MacKerricher State Park's coast stretches about 9 miles north from Fort Bragg. The southern half of the park has rocky points mixed with small pocket beaches. The northern half, known as the Inglenook Fen - Ten Mile Dunes Natural Preserve, has a gently sloping beach.

The dark sand Main Beach close to the campgrounds and just north of Laguna Point extends for nearly a mile. Cold water and dangerous waves make it unfavorable for casual water play, but visitors still enjoy the sight of the waves and the crunch of wet sand underfoot.

Virgin Creek Beach

South of the main campground area in the park is a quiet expanse of sand at the mouth of Virgin Creek. The beach is popular with surfers who find a good shore break. It's also a favorite destination for families to spread their blankets and let the children build sand castles and romp across the sand. Nearby tide pools are filled with interesting marine creatures. Parking is in an informal dirt lot off Highway 1. There are no facilities at the beach.

Old Haul Road Beach

Old Haul Road Beach is located just north of Pudding Creek Beach. A parking lot along Highway 1 between two motels is the trailhead for a short path that leads to the beach. Restrooms are located at the parking lot. The white sand beach has many small alcoves along the foot of the bluff. As with all the beaches here, the water is cold and rip currents are dangerous.

Pudding Creek Beach

Pudding Creek Beach is easily found tucked beneath the famous trestle along the Old Haul Road. A little side-road cuts off the west side of Highway 1 just north of Pudding Creek Road. There is space for a number of cars down by the beach and along the road. Restrooms are available here.

Glass Beach

At the southern end of the park is Glass Beach, a popular attraction. The beach was once a local dump where residents tossed all kinds of trash, including countless bottles. The practice of tossing garbage into the sea was halted nearly 50 years ago. Today the only remnants of the practice are millions of tiny pieces of glass, ground into smooth shapes by the pounding waves.

Since Glass Beach is part of MacKerricher State Park, everything is protected, including the shards of glass. Visitors should enjoy the beach, but leave it as it is for future generations to appreciate.

Big Changes Coming around Glass Beach

In 2014 the access trail to Glass Beach was improved. Meanwhile, immediately to the south, the city of Fort Bragg is in the process of constructing a 93-acre coastal park on what used to be un-used industrial land. The new park will open up 3½ miles of coastline for recreational use. The multi-use trail (known as the old Haul Road) will be extended 4½ miles south to Noyo Bridge. The new park will include parking lots, plazas, and restrooms.

Ten Mile River Beach

Ten Mile River and its accompanying beach is found at the north end of MacKerricher State Park. A parking area is located along Highway 1 just south of the bridge.

The Haul Road is a multi-use trail that runs along the coast in MacKerricher State Park. It was originally used to transport timber from Ten Mile River to Fort Bragg sawmills. The trail begins at a small parking lot at the south end of the landmark Pudding Creek Trestle. The bridge was constructed by the Union Lumber Company in 1915-1916.

The trail once extended to Ten Mile Creek, but portions of it in the Inglenook Fen - Ten Mile Dunes Natural Preserve at the north end of the park have eroded. Park officials determined that the remaining sections of the haul road "interrupt natural dune processes" in the preserve. As a result, the remainder of the haul road north of Ward Avenue was removed.

The remaining 3½ miles of the Haul Road Multi-use Trail are a wonderful way for cyclists, joggers, hikers, equestrians, and others to enjoy the scenic beauty of the Mendocino coast. Restrooms are available to Lake Cleone about 2½ miles up the trail.