Right Beaches › California › Mendocino
Big River Beach at Mendocino Headlands State Park
4.8★ · 814 Google ratings · Mendocino, California
✓ Parking✓ Short walk✓ Restrooms✓ Free
At a glance
Parking
Street parking · 10 ft away · free
Walk
200 ft · under a minute
Restrooms
Yes · 525 yd away
Cost
Free
Water
58°F · modelled, no buoy nearby
Tide
3 ft range today
Sand
200 yd from the water to the back
Water quality
Good · 2% of 58 over the limit · 2025
Crowds
Quietest Sun 8am
Map of Big River Beach at Mendocino Headlands State Park
1
1Parking
Guide
Good to know
Free parking reported
Visitors report no charge to park here.Mentioned by 7 visitors · 2017–2026
Ideal for families with young children
The river side offers calm, shallow water perfect for kids, while the ocean side has dramatic scenery.
Visit at low tide
The beach expands dramatically, revealing tide pools full of sea life and accessible caves for exploration.
Bring something to sit on
The sand gets cold quickly, so a blanket, beach chair, or log makes a big difference for comfort.
Plan for portable toilets only
The restrooms are porta-potties that vary in cleanliness, so use facilities in town if possible.
Pack out all trash
No trash cans exist on the beach, so bring a bag to carry everything you bring.
Conditions
How it is right now
Air
59°F · overcast
Water
58°F · modelled, no buoy nearby
Waves
6.3 ft · 10 s apart
Wind
2 mph from the NW
Shelter
Cross-shore · wind running along the beach
UV index
4 peak today
| Time | Tide | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 06:39 | High tide | ↑ |
| 10:17 | Low tide | ↓ |
| 16:58 | High tide | ↑ |
Last updated Sep 4, 5:31 AM.
Crowds
When it gets busy
| 8a | 9a | 10a | 11a | 12p | 1p | 2p | 3p | 4p | 5p | 6p | 7p | |
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QuietBusy
Practical
Plan your visit
📍 Mendocino, CA 95460
🅿 Parking 10 ft from the listing
🌊 Water 200 ft away, under a minute walk
🚽 Restrooms 525 yd away
Nearby
Other beaches close by
0.7 miles away · shorter walk
3.9 miles away · shorter walk
4.3 miles away · shorter walk
4.4 miles away
5.3 miles away
8.0 miles away
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Questions
Common questions
Where do you park at Big River Beach at Mendocino Headlands State Park?
The nearest mapped parking area is 10 ft from the listed location. Positions come from OpenStreetMap, not from review text.
How far is the walk to the water at Big River Beach at Mendocino Headlands State Park?
200 ft in a straight line from the listing to the mapped shoreline, under a minute. Soft sand and dune make the real walk longer than the straight line.
Does Big River Beach at Mendocino Headlands State Park have restrooms?
Restrooms are mapped 525 yd from the listing.
When is Big River Beach at Mendocino Headlands State Park least busy?
Google visit patterns put the quietest hour at Sun 8am and the busiest at Sat 3pm.
Measured from OpenStreetMap, public aerial imagery and live conditions data, and counted from visitor reviews. Every source, in full.
