This past autumn, my husband and I spent four days and three nights in Mendocino. We love walking the English coast and exploring coastal villages…and the Mendocino coast and village of Mendocino have a similar charm! As an added bonus, our drive took us through the quaint Anderson Valley towns of Boonville and Philo which feature several wineries among the redwoods. The weather was perfect, and we thoroughly enjoyed our coastal adventure!
Our most notable hike was a 6.5 mile expedition along the Ka Kahleh trail in Noyo Headlands Park near Fort Bragg. This trail is actually 4.5 miles long, but we extended our hike into Noyo Harbor for dinner reservations at Noyo Harbor Inn in Fort Bragg...and back to our parked car.
Our route along the Ka Kahleh trail
We actually started the morning at Laguna Point in MacKerricher State Park a few miles north of Pudding Creek. This park offers dramatic coastal views and tidepools to explore.
Exploring the coastline at MacKerricher State Park
Our next stop was the Pudding Creek Trestle, located at the top of our trail map. The trestle was built during the construction of the Ten Mile Railroad in 1915, which brought wood from logging areas roughly 10 miles north down into Fort Bragg. The trestle crosses Pudding Creek and was used by the railway until 1949. It has since been converted to a pedestrian and bicycle thoroughfare. The trestle is 527 feet long and 44 feet high, with 34 uprights.
The Pudding Creek Trestle
The Ka Kahleh segment of the California Coastal Trail starts just south of the trestle and follows the bluffs above this rugged stretch of coastline. “Ka Kahleh” means “white water” in the language of the indigenous Northern Pomo people. It’s an apt description of the dramatic surf along this beautiful portion of the Mendocino coast.
Succulents and wildflowers along the bluffs of the Ka Kahleh Coastal Trail
In addition to stunning coastal views, there are many interpretive panels along the path that offer information on local natural and human history.
Interpretive panels and an art bench along the Ka Kahleh Coastal Trail
Just past the halfway point of the coastal portion of our hike, we stopped for a brief rest stop at the Crow’s Nest Interpretive Center, which features a tide pool aquarium and a variety of informational exhibits.
The Crows Nest Interpretive Center and Sea Lion Skeleton
While portions of the trail were further inland and chain link fencing has been installed in some areas to protect sensitive plant and bird habitats, there are a variety of artworks and artistic benches along the path to keep things interesting.
Artwork and art benches located along the Ka Kahleh trail
Finally, after nearly 4 miles of hiking, we reached the mouth Noyo Harbor – which is the only deep-water port between Eureka and San Francisco.
Entrance to Noyo Harbor and Wharf district
The last section of the trail was only semi-established…and we were relieved when passed under Highway 101 and emerged onto Harbor Drive. At this point, we were forced to ignore our phone navigation as it could not locate the back entrance for the restaurant. Finally, as we reached the very end of the wharf district, we discovered the elusive gateway to our dining destination at the HarborView Restaurant at Noyo Harbor Inn.
Back entrance to Noyo Harbor Inn & HarborView Restaurant
The seafood entrees at the HarborView Restaurant were excellent!
After a magical al fresco dinner overlooking the inner harbor, our original plan was to Uber/Lyft back to our car…but we discovered that there was only one rideshare driver in Fort Bragg…and apparently, they were taking the day off! This meant that we had to walk another mile back to our car. Fortunately, after a good meal and a bit of rest, we were ready for the challenge and were rewarded with the beautiful glow of the setting sun.
Sunset glow at Noyo Headlands Park