Mendocino Woodlands State Park, Historic state park in Mendocino County, US.
Mendocino Woodlands State Park is a California state park in Mendocino County, set within a dense forest of redwood trees, ferns, and open clearings along the Little North Fork of Big River. The grounds are divided into three separate group camping areas, each with wooden cabins, a dining hall, and a fully equipped kitchen.
The park was created in 1938 as part of Roosevelt's New Deal, built by workers from the Works Progress Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps during a time of widespread unemployment. It was one of about 46 similar projects across the country, all designed to build public recreation areas while providing jobs.
The nonprofit Mendocino Woodlands Camp Association has operated and maintained the facilities since 1948. The wood-and-stone buildings were raised by Works Progress Administration crews in the 1930s as a Recreational Demonstration Area, and the same rustic construction shows in the cabins and dining halls.
The park is set up for group use only, so visiting as an individual or family requires booking one of the three areas in advance. Summer and early fall tend to offer the most stable weather for exploring the forest trails.
Mendocino Woodlands is the only one of the roughly 46 campgrounds built by New Deal agencies in the 1930s that has been used for public camping without interruption. The nonprofit Mendocino Woodlands Camp Association has run the facilities since 1948.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,681 contributors worldwide.