Bear Harbor Beach(Sinkyone Wilderness State Park)

Located to the north of Westport, Bear Harbor Beach is a small beach that has dark-colored sand and some rocky parts. This south-facing beach is situated below oceanfront bluffs and is a part of a state park known as Sinkyone Wilderness State Park. Bear Harbor Beach does not have lifeguards or any other amenities except hiking trails, so plan your trip accordingly. Dogs are also not allowed in Bear Harbor Beach. 

Bear Harbor Beach offers many fun activities including sunbathing, beachcombing, hiking, wildlife watching, picnicking, and camping. While the water near this beach is relatively calmer than other beaches in Sinkyone Wilderness State Park, aquatic recreational activities are still unsafe in the water near this beach as it has dangerous waves and extremely strong currents. 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. During low tide, Bear Harbor Beach also serves as a fantastic beachcombing spot. A tent campground is also present near this beach which offers a fun oceanfront camping experience. If you are planning to camp in this campground, you can visit Sinkyone Wilderness State Park’s webpage on the California Department of Parks and Recreation’s website for more information regarding the campground rules. The Lost Coast Trail passes near this beach and offers an amazing hiking experience along with beautiful Instagram-worthy views of the Northern California shoreline.

Sinkyone Wilderness State Park has many amazing hiking and equestrian trails which offer a unique way to explore the vibrant coastal landscape of Northern Mendocino County. The park’s landscape has many habitats including woodlands and coastal grasslands. However, we recommend being careful while hiking within this state park as the area around the hiking trails here is known to have ticks. You can also view many kinds of animals and birds in this state park including bears, elk, ospreys, owls, falcons, and eagles. The state park’s Needle Rock Visitor Center was initially built as a ranch-house in the 1920s and now has interesting interpretive exhibits. In addition, there are many campgrounds for pedestrians and equestrians in Sinkyone Wilderness State Park which offer a fun camping experience. If you want to camp in these campgrounds, you can visit Sinkyone Wilderness State Park’s webpage on the California Department of Parks and Recreation’s website for more helpful information about camping here.

Getting to Bear Harbor Beach is slightly difficult from the nearby town of Garberville – you need to first drive on a road named Redwood Drive and then turn towards another road named Briceland Road. You then need to undertake a long and winding drive along Briceland Road to reach the Needle Rock Visitor Center of Sinkyone Wilderness State Park, which has a paid parking lot. Once you park here, you need to undertake a three-mile-long hike along the Lost Coast Trail to finally access Bear Harbor Beach. It is important to note that portions of Briceland Road are closed during winters. In addition, this road is not recommended for large vehicles and RVs as parts of it are also narrow and rugged.

There are many attractions near Bear Harbor Beach within an hour-and-35-minute drive. Confusion Hill is a famous local amusement park whose most famous feature is the"Gravity House" - this house’s premises exhibit an optical illusion that 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. Shrine Drive Thru Tree (also known as Shrine of the Redwoods, Redwood Shrine Tree, and Doust Tree) is a redwood tree that has a tunnel carved through it. This tunnel was possibly naturally carved through the tree by lightning more than a century ago. Ever since then, the tree has been popular among motorists who drive their vehicles through it. The area around this tree has many points of interest including a treehouse village and a gift shop. If you are looking for another attraction near Bear Harbor Beach, Richardson Grove State Park was established in 1922. This state park is mainly composed of beautiful redwood forests and offers many fun activities including camping, wildlife watching, picnicking, and hiking. In addition, the South Fork of the Eel River also flows within the state park’s premises - the water in this portion of the river offers a fun swimming experience during summers. The portions of the Eel River within the state park also offer an amazing catch-and-release fishing experience during winters. The state park’s visitor center was originally built in the 1930s and currently has informative interpretive exhibits.  

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Bear Harbor Beach within an hour and 10-minute drive. Gyppo Ale Mill offers amazing seafood, fries, chicken wings, salads, sandwiches, and burgers. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Bear Harbor Beach, Amilia’s offers amazing salads, breakfast dishes, and sandwiches.

If you are looking for a hotel near Bear Harbor Beach, there are many great nearby options within an hour-and-20 minute drive. The 4-Star Benbow Historic Inn 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 Best Western Plus Humboldt House Inn that offers many amenities including a pool, a hot tub, a computer for guests, a coin-operated laundry, and complimentary breakfast. In addition, the hotel also frequently organizes fun evening social gatherings. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Bear Harbor Beach, the modestly priced 2-Star Dean Creek Resort has many amenities including a pool, a hot tub, a sauna, a recreational area that offers mini-golf, volleyball, and basketball, a coin-operated laundry, and a convenience store. In addition, the hotel also has a campground and an RV park.