Mal Coombs Beach(Mal Coombs Park)

Located in the western portion of the community of Shelter Cove, Mal Coombs Park is a blufftop recreational park with an unnamed rocky beach below it. This beach has both sandy and pebbly portions and is also sometimes known as Mal Coombs Beach. A lighthouse named Cape Mendocino Lighthouse is also present in the blufftop area above this beach. 

Mal Coombs Park does not have lifeguards. However, the blufftop area above the beach has many other amenities including restrooms, picnic tables, and barbecue spots. Dogs are allowed on the beach. 

Mal Coombs Park offers many fun activities including beachcombing, tidepooling, wildlife watching, and picnicking. The water near the beach in Mal Coombs Park has extremely strong waves and dangerous currents, which makes it unsafe for aquatic recreational activities including surfing and swimming. In addition, the rocky shoreline around this beach can inflict grievous injuries. Depending on the time of the year, you can see many kinds of animals in the water near this beach including seals, sea lions, and migrating whales. A popular activity in the beach in Mal Coombs Park is tidepooling-during low tide, you can see many kinds of wonderful creatures in the tidepools here including sea snails and barnacles. The blufftop area above the beach offers amazing Instagram-worthy views of the North California shoreline and the Pacific Ocean.  The Cape Mendocino Lighthouse present above this beach is a locally famous landmark which was originally constructed in the 19th century. While this 43-feet tall lighthouse was originally situated in Shelter Cove (which is California’s westernmost point), it was moved in 1998 to Shelter Cove.

Getting to Mal Coombs Park is easy - the park is situated near 1176 Lower Pacific Drive. A stairway in the park will lead you to the beach below it. A free parking lot is also present near Mal Coombs Park. 

There are many attractions near Mal Coombs Park within an hour-and-15 minute drive. Benbow State Recreation Area is a state park which has hiking trails that offer a unique way to explore the vibrant redwood forests of Northern California. This state park also offers a picnicking area and a campground. In addition, portions of the South Fork of the Eel River also pass through this state park, which offer an amazing seasonal fishing experience. If you are planning to camp in Benbow State Recreation Area, you can visit the state park’s webpage on the California Departments of Parks and Recreation’s website for more useful information on the camping rules and amenities. Confusion Hill is a famous local amusement park whose most famous feature is the "Gravity House" - this house’s premises exhibit an optical illusion which makes the house seemingly defy gravity. In addition, the amusement park also offers a memorable train ride through a beautiful redwood forest. You can also view interesting historical logging equipment during this train ride. If you are looking for another attraction near Mal Coombs Park, The Scotia Museum is an hour-and-24 minutes away by car and is situated in the nearby town of Scotia. This interesting museum offers a unique insight into the vibrant history of Humboldt County and Northern California. It also has interesting historical exhibits about the local lumber industry. The museum is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day between Monday and Friday.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Mal Coombs Park. Mi Mochima offers amazing Venezuelan dishes. In addition, the restaurant also serves excellent seafood and steaks. Delgada Pizza And Bakery serves amazing pizzas and pastas. In addition, the restaurant also serves burgers, tacos, and fantastic baked desserts. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Mal Coombs Park, Shelter Cove RV Campground & Deli offers amazing seafood, sandwiches, burgers, fries, desserts, and pizzas.

If you are looking for a hotel near Mal Coombs Park, there are many great nearby options.  The 4-Star Benbow Historic Inn is 50 minutes away by car. This hotel was built in the 1920s and offers many amenities including a restaurant, a nine-hole golf course, a cocktail lounge, and access to a nearby seasonal pool.  The hotel also offers a complimentary bicycle loaner facility and afternoon tea. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Spyglass Inn at Shelter Cove which offers amazing Instagram-worthy views of the Pacific Ocean and is located conveniently close to some of the major attractions around Shelter Cove and the Lost Coast. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Mal Coombs Park, the 2-Star OceanFront Inn-Shelter Cove offers many amenities including a restaurant and a barbecue area with picnic tables.