California Coastal National Monument in California, USA - map and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-11-01. Check linked official notices before travel.

California Coastal National Monument protects offshore rocks and six mainland units along California’s coast under Bureau of Land Management care. For a walk on land, Point Arena-Stornetta offers marked paths above the Mendocino coast. Choose your unit first: this monument stretches along the coast, with different access arrangements at its individual sites.

Highlights

At Point Arena-Stornetta, eight miles of marked paths connect views of coastal bluffs, sea arches and the Garcia River estuary. The offshore rocks are wildlife refuges. Bring binoculars for observation from a distance, rather than trying to get closer to resting animals.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Coastal trail safety

The Point Arena coastal trail is subject to erosion and may be impassable. Heed caution signs and contact the Ukiah Field Office at 707-468-4000 for current conditions. Stay on designated paths. Do not climb rocks, cliffs or sink holes.

Protect the coast

Fires, fireworks, weapons and aircraft, including drones, are prohibited. Keep pets leashed and clean up after them. Leave animals, plants, rocks and other protected objects in place. Observe wildlife from a distance and pack out everything you bring. See the BLM visitor rules before setting out.

Tours and special use permits

Contact BLM about research, organized recreation or events: these require a special use permit and must meet the monument’s resource protection purposes. Lighthouse visits follow their individual access arrangements. Do not treat a mainland walking route as permission to enter lighthouse grounds.

Maps, location, and access

For the Point Arena-Stornetta unit, approach Point Arena on Highway 1 and turn onto Light House Road. Use the Point Arena-Stornetta unit page for its location and trail alert. The monument’s Atascadero office address is an administrative contact, not a single entrance for the coastline.

Nearby parks around Point Arena

Manchester State Park has a beach entrance on Highway 1 half a mile north of Manchester. Schooner Gulch State Beach lies three miles south of Point Arena at Highway 1 and Schooner Gulch Road, with a small parking area west of the highway. These are practical road options when visiting the Point Arena unit.

Things to do

Walk the marked Point Arena paths, photograph the bluffs and look for harbor seals on offshore rocks or migrating gray whales. Keep the outing within the posted day-use limits and adjust the walk to trail conditions. The broader monument also offers lighthouse interpretation, with restricted access at the lighthouse sites.

Planning tools and visitor access

The BLM monument overview identifies its separate mainland units and links to their visitor information. Select the unit before deciding where to park or meet a tour. At Point Arena-Stornetta, motorized vehicles and hang gliding are prohibited.

About the monument

The monument links coastal land with offshore habitat rather than forming one continuous park with one entrance.

Designation history

California Coastal National Monument was created on January 11, 2000. Expansions followed on March 11, 2014, and January 12, 2017.

Wildlife and coastal habitats

Marine-dependent wildlife uses the monument’s rocks, islands, reefs and pinnacles. Point Arena-Stornetta provides opportunities to observe harbor seals and migrating gray whales while keeping a respectful distance.

Contact

California Coastal National Monument, Bureau of Land Management: 707-513-3891 or [email protected]. For Point Arena-Stornetta trail conditions, contact the Ukiah Field Office at 707-468-4000.