Mackerricher State Park - Main Beach

MacKerricher State Park - Main Beach offers many amenities including sunbathing, hiking, biking, swimming, tidepooling, wildlife watching, surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, kayaking, canoeing, boating, and jet skiing. If you are planning to go into the water near MacKerricher State Park - Main Beach, we recommend being careful as it is extremely cold and has dangerous currents. The water near the beach is home to many animals including seals, sea lions, and migrating grey whales (between December and April). Tidepools are available near the northern and southern ends of the beach.   

MacKerricher State Park has a variety of habitats that you can explore via hiking and biking trails including grasslands, sand dunes, forests, and wetlands. The state park also has a lake named Lake Cleone, whose surrounding areas are home to many animals including foxes, raccoons, and black-tailed deer. If you like birdwatching, the lake also attracts many bird species including ducks, cormorants, and herons. In addition, this lake and the area surrounding it is also a popular resting spot for migratory waterfowl. Lake Cleone is also a popular paddle-boating spot. If you like horse riding, there is a private concession near MacKerricher State Park which offers horse riding tours within designated state park areas. The state park’s visitor center also has many interesting exhibits including a grey whale skeleton. In addition, docent-led tours, junior ranger programs, and campfire programs are frequently organized by the state park. The state park also has four campgrounds. If you are planning to camp here, you can visit MacKerricher State Park’s web page on the California Department of Parks and Recreation’s website for more information on these campsites.

There are many attractions near MacKerricher State Park - Main Beach. The International Sea Glass Museum has one of the largest collections of beautiful sea glass pieces in the world. In addition, this museum also displays exquisite terracotta pieces and also has a gift store. If you like shopping, the downtown area of Fort Bragg has many shops and restaurants. In addition, the downtown area also has buildings featuring interesting mural artworks. If you are looking for another attraction near MacKerricher State Park - Main Beach, Otis R. Johnson Wilderness Park is a seven-acre large forested park that has hiking trails. This park offers a unique insight into the regional biodiversity of North California.

If you get hungry, there are many restaurants near MacKerricher State Park - Main Beach. Oscar’s Restaurant offers delicious steaks and seafood. Off The Hook is a Japanese restaurant that serves delicious sushi, sashimi, tempura, and udon soup. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near MacKerricher State Park - Main Beach, the modestly priced Home Style Cafe offers excellent breakfast dishes including eggs, pancake, burritos, refried beans, and biscuits with gravy.

If you are looking for a hotel near MacKerricher State Park - Main Beach, there are many great nearby options. The 4-Star North Cliff Hotel offers mesmerizing Instagram-worthy views of the northern California coastline and also serves complimentary breakfast. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Emerald Dolphin Inn & Mini Golf which offers many amenities including a mini-golf course, a hair salon, and a video game arcade. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near MacKerricher State Park - Main Beach, the modestly priced 2-Star Harbor Lite Lodge offers many amenities including complimentary breakfast, a gym, and a coin-operated laundry.