California's Secret Coastal Nature Center Off Highway 1 Has Unique Campsites, Moonlit Hikes, And Nature Education

Travelers often visit California's northern coast for its towering redwoods and bold red wines. But just a few miles north of the New England-style beach town of Mendocino, a lesser-known nature center offers distinctive attractions, including one-of-a-kind campsites, scenic trails, and an educational nature center. Welcome to Jug Handle State Natural Reserve, named after the creek that runs through the region, featuring a series of ocean terraces that visitors can explore on a self-guided hike. 

According to California State Parks, Jug Handle is a truly "special place" that presents a unique opportunity for visitors. "Few places on earth display a more complete record of ecological succession," the organization states on the reserve's website. If you climb from the beach to the top of the bluffs, you'll travel back in time half a million years, in a sense, as each of the five terraces on the park's Ecological Staircase Trail is 100,000 years older than the one before it. The 5-mile out-and-back hike takes two to three hours to complete. With 331 feet of elevation gain, it's moderately difficult, but still considered kid-friendly. 

Just south of the reserve's parking lot and trailhead — a two-minute drive or a 10-minute walk — Jug Handle Creek Farm and Nature Center is a great jumping-off point for exploring the park. The 39-acre property comprises an educational center, nature trails, community gardens, and lodgings in a restored late 19th-century Victorian farmhouse, as well as cabins and a campground. 

Jug Handle Creek Farm and Nature Center runs educational programs for school-age students, with activities ranging from native seed collecting to waterfall adventures and moonlit night hikes. But there's also programming for the general public, like "Sacred Flame," an indigenous storytelling series held fireside on the last Sunday of each month ($5 suggested donation). 

If you're planning to hike the Ecological Staircase Trail, the nature center — a 3.5-hour drive from San Francisco International Airport — is a wonderful place to stay. The property's old Victorian farmhouse and a contemporary bunkhouse offer space for just over 20 people. For more modest accommodations, travelers can opt for one of the quaint cottages or cabins. Pricing fluctuates throughout the year, but expect to pay the most during the summer. The adjacent campground has scenic campsites (from $45 per night, at the time of writing) that are perfect for both a solo camping trip or a weekend getaway with friends. These sites are framed by meadows and trees, and each has a fire pit and a picnic table. 

Stock up on picnic supplies at Harvest Market at Mendosa's, a 10-minute drive south of the nature center in Mendocino. You'll also find plenty of lodging options in town, like the charming Joshua Grindle Inn and the budget-friendly Mendocino Hotel and Garden Suites. For dining options, grab a coffee and pastry at GoodLife Cafe & Bakery or go for a post-hike meal at the northern Italian-style Luna Trattoria.