Big River Beach(Mendocino Headlands State Park (Big River))

Located at the mouth of Big River, Big River Beach is an immensely popular beach with light brown sand. This beach is surrounded by forested bluffs on both sides and is a part of an oceanfront state park known as Mendocino Headlands State Park. The Big River forms an estuary near the beach before flowing into the Pacific Ocean. It is important to note that the beach’s size is not definite and occasional storms often result in the beach getting significantly flooded by the adjacent Big River Estuary, greatly reducing its size temporarily. Big River Beach does not have lifeguards. However, the beach has a few other amenities including restrooms and hiking and biking trails. In addition, water sports equipment rental facilities are also available near the beach. Dogs on leash are allowed on the beach. Getting to Big River beach is easy - multiple free parking lots for the beach are located along Big River Road near its intersection with Shoreline Highway / Pacific Coast Highway. There is an access trail near these parking lots which will lead you to Big River Beach. As another access option, you can drive to the Mendocino Presbyterian Church which is located at 44831 Main Street. You can park at a free parking lot situated behind the church. From this parking lot you need to walk on an access trail that leads down along the bluffside to a wooden stairway offering access to Big River Beach. We recommend visiting the beach wearing appropriate footwear as this beach is known to have driftwood.

Big River Beach offers many fun activities including beachcombing, sunbathing, biking, wildlife watching, fishing, picnicking, hiking, swimming, scuba diving, kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, stand-up paddleboarding, and boating. The Pacific Ocean near Big River Beach is generally unsafe for aquatic recreational activities including swimming and surfing as the water here has strong waves and dangerous rip currents. We also recommend being careful while standing near the Pacific Ocean in Big River Beach as sneaker waves in the water here can also pull visitors offshore. However, despite the risky water conditions, kayakers occasionally go into the Pacific Ocean water near this beach. In addition, scuba divers also occasionally enter the water near this beach to explore its vibrant underwater biodiversity. Depending on the time of the year, you can see many kinds of animals in the water here including seals, sea lions, otters, and migrating whales. If you like birdwatching, you can see many interesting kinds of shorebirds around Big River Beach. Unlike the Pacific Ocean here, the water of the Big River present near this beach is generally calm and offers an amazing kayaking, swimming, canoeing, and paddleboarding experience. A private concession named "Catch A Canoe & Bicycles Too" is present near this beach and offers kayaks, canoes, stand-up paddleboards, and bikes to explore the Big River and its beautiful banks. If you are planning to fish in the water near Big River Beach, please note that the water near this beach is a part of the Big River Estuary State Marine Conservation Area and you can only catch certain kinds of fish here. In addition, we also recommend ensuring compliance with the other local fishing regulations while fishing in the water near Big River Beach. Interesting sea caves are also present in the shoreline around Big River Beach which can be explored during low tide. Big River Beach is ideal for those looking for a quieter beach experience as the beach sees very few visitors despite its popularity. A hiking and biking trail present near the beach named the Big River Trail offers a fantastic way to explore the vibrant riparian landscape around the banks of the Big River. In addition, the trail also offers an amazing wildlife watching experience. 

There are many attractions near Big River Beach. Mendocino Art Center frequently hosts exhibitions that feature artworks made by many renowned artists. In addition, the center also hosts interesting art classes. The center also has beautifully landscaped lawns within its premises along with the Zacha Sculpture Garden which has a beautifully tiled courtyard and a sculpture. The Temple of Kwan Tai is a Chinese Taoist temple and a California Historical Landmark that was built in the 19th century and offers an interesting insight into the role played by the Asian community in California’s development and history.  If you are looking for another attraction near Big River Beach, Point Cabrillo Light Station State Historic Park has hiking and biking trails that you can use to explore the state park’s vibrant blufftop landscape and interesting fauna. In addition, the park is a major regional historical landmark - the state park has a lighthouse which was built in the early 20th century and has a third-order Fresnel lens made by the British glassworks company Chance Brothers. This lighthouse also has interesting exhibits. Apart from this lighthouse, there are two other buildings that you can explore - the 1st Assistant Lightkeeper’s House which has been restored to its original look from the 1930s and the restored Blacksmith & Carpenter Shop which currently houses the Marine Sciences Exhibit that has a 240-gallon seawater aquarium and interesting exhibits on local marine life.

Mendocino Headlands State Park is spread around 347 acres which preserves a beautiful and rugged section of the Mendocino County shoreline and the area around the mouth of the Big River.  The state park has a vibrant landscape consisting of many habitats including wetlands, coastal scrub, and riparian forests. In addition, the state park also offers many fun activities including surfing, hiking, picnicking, and surfing. A 19th-century building named Ford House (also known as the Historic Ford House) is also present in the state park. This building currently houses a museum and also serves as the visitor center for Mendocino Headlands State Park. Ford House has many interesting historical exhibits including a scale-model exhibit of 19th-century Mendocino. The state park also hosts the annual Mendocino Music Festival which sees exciting music concerts being organized on the state park property.  

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Big River Beach. The upscale CAFÉ BEAUJOLAIS offers a wide array of amazing gourmet dishes.   Trillium Cafe offers a memorable oceanfront dining area and also has a fireplace. In addition, the restaurant also serves amazing Californian cuisine with Mediterranean and East Asian influences. In addition, the restaurant has also been praised by many reputed publications including Sunset and Travel & Leisure magazines. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Big River Beach, the modestly priced Home Style Cafe offers excellent breakfast dishes including eggs, pancake, burritos, refried beans, and biscuits with gravy.

If you are looking for a hotel near Big River 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 MacCallum House Inn which was built in the 19th century and offers many amenities including a restaurant, complimentary breakfast, and a DVD rental facility. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Big River Beach, the 2-Star Super 8 by Wyndham Fort Bragg offers many amenities including a cafe and complimentary breakfast.