Alder Creek Beach(Manchester State Park, Lake Davis Wetlands and Coastal Dunes Natural Preserve)

Located near the community of Manchester, Alder Creek Beach is a remote beach with brown sand. This beach is situated below oceanfront bluffs and is a part of a state park known as Manchester State Park. Alder Creek sometimes flows through the beach into the Pacific Ocean and also forms a lagoon near Alder Creek Beach.  We recommend visiting the beach wearing appropriate footwear as the beach has lots of driftwood. In addition, we recommend visiting this beach wearing layered clothing as the weather here is known to change unpredictably.

Alder Creek Beach does not have lifeguards or any other amenities, so plan your trip accordingly. Dogs are not allowed on this beach.

Alder Creek Beach offers many fun activities including sunbathing, beachcombing, hiking, wildlife watching, fishing, and scuba diving. The water near Alder Creek Beach is extremely unsafe for aquatic recreational activities including surfing and swimming as the water here has extremely strong currents. However, if you are an experienced scuba diver, you can access a nearby offshore rock formation named Arena Rock via boat. You can dive into the water around this rock formation to explore the vibrant underwater biodiversity present along the kelp beds here. You can also view migrating grey whales in the water near this beach (between December and April). If you like fishing, you can catch lots of steelhead fish in Alder Creek. However, if you are planning to fish in the water near Alder Creek Beach, we recommend that you follow the local fishing regulations. The blufftop area above the beach offers fantastic views of the Pacific Ocean and is a great spot to watch migrating grey whales. If you like birdwatching, you can watch many kinds of birds in and around Alder Creek Beach including herons, egrets, and tundra swans (during winters). In addition, the area near this beach is used as a nesting spot by snowy plovers, which are listed as endangered under the federal 1973 Endangered Species Act. The area around this beach is also home to the extremely rare Point Arena mountain beaver. In addition, you can also occasionally view otters near the mouth of Alder Creek.

Manchester State Park also has a variety of habitats including coastal scrub, sand dunes, grasslands, and wetlands which you can explore via hiking trails. These hiking trails offer fantastic views of the northern California shoreline and you can also occasionally see sheep and cattle grazing around this state park. In addition, many wildflowers are present in the Manchester State Park including California poppies and baby blue eyes, which bloom during spring and create memorable coastal scenery. The state park also has a campsite. If you are interested in camping in Manchester State Park, you can visit Manchester State Park’s webpage at the California Department of Parks and Recreation’s website for more information. 

There are multiple ways to access Alder Creek Beach - the access trail to the beach follows an old road called Alder Creek Beach Road, which is easily accessible from Shoreline Highway / California State Highway 1. You can park at the small free parking lot available at the spot where Alder Creek Beach Road diverts off the highway and then walk around a mile to Alder Creek Beach. As another option, you can park at a free parking lot at the end of Kinney Road and from there walk one-and-a-half miles along the Manchester State Park coastline to Alder Creek Beach. There is a trail leading to Alder Creek Beach from the area near this parking lot named the Davis Wetlands Trail. 

As an interesting fact, the San Andreas Fault also enters the Pacific Ocean near this beach.

There are many attractions near Alder Creek Beach. Point Arena Fishing Pier is a 322-feet long pier that is a popular fishing spot. Depending on the time of the year, you can catch many kinds of fish here including cabezon, rockfish, salmon, and greenling. In addition, the water around the pier is a popular spot among surfers, scuba divers, and kayakers. The Garcia River Casino offers many fun and interesting games and has a diverse range of exciting slot machines. If you are looking for another attraction near Alder Creek Beach, Arena Theater is a theatre dating back to 1928 which hosts a variety of interesting events including plays, live music performances, and screenings for documentaries and movies.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Alder Creek Beach. Bird Cafe and Supper Club offers excellent gourmet dishes which are prepared using fresh and locally sourced ingredients. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Alder Creek Beach, The River Grill offers a variety of delicious burgers.

If you are looking for a hotel near Alder Creek Beach, there are many great options. The 4-Star Elk Cove Inn & Spa offers many amenities including a rooftop deck, a day spa, a beachfront gazebo, a guest lounge, and complimentary breakfast and wine and cocktails. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Coast Guard House Historic Inn & Cottages which offers accommodation in rustic cottages which offer interesting views of the Pacific Ocean. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Alder Creek Beach, the 2-Star Wildflower Boutique Motel is located close to some of the major attractions in Mendocino County and offers complimentary breakfast.