Manchester State Park, Nature reserve in Mendocino County, US.

Manchester State Park is a large nature reserve along the California coast with bluffs, wetlands, forests, and beaches. The terrain extends across a broad area where freshwater and saltwater environments exist side by side.

Before European contact the area was Pomo territory, and the Pomo were gradually integrated into white society. The 5,272-acre site became a California state park in 1955, taking its name from Manchester, the settlement seven miles north of Point Arena. In 2012 it was among 70 state parks proposed for closure under a deficit reduction program, after earlier closure threats in 2008 were avoided by cutting hours and maintenance system-wide.

The place draws visitors interested in coastal nature and experiencing the rhythm of seasons within an intact ecosystem. The paths through the landscape lead past different habitats where you can watch plants and animals in their natural surroundings.

The park is accessible via Highway 1 and has multiple trailheads for hikes of various lengths. Before visiting, check current conditions since weather and tides can affect the terrain.

The San Andreas Fault runs into the ocean just offshore of the park. Visitors can also spot wind shelters built from driftwood by beachgoers along the bluffs and beach, and a condemned beach house about half a mile along the connector trail to Alder Creek.