A Historic Northern California Hidden Gem In Mendocino County Offers Secluded Beaches With Virtually No Crowds

From the New England-style coastal town of Mendocino to the hidden wine region of Anderson Valley, Mendocino County in Northern California has a wealth of beautiful off-the-beaten-path destinations. If you're really looking for a truly remote getaway in Mendocino County, plan a trip to Sinkyone Wilderness State Park in the King Range mountains. This craggy, windswept region has black sand beaches and challenging trails along steep bluffs and through forests. It's a place where you're likely to have some Type 2 fun, where it's hard in the moment but worth going through the challenge. You will experience some incredible coastal views and definitely a sense of accomplishment for exploring a part of the world that few people have experienced.

Sinkyone Wilderness State Park is a part of the Lost Coast, a stretch of Northern California coastline that got its name because it was considered too rugged to continue building California's Highway 1. The park itself got its name from the indigenous people who had settlements in the area before European colonization. The area was logged in the late 1800s, and there were even some rail lines through the region to transport timber, but it's now returned to wilderness.

The highlights of this 7,770 acre park are along the water's edge. Usal Beach at the southern end of Sinkyone Wilderness State Park is two miles of black sand. At low tide, you can get to the waterfall at the north end of the beach. You might even see Roosevelt elk on the beach. There's primitive camping here; be prepared to pack in everything you need and pack out all your trash.

Another popular spot at Sinkyone Wilderness State Park is Needle Rock near the northern end. This rock formation near the water's edge gets its name because it looks like the eye of a needle emerging from the sand. You can hike there or you can drive in, and there's a visitor center at Needle Rock in a home that dates back to the 1920s. Here you can learn more about the cultural and natural history of the area. From the visitor center, it's one mile north past Needle Rock to Jones Beach. Time your visit for low tide, since the beach disappears at high tide. You can continue north for another mile or so up to Whale Gulch.

Those trails are a part of the larger Lost Coast Trail. The more popular 25 mile section of Lost Coast Trail is to the north between Black Sands Beach and Mattole Beach, while the southern portion of the trail starts at Usal Beach and runs about 22 miles north to Needle Rock. The trails at Sinkyone along the coastal bluffs and down through canyons are often steep and may be overgrown or even eroded away, which can make wayfinding a challenge. Bring extra food and water and trekking poles, and be confident in your skills and your gear before heading out into the park.

Along with camping at Sinkyone Wildneress State Park's Usal Beach, there are a couple of primitive campgrounds near Needle Rock as well as Bear Harbor. So, if you've got the gear and the gumption, you can plan for a multi-day backpacking trek along this legendary portion of California's coast. Even if you're not trekking the Lost Coast Trail, it might be worth bringing in camping gear. It takes time and effort to get to this undeveloped stretch of coastline, and it's not an easy day trip. This is one of the least accessible parks in California. It's 5 hours north from San Francisco, and you'll stay on Highway 101 until about Garberville, a funky artsy little town. Then, you'll head to the coast; it's only about 25 miles away, but it will take you over an hour along winding mountain roads.

Take the wilderness part of the park's name seriously. If it's rained, the dirt roads in the park are impassable, and some of the park's roads are closed seasonally. Even when it's dry and the roads are open, it's best to use a high clearance or 4WD vehicle to get to this remote spot. Do not bring in a trailer or an RV. There isn't reliable cell phone coverage or potable water. If something happens to you, help could be hours away. That being said, your reward for taking the time to get here is getting to enjoy wild natural beauty far away from crowds.