A sheltered coastal cove where a sandy beach meets calm waters near a river mouth, surrounded by forested canyons, sea stacks, and diverse coastal ecosystems.
Some beach access areas open earlier; visitor facilities may vary by season
Beach parking areas may be free; camping and special use fees vary
How to Get There
From Mendocino (3 mi): Drive south on CA-1 for about 3 miles into Little River, where the beach parking area is located directly off the highway on the west side.
Overview
Van Damme State Beach is a small, sheltered cove at the mouth of Little River on the Mendocino Coast, and it is part of Van Damme State Park, a California state park of about 1,800 acres. The park is named for Charles F. Van Damme (1881–1934), who was born in the area and whose land became part of the state park system after his death. The beach is popular with kayakers and divers because its calm water and nearby sea caves and tide pools are easy to reach, and Little River Beach serves as a launch site for sea cave kayak tours. Inland from the shore, the park extends into fern-filled Fern Canyon, redwood forest and a rare pygmy forest, where acidic, nutrient-poor soil keeps trees only a few feet tall.
Access
The beach is on Highway 1 at Little River, about 3 miles south of Mendocino. The beach parking lot is on the west side of the highway, directly off the road, and a short path leads down to the sand. The campgrounds, Fern Canyon trailhead and most trails are on the east side of the highway, and the pygmy forest is reached from a separate parking lot off Airport Road. Nearly all visitors arrive by car. Dogs are allowed on the beach and in the campground but not on the Fern Canyon, Old Logging Road or Pygmy Forest trails.
Seasons
The climate is temperate year-round, with morning fog in summer that often clears by midday. Late spring through early fall is the most popular time for kayaking, diving and beach days, and ranger-led programs and the visitor center operate in the busy season. Winter brings rain and heavy surf, so the cove is rougher and the trails are muddy, and some facilities close for the season. Fall is often clear and calm, and spring brings green hills and the canyon at its lushest.
Things to Do
Kayak and Dive in the Cove
The calm cove is a popular launch site for kayaking and diving, and local outfitters offer rentals and summer tours of nearby sea caves and tide pools.
Explore the Beach and Tide Pools
The sandy beach at the mouth of Little River is good for beachcombing, picnicking and tide pool exploration at low tide.
See the Pygmy Forest
A short, accessible boardwalk in the park’s pygmy forest shows how poor soil can stunt mature trees to just a few feet tall.
Top Trails
Fern Canyon Trail
Length: 5.6 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: Not published
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
This trail follows Little River up a shaded canyon beneath redwoods and ferns, and shorter or longer loops are possible. Dogs are not permitted on this trail.
Pygmy Forest Trail
Length: 0.25 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: Minimal
Difficulty: Easy
This flat, wheelchair-accessible boardwalk loops through the dwarf forest, with interpretive signs about its unusual soils.
Visitor Centers
The park visitor center occupies a 1930s building that once served as a Civilian Conservation Corps recreation hall. It has interpretive exhibits and is open seasonally, so call (707) 937-4016 for current hours. The entrance kiosk is also staffed seasonally, and trail maps and information are available there and on the California State Parks website.
Camping and Lodging
Van Damme State Park has two campgrounds with more than 65 drive-in sites, including standard sites, tent-only sites and a group site; reservations are strongly recommended from spring through fall and can be made through ReserveCalifornia. Inns, bed and breakfasts and restaurants are found in Little River (1 mile), Mendocino (3 miles) and Fort Bragg, a short drive north. Other state park campgrounds nearby include Russian Gulch State Park and MacKerricher State Park. Lodging on the coast fills quickly in summer and on holiday weekends.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia articles and official tourism pages for the Van Damme State Beach, which are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0. Additional information from California State Parks.