Hardy Creek Beach(Sinkyone Wilderness State Park)

Located to the north of Fort Bragg, Hardy Creek Beach is a beautiful beach with grey sand and some pebbly and rocky portions. The beach is situated at the base of oceanfront mountains. Hardy Creek flows through the beach into the Pacific Ocean. The beach has many interesting rock formations around its shoreline including some interesting sea-stacks, rock arches, and the Hardy Rock which resembles a shark fin. It is important to note that the part of the California shoreline present to the north of Hardy Creek Beach is called "The Lost Coast." This coastline is called by this name as it is extremely rugged and no major local highways pass through this beach - making it a large undeveloped area with little human inhabitation.

Hardy Creek Beach does not have lifeguards or any other amenities, so plan your trip accordingly. 

Hardy Creek Beach offers many fun activities including sunbathing, beachcombing, wildlife watching, and hiking. The water near this beach is generally unsafe for recreational aquatic activities including swimming and surfing as the water here has dangerous currents, strong waves, and extremely cold temperature. Depending on the time of the year, you can see many kinds of animals in the water near this beach including seals and migrating whales. If you like birdwatching, you can see many kinds of birds around Hardy Creek Beach including murres, loons, ospreys, and oystercatchers. The rock formations present around Hardy Creek Beach offer amazing Instagram-worthy photos.

Getting to the free parking lot for Hardy Creek Beach is easy - this parking lot is situated in a bend along Pacific Coast Highway/Shoreline Highway. However, getting down to the beach from the blufftop parking lot above can be difficult as the access trail to the beach from the parking lot goes down along steep and rocky bluffsides. In addition, we recommend being careful while going down to the beach as a sign is present near the access trail which forbids any trespassing in the area around the beach. We also recommend wearing appropriate footwear while visiting the beach as it is known to have driftwood.

There are many attractions near Hardy Creek Beach. Westport Headlands Park is a blufftop park that has picnic areas overlooking the Pacific Ocean and the North California shoreline. The park also has a stairway leading to a rocky cove below, which was earlier used as a ship landing. The park offers many activities including fishing, wildlife watching, and picnicking. The Westport Whale is a large whale statue above a small pool. This statue is a major local public artwork. If you are looking for another attraction near Hardy Creek Beach, The Guest House Museum is a 32-minute drive away and was built in the 19th century. This museum currently serves as the headquarters of Fort Bragg - Mendocino Coast Historical Society. The museum has interesting exhibits on the history of the city of Fort Bragg and Mendocino County.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Hardy Creek Beach within a 45-minute drive. The Peg House offers amazing burgers, salads, sandwiches, seafood, hot dogs, burritos, and bagels. The restaurant also hosts live music performances within its premises. In addition, the restaurant has also been praised by the Sunset magazine for its excellent and popular burgers. Mayan Fusion Restaurant offers fantastic Mexican cuisine with culinary influences from the Yucatan peninsula. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Hardy Creek Beach, the modestly priced The Purple Rose is a Mexican restaurant which offers amazing tacos, burritos, tamales, and chimichangas.

If you are looking for a hotel near Hardy Creek Beach, there are many great nearby options within a 35-minute drive. The 4-Star Inn at Newport Ranch offers breathtaking views of the Mendocino County shoreline. In addition, the hotel offers many amenities including complimentary breakfast and evening snacks, access to spa services, a sauna, and a hot tub. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Coast Inn & Spa which is a 46-minute drive away and offers many amenities including a cafe, a natural healing center, a spa with a hot tub and a sauna. As another moderately priced option, the Howard Creek Ranch Inn Bed & Breakfast offers many amenities including complimentary breakfast, a hot tub, and a sauna. In addition, hiking trails are also available which offer a fun hiking session around the bed-and breakfast’s 60-acre property. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Hardy Creek Beach, the 2-Star Motel 6 Fort Bragg,CA offers many amenities including a pool, a restaurant, a fitness center, and complimentary morning coffee.