Mendocino Headlands State Park (1/4 mile from Agate Cove) : dramatic views of the ocean and Mendocino, plus great whalewatching in season. Connects with Big River State Beach, and the recently-acquired Big River Unit.

Big River Unit, Mendocino Headlands State Park (1/2 mile from Agate Cove) : this land was purchased in March 2002, and was turned over to the state parks system in October, 2002. This area contains the majority of the Big River watershed. It's an excellent place for a long hike or bike ride along Big River, and trails connect up with Russian Gulch State Park, Jackson Demonstration State Forest, and Van Damme State Park.

   Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens (Ft Bragg) : 47 acres of beautiful gardens adjacent to the ocean, featuring plants indigenous to the Coast.

   Russian Gulch State Park (1 mile north of Agate Cove) : excellent hike out to a 35-foot waterfall.

   MacKerricher State Park (2 miles north of Ft Bragg) : there's a colony of harbor seals here within easy viewing, and pupping season is during April and May. On a clear day, you can see the Lost Coast stretching out over fifty miles to the north.

   Jughandle State Reserve (4 miles north of Agate Cove) : a nice hike along terraces of the pygmy forest, a peculiar feature of the Mendocino Coast.

   Van Damme State Park (Little River, 2 miles south) : an easy hike through a fern canyon in the redwoods. You can also drive to a short boardwalk trail through the pygmy forest, featuring 100-year-old pine trees that are only one foot tall.

    Navarro River Redwoods State Park (15 miles along Hwy 128, near Hwy 1) : this park follows the Navarro River and Highway 128 for the last 15 miles before arriving at the ocean. The park also includes the beach at the mouth of the river, where Highway 128 meets Highway 1.

   Hendy Woods State Park (Hwy 128, near Philo) : there are several small stands of virgin redwood trees here, easily accessible from Highway 128.

   Montgomery Woods State Preserve (on Comptche-Ukiah Rd, near Ukiah) : the tallest tree in the world is here, standing in over 365 feet tall! This pleasant hike winds through a pocket canyon filled with 300-plus foot redwood trees. This is one of my (Dennis) favorite places in Mendocino County: there are so few people who visit it, and it is exquisitely beautiful among the giant trees.

   Jackson State Demonstration Forest: excellent trails for hiking and mountain biking, including the Forest History Trail. There are still some virgin redwoods, an extensive network of unpaved roads, and a nice waterfall on Chamberlain Creek.

    Glass Beach (Ft Bragg): This beach has no sand -- it's all finely-tumbled glass bits of varying sizes. This beach was used as a dump many years ago, and the remaining bits of glass and detritus have been finely tumbled by the waves. This is most interesting on a sunny day where the glass pebbles light up.

For a comprehensive listing of state parks and reserves, check the California park system's Web site. We're almost always available with ideas for hikes or bike rides, too.