Pudding Creek Beach(Pudding Inlet Beach)

Located in the city of Fort Bragg, Pudding Creek Beach is a large and popular beach that has light brown sand. The beach is situated in a deep cove below steep oceanfront bluffs and is a part of a state park known as MacKerricher State Park. The Pudding Creek flows through the beach into the Pacific Ocean and sometimes forms a lagoon on this beach. There is an old wooden railway trestles bridge that passes above this beach and is part of a state park multi-use trail. Pudding Creek Beach is surrounded on both sides by a rocky shoreline. 

Pudding Creek Beach does not have lifeguards or any other amenities except walking and biking trails and restrooms. 

Pudding Creek Beach offers many fun activities including sunbathing, hiking, biking, wildlife watching, fishing, tidepooling, swimming, surfing, kitesurfing, windsurfing, bodysurfing, boogie boarding, kayaking, canoeing, boating, and jet-skiing. The water near Pudding Creek Beach offers some good surfing waves on very rare occasions. However, if you are planning to go into the water near Pudding Creek Beach, we recommend being careful as the water here is cold and known to have strong currents and dangerous waves. The water near Pudding Creek Beach is home to many marine mammals including seals, sea lions, and migrating grey whales (between December and April). Another popular activity in Pudding Creek Beach is fishing - depending on the time of the year, you can catch a lot of fish in the water near Pudding Creek Beach including salmon, cabezon, surfperch, and greenlings. However, if you are planning to fish here, we recommend complying with the local fishing regulations. You can also explore the tidepools present along the rocky shoreline near the northern end of the beach. 

As an interesting fact, Pudding Creek Beach is famous among locals for reportedly having "singing" or "squeaky" sand, which is a squeaky or whistling sound produced by the sand when its smooth and round particles rub against human feet. This rare phenomenon primarily occurs due to friction produced from the rubbing of sand against human feet. The wooden trestle bridge passing above the beach was built in the early 20th century and is now a part of the Ten Mile trail, which follows the route of an old railway line that was earlier used to transport timber. In addition, the blufftop areas around the beach have many interesting hiking trails that offer unique views of the Mendocino County coastline and the Pacific Ocean.

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. 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 the state park’s campsites.

Getting to Pudding Creek Beach is easy - the beach is located near 1100 North Main Street, where there is also a free parking lot that is open from 6 am to 10 pm.

There are many attractions near Pudding Creek Beach. Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens has a variety of plant collections that are home to a vivid array of flora including a marine zone garden, gardens containing dahlias and magnolias, a conifer pine forest, a kitchen garden, and a camellia garden. In addition, Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens are famous for having an incredible array of beautiful and sweet-smelling rhododendron flowers. Jackson Demonstration State Forest has a large coastal redwood forest that has hiking, biking, and equestrian trails that offer an interesting way to explore its vibrant biodiversity and rich history. In addition, Jackson Demonstration State Forest also offers many fun activities including swimming, picnicking, seasonal camping, and seasonal hunting. If you are looking for another attraction near Pudding Creek Beach, 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 get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Pudding Creek Beach. Silver’s at The Wharf has a dining area that offers fantastic views of the Noyo River. In addition, the restaurant also serves amazing seafood and steaks. Sea Pal Cove has a homely ambiance and offers a pleasant waterfront dining experience. In addition, the restaurant also serves delicious sandwiches, burgers, and seafood. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Pudding Creek Beach, the modestly priced Egghead’s Restaurant has a Wizard of Oz theme and serves excellent breakfast dishes including eggs, crepes, burritos, sandwiches, and burgers.

If you are looking for a hotel near Pudding Creek Beach, there are many great nearby options. The 4-Star Atrium Garden Inn has Victorian architecture and offers many amenities including a DVD library, an atrium garden, complimentary breakfast, and afternoon cookies and tea. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Coast Inn & Spa which offers many amenities including a restaurant, a natural healing center, and a spa with a hot tub and a sauna. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Pudding Creek Beach, the modestly priced 2-Star Oceanside Inn & Suites offers many amenities including complimentary continental breakfast, complimentary afternoon snacks, and an outdoor barbecue.