Things to do / Travel Guide
Address:Highway 1
Mendocino, California
Tel:
(707) 937-5804
Named for Charles Van Damme, a Flemish lumberer, this State Park is 1,831 acres of Mendocino coast beach and upland. The 10 miles of lush Fern Scenic trail system is filled with cypress and pines, and enjoyable on foot or by bicycle. A unique feature of this Park is the Pygmy forest, where poor soil quality caused the stunted growth of the cypress, pines, and rhododendrons planted here. The beach is popular for scuba diving as well as kayaking, and great opportunities for fishing are available as well. Finally, be sure to check out some of the 70 campsites, which are shady and cool, perfect for relaxing after a long day at Van Damme State Park.
From Van Damme State Park - California:
Van Damme State Park consists of beach and upland on the Mendocino Coast. Of all park system units along the Mendocino coast, Van Damme is perhaps the richest in terms of historical resources connected with the redwood lumber industry. Its story is a prime example of the struggles and eventual failures of a small, independent lumber operation.