Westport-Union Landing State Beach, State beach along the Pacific coast in Mendocino County, California.
Westport-Union Landing State Beach is a state-managed beach on the Pacific coast in Mendocino County, northern California, where a rocky shoreline alternates with small sandy coves and elevated bluffs overlooking the ocean. The site sits just north of the town of Westport and offers several parking areas, picnic tables, and footpaths leading to different points along the water.
In the 19th century, this stretch of coast served as a lumber shipping point, with small vessels loading timber cut from the forests inland. When the logging industry faded, the area lost its commercial role and was eventually brought into the California state parks system.
The tide pools along the rocky shoreline draw visitors who crouch down to spot sea stars, snails, and small crabs clinging to the rocks at low tide. This kind of close contact with marine life gives the place a very hands-on feel that is hard to find at sandier beaches.
The site is accessed directly from Highway 1, which runs alongside the coast and has several marked pull-offs for parking. Camping is available for both tents and RVs, so booking ahead is a good idea during summer months when demand is higher.
Howard Creek meets the ocean at the northern end of the beach, forming a short estuary where fresh water and salt water mix in a shallow channel. This transition zone is a good spot to watch wading birds that move along the water's edge looking for food.
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