Manchester State Beach(Manchester Beach State Park)

Located near the community of Manchester, Manchester State Park - also known as Manchester State Beach - is a state park with a large and north-facing unnamed beach that has light brown sand. This beach is around four miles long and stretches all the way from the mouth of Alder Creek to the area near the Garcia River Estuary. Brush Creek and Alder Creek flow through this beach into the Pacific Ocean. The beach shoreline is slightly curved, which results in the beach having a lot of debris that is frequently deposited by the ocean. 

While the beach in Manchester State Park does not have lifeguards, the state park area near this beach has restrooms and hiking trails. Dogs are not allowed on the beach in Manchester State Park.

The beach in Manchester State Park offers many fun activities including sunbathing, beachcombing, hiking, camping, fishing, scuba diving, and wildlife watching. The water near this beach is unsafe for recreational activities like surfing and swimming as the water here is known to have extremely strong currents. However, if you are an experienced scuba diver, you can access Arena Rock (which is an offshore rock formation present near this beach) 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 (usually between December and April). If you like fishing, you can also catch steelhead in Alder Creek and Brush Creek which flow through this beach. However, if you are planning to fish in the water near Manchester State Park, we recommend that you follow the local fishing regulations. If you like birdwatching, you can view many kinds of birds around this beach and you can also see tundra swans here during winters. In addition, portions of this beach are used as a nesting spot by western 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. This beach is also considered ideal for beachcombing as many interesting objects are deposited into the beach by the ocean waves.

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 the beach in Manchester State Park - the main access trail to the beach is located near 44350 Kinney Road, where there is also a free parking lot. Another access trail to the beach is located near the western end of Stoneboro Road (near its intersection with Bristol Road), where there is also a free parking lot. From this parking lot, you need to walk half a mile along an access trail to finally get to the beach in Manchester State Park. We recommend visiting this beach wearing appropriate footwear as the beach is known to have lots of driftwood. 

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

There are many attractions near Manchester State Park. The Point Arena - Stornetta Public Lands spans over 1,600 acres and is the first mainland-based portion of the California Coastal National Monument. This site has a variety of diverse habitats including wetlands, grasslands, and forests of cypress trees. You can explore these public lands via hiking trails present here, which also offer great opportunities for a fun wildlife watching session along with a unique insight into the exquisite biodiversity of North California. 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, salmon, and greenling. In addition, the water around the pier is a popular spot among surfers, scuba divers, and kayakers. If you are looking for another attraction near Manchester State Park, the Garcia River Casino offers many fun and interesting games and has a diverse range of exciting slot machines.  

If you get hungry, there are many restaurants near Manchester State Park.  Bird Cafe and Supper Club offers excellent gourmet dishes which are prepared using fresh and locally sourced ingredients. The Pier Chowder House and Tap Room offers a pleasant oceanfront dining experience and it also serves amazing seafood. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Manchester State Park, The River Grill offers a variety of delicious burgers.

If you are looking for a hotel near Manchester State Park, there are many great nearby options. The 4-Star Elk Cove Inn & Spa is 20 minutes away by car and 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 that offers accommodation in rustic cottages which offer interesting views of the Pacific Ocean. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Manchester State Park, the 2-Star Wildflower Boutique Motel is located close to some of the major attractions in Mendocino County and offers complimentary breakfast.