fort Bragg. From the north, take Highway 1 to the turnoff for Point Cabrillo Drive near milepost 54.71, and the beach is about a mile south on that road. Nearly everyone arrives by car, and parking near the beach is limited, so arrive early on summer weekends. There is no public transportation to the area. The park accepts the California State Library Parks Pass, and amenities are minimal, so check posted signs, rules for dogs and current conditions with California State Parks before you go.
Seasons
The beach can be visited year-round, and the weather on the Mendocino coast can change quickly, so bring layers. Spring brings coastal wildflowers on the bluffs, while summer is the warmest and busiest season, though fog is common along the coast. Fall tends to bring clear skies, mild weather and fewer crowds. Winter is the best time for watching waves crash on the shoreline and for spotting migrating gray whales, which pass the Mendocino coast from about December through April, but storms can bring rough surf, so stay back from the water and cliff edges.
Things to Do
Walk and Beachcomb
The sandy cove and rocky shoreline are good for beachcombing, picnicking and relaxing with ocean views. Watch for changing tides and surf before walking along the shoreline.
Watch for Gray Whales and Wildlife
The bluffs are a good place to watch for migrating gray whales, and seabirds and shorebirds are common along the coast. The area also supports osprey and, in its creeks, coho salmon and steelhead trout.
Fish, Surf and Dive
Fishing is popular off the beach, and California State Parks also lists surfing, windsurfing and snorkeling or scuba diving as activities, depending on conditions.
Visit Point Cabrillo Light
The historic Point Cabrillo Light is about a mile south of the beach and can be reached by the California Coastal Trail or by a short drive.
Top Trails
California Coastal Trail to Point Cabrillo Light
Length: About 1 mile one way
Elevation Gain: Varies
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
A hiking trail on the California Coastal Trail, established in 2011, links the beach with Point Cabrillo Light to the south. The trail follows the coast, with ocean views along the way.
Caspar Uplands Trail
Length: 1.3 miles
Elevation Gain: Varies
Difficulty: Moderate
Managed by the Mendocino Land Trust, this trail begins near Caspar Beach across Point Cabrillo Drive and runs south through fir and creekside forest, then climbs through the southernmost stand of Sitka spruce forest in North America.
Visitor Centers
There is no visitor center at the beach. Information is available from California State Parks by phone at (707) 937-5804 and from the park’s website, and the towns of Mendocino and Fort Bragg also have visitor information.
Camping and Lodging
There is no camping at Caspar Headlands State Beach itself. A private campground and RV park sits across the road from the beach, and nearby state parks, including Russian Gulch State Park about two miles south and MacKerricher State Park north of Fort Bragg, have campgrounds that are reserved through ReserveCalifornia. For inns, motels and restaurants, the closest towns are Mendocino, about four miles south, and Fort Bragg, about seven miles north. Within an hour or two, Willits and Ukiah also have lodging.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia articles and official tourism pages for the Caspar Headlands State Beach, which are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0. Additional information from California State Parks.