Old Haul Road Beach(Old Haul Road Beach Access)

Located in MacKerricher State Park, Old Haul Road Beach - also known as Old Haul Road Beach Access - is a quarter-of-a-mile long beach with light brown sand in Mendocino County. The beach is situated below steep and irregular oceanfront bluffs. It is important to note that Old Haul Road Beach does not have any officially designated name and many locals refer to this particular beach simply as "the beach next to Old Haul Road." The water near the beach is cold and has strong currents, and the shoreline around the beach is rocky. Old Haul Road Beach does not have lifeguards or any other amenities. However, the state park area above the beach has restrooms, hiking trails, and biking trails. The beach also allows dogs on leash. 

Old Haul Road Beach offers many fun activities including sunbathing, hiking, biking, wildlife watching, swimming, surfing, kitesurfing, windsurfing, bodysurfing, boogie-boarding, kayaking, canoeing, boating, and jet-skiing. If you are planning to go into the water near Old Haul Road Beach, we recommend being careful as the water here is extremely cold and is also known to have rip currents. The water near this beach is home to many animals including seals, sea lions, and migrating grey whales (between December and April). The blufftop areas around the beach have many interesting hiking and biking trails that offer unique views of the Mendocino County coastline and the Pacific Ocean. One of these trails is the Old Haul Multi-Use Trail (also known as the Ten Mile Trail) that follows the route of an old railway line that was used for transporting timber. A portion of this trail goes through a wooden trestle bridge that was built in the early 20th century.

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.

Getting to Old Haul Road Beach is easy - the access trail to the beach is located near 1131 North Main Street, where a free parking lot is also available between The Beachcomber Motel and the Surf & Sand Lodge. This free parking lot is signposted as "MacKerricher State Park - South Coastal Trail Access." From this parking lot, you need to cross over to the adjacent Haul Road Multi-Use Trail which is situated on MacKerricher State Park Road. This trail offers access to many dirt paths going down along the bluff side to Old Haul Road Beach.

There are many attractions near Old Haul Road Beach. Triangle Tattoo & Museum has interesting tattoo-related artifacts and exhibits. The museum is run by renowned local tattoo artists Madame Chinchilla and Mr.G. The Guest House Museum was built in the 19th century and currently serves as the headquarters of Fort Bragg - Mendocino Coast Historical Society. The museum has interesting exhibits on the history of the city of Fort Bragg and Mendocino County. If you are looking for another attraction near Old Haul Road Beach, NOYO Center for Marine Science has a discovery center that offers interesting exhibits on the local biodiversity. The discovery center also has a gift shop. In addition, NOYO Center for Marine Science also has the Crow’s Nest Interpretive Center that is situated upon a bluff overlooking the ocean. This interpretive center also has interesting exhibits on natural history, an aquarium tide pool, and a deck for whale watching.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Old Haul Road Beach. Caspar Pub House is a gastropub that serves classic British dishes including scotch eggs, fish-and-chips, and chicken tikka masala. The gastropub also hosts live music performances on Friday and Saturday nights, open mic performances on Thursdays, and a Quiz Night on Mondays. D’Aurelio & Sons is an Italian restaurant that offers amazing pasta and pizzas. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Old Haul Road Beach, the modestly priced La Estrella offers delicious Mexican dishes.

If you are looking for a hotel near Old Haul Road Beach, there are many great nearby options. The 4-Star Blue Door Inns - Four Sister Collection is an upscale bed-and-breakfast that offers many amenities including a two-course complimentary breakfast and complimentary cookies and hot drinks. In addition, the bed-and-breakfast also organizes an afternoon wine hour.  A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Anchor Lodge Motel that offers many amenities including a restaurant and a terrace. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Old Haul Road Beach, the modestly priced 2-Star The Beachcomber Motel offers many amenities including complimentary continental breakfast, a roof deck, and a bike rental facility.