Westport - Union Landing State Beach(Howard Creek Beach, Westport Union Landing)

Located to the north of Fort Bragg, Westport-Union Landing State Beach - also known as Howard Creek Beach - is a three-mile long state-protected beach with light brown sand. The beach is situated below oceanfront bluffs and the Howard Creek flows through the beach into the Pacific Ocean. It is important to note that the southern portion of this beach is known as DeHaven Creek Beach. As an interesting fact, this state beach got its name from the two nearby coastal settlements of Westport and Union Landing, which were once important ports for supplying lumber. In addition, the beach and the area around it were used by local Native American tribes for collecting seaweed and fishing for thousands of years. 

Westport-Union Landing State Beach does not have lifeguards. However, it has many other amenities including picnic tables, barbecue spots, restrooms, and an observation area. Dogs on leash are allowed on the beach.

Westport-Union Landing State Beach offers many fun activities including beachcombing, sunbathing, wildlife watching, fishing, hiking, camping, and picnicking. 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 temperatures. 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 this beach including owls, warblers, and flycatchers. A popular activity in Westport-Union Landing State Beach is fishing - you can catch many kinds of fish in the water here including lingcod, surfperch, and halibut. Surf smelt and night smelt also occasionally come to breed in the portions of the water near Westport-Union Landing State Beach shoreline during the day and night respectively. Fishermen often catch these breeding fish using fishing nets. If you are planning to fish in the water near Westport-Union Landing State Beach, please make sure that you follow the local fishing regulations. Westport-Union Landing State Beach offers amazing Instagram-worthy views of the Pacific Ocean and the Northern California shoreline. The beach and the area around it also offer an amazing hiking experience. A campground is also present near the beach which accommodates both tents and RVs. If you are planning to camp in the campground near Westport-Union Landing State Beach, you can visit Westport-Union Landing State Beach’s webpage on the California Department of Parks and Recreations’ website for more information about the campground rules, amenities, and charges.  

Getting to Westport-Union Landing State Beach is easy - the access trail to the beach is located near the intersection between Shoreline Highway/Pacific Coast Highway and Pacific Heights Drive, where a free parking lot is also available. We recommend visiting this beach wearing layered clothing as the weather here is unpredictable. The beach is open to visitors between 5 am to 10 pm.

There are many attractions near Westport-Union Landing State Beach within a 30-minute drive. The Westport Whale is a large whale statue above a small pool. This statue is a major local public artwork.  MacKerricher State Park has a variety of habitats that you can explore via hiking and biking trails including grasslands, sand dunes, forests, and wetlands. The state park also has a lake named Lake Cleone, whose surrounding areas are home to many animals including foxes, raccoons, and black tailed deer. If you like birdwatching, the lake also attracts many bird species including ducks, cormorants, and herons. In addition, this lake and the area surrounding it is also a popular resting spot for migratory waterfowl. If you like horse riding, there is a private concession near MacKerricher State Park which offers horse riding tours within designated state park areas. The state park’s visitor center also has many interesting exhibits including a grey whale skeleton. In addition, docent-led tours, junior ranger programmes, and campfire programmes are frequently organized by the state park. The state park also has four campgrounds. If you are planning to camp here, you can visit MacKerricher State Park’s web page on California Department of Parks and Recreation’s website for more information on these campsites. If you are looking for another attraction near Westport-Union Landing State Beach, The International Sea Glass Museum has one of the largest collections of beautiful sea glass pieces in the world.  In addition, this museum also displays exquisite terracotta pieces and also has a gift store.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Westport-Union Landing State Beach within a 30-minute drive. Silver’s at the Wharf has a dining area that offers fantastic views of the Noyo River. In addition, the restaurant also serves amazing seafood and steaks. Westport Hotel & Old Abalone Pub offers excellent seafood and gourmet dishes. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Westport-Union Landing State Beach, the modestly priced Cravingrill offers delicious Mediterranean food including dolmas, falafel, and baba ganoush.  

If you are looking for a hotel near Westport-Union Landing State Beach, there are many great nearby options.  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 Emerald Dolphin Inn & Mini Golf which is 32 minutes away by car and offers many amenities including a mini golf course, a hair salon, and a video game arcade. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Westport-Union Landing State Beach, the modestly priced Westport Inn is located conveniently close to some of the major landmarks in Westport and offers complimentary breakfast along with morning coffee and tea.