MacKerricher State Park RV & Campground Guide

The park's state marine conservation area, beaches, and Lake Cleone are great places to go fishing year-round. You can cast for redtail surfperch, spearfish for lingcod, or trap Dungeness crab at the seashore with a proper license. You can cast a line for largemouth bass, rainbow trout, crappie, catfish, and bluegill near the center of the park at Lake Cleone.

MacKerricher State Park has at least one small cache consisting of a locked container wrapped in camouflage tape containing a log book and treasure. If you have a hand-held GPS (Global Positioning System) or smartphone, you can hunt for hidden caches, claim the mystery prize, and leave something in its place for the next adventurer.

The wooded areas near Lake Cleone are home to foxes, raccoons, black-tailed deer, and the occasional mountain lion. You may also encounter mallard ducks and double-crested cormorants near this freshwater pool. As you head towards the beaches, you may see sea rockets, sand primroses, and beach morning glories growing out of the dunes. Native wildflowers like Mendocino Coast Indian paintbrush grow near Pudding Creek Beach. If you visit the Inglenook Fen-Ten Mile Dunes Natural Preserve, you might spot a western snowy plover, a rare and threatened shorebird native to the Pacific coast.

The park's out-of-the-way location makes it a good place to stargaze, and the Coastal Trail is one of the best places to experience dark skies. In August, you may be able to view the Perseid meteor showers.

MacKerricher State Park has a diverse and unique variety of plants and wildlife that are acclimated to their coastal, terrestrial, and wetland environments. The headlands are home to grasses and wildflowers like California poppies, Ithurial's spear, scarlet pimpernel, and belladonna lily. Bishop pine, shore pine, and Douglas fir trees grow near Lake Cleone, and the rare Mendocino spine flower grows in the protected dunes of the Inglenook Preserve. Mammals include mule deer, gray foxes, mountain lions, black-tailed jackrabbits, river otters, and long-tailed weasels. The park is also home to more than 90 species of birds, including osprey, great blue herons, ring-necked ducks, and migratory waterfowl. Near the ocean, harbor seals, elephant seals, and California sea lions enjoy the sun. The tide pools are also filled with Pacific purple sea urchins, starfish, and anemones.

There are several trails you can explore at MacKerricher State Park. The MacKerricher Coastal Trail is an old logging road that follows the coastline from Glass Beach to the Inglenook Fen-Ten Mile Dunes Natural Preserve. This 5.6-mile trail is paved but washed out in a few places and is considered moderately difficult. It's a popular trail with lovely ocean views. Ka Kahleh Trail is an easy, paved 4.9-mile out-and-back trail that starts at Glass Beach and runs south to Noyo Inlet. For the chance to see seals and plovers, follow the four-mile MacKerricher Beach Hike to the 10 Mile River.

Ricochet Ridge Ranch offers horseback rides on the park's Ten Mile Beach. The horses here are suitable for children, first-time riders, and experienced equestrians.

If you have your own paddle boat, canoe, or kayak, you can boat in Lake Cleone. Motorized boats are prohibited.

There are no lifeguards on duty at MacKerricher State Park, so swim at your own risk. The waters can be cold, and it's important to watch out for rip tides.

You can enjoy a ride on the paved surfaces of the Haul Road Trail and the Ka Kahleh Trail.