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.