Fifteen miles west of Willits on Hwy 20, this forest offers day-use recreational activities, including hiking trails and mountain-biking. You can also camp here. A demonstration forest is so named as it is used for forestry education, research and sustainable felling techniques. Seek out the 25ft Chamberlain Creek Waterfall on the mile-long Waterfall Grove Trail if you can. These beautiful falls are situated in a lush canyon surrounded by redwoods and ferns.
Jackson Demonstration State Forest
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
Grace Hudson Museum & Sun House
28.54 MILES
One block east of State St, the collection’s mainstays are paintings by Grace Hudson (1865–1937). Her sensitive depictions of Pomo people and other…
28.36 MILES
This iconic lighthouse was constructed in 1870, destroyed in a 1906 earthquake and then rebuilt in 1908. It remains the tallest on the US West Coast (tied…
Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens
8.64 MILES
This gem of Northern California displays native flora, rhododendrons and heritage roses. The succulent display alone is amazing and the organic garden is…
26.49 MILES
Sustainably grown, harvested and produced, ‘America’s Greenest Winery’ offers affordable, bold, earthy reds. The tasting room, lined in brick with low…
22.95 MILES
Sample standout (and organic!) Pinot Gris, Valdiguié and Pinot Noir from a stunning hilltop tasting room tucked into the forest.
17.21 MILES
Among the best community museums in this half of the state. It puts the lives of early settlers in excellent historical context – much drawn from old…
Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve
16.64 MILES
Two miles west of Orr Hot Springs, this 2743-acre reserve protects some of the best old-growth redwood groves within a day’s drive from San Francisco. A 2…
17.25 MILES
In a dramatic, rub-your-eyes-in-disbelief-beautiful location on a bluff over the sea, the wines here don't get pros excited but they are perfectly…
Nearby attractions
8.34 MILES
Check out the research library and changing exhibits on early California and Mendocino. The 1861 museum hosts seasonal, two-hour walking tours for $10;…
2. Jug Handle State Natural Reserve
8.41 MILES
Between Mendocino and Fort Bragg, Jug Handle preserves an ecological staircase that you can view on a 5-mile (round-trip) self-guided nature trail. The…
8.42 MILES
Just south of town, this museum showcases the sea glass found on local beaches with beautiful displays, plus audiovisual explanations and additional…
8.47 MILES
Behind a yard of twisting iron sculpture, the city’s art center takes up a whole tree-filled block. It hosts exhibitions, nationally renowned art classes…
8.53 MILES
Peering in the window of this 1852 temple reveals an old altar dedicated to the Chinese god of war. Tours are available by appointment and provide a…
6. Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens
8.64 MILES
This gem of Northern California displays native flora, rhododendrons and heritage roses. The succulent display alone is amazing and the organic garden is…
8.79 MILES
Three miles south of Mendocino, this sprawling 1831-acre park draws beachcombers, divers and kayakers to its easy-access beach, and hikers to its pygmy…
8. Point Cabrillo Light Station
8.9 MILES
Built in 1909, this stout lighthouse stands on a 300-acre wildlife preserve north of town, between Russian Gulch and Caspar Beach. The grounds also…