Ten Mile Beach may not be ten miles long – it’s about half that – but it seems to reach as far as the eye can see.
Teeming with wildlife, this seascape of sand dunes and driftwood might as well be the edge of a lost world
This unspoiled, rugged stretch of coastline is alive with birds and wildlife. Dozens of species of birds call it home, as do sea lions, seals, and otters. Ten Mile Beach is a good vantage point to watch the annual whale migration. Bring your binoculars for the best view of the beach’s wild residents.
You’ll enjoy sweeping vistas of the ocean while tide pooling or beachcombing at Ten Mile.
Unlike many local beaches, Ten Mile is sandy, and is notable for its wide, distinctive dunes, which can be more than 100 feet high. Some visitors have been known to sled on the dunes as if they were snow! Walking in the dunes is much easier barefoot than in shoes or boots.
Just to the north is MacKerricher State Park, offering hiking and biking trails and horseback riding through a varied habitat ranging from beach to forest. To the south is Fort Bragg’s famous Glass Beach, where discarded bottles have been transformed into sea glass over the years. Visitors are asked to leave the glittering glass in place for all to enjoy.
No dogs are allowed on the beach, since it is a protected breeding and nesting habitat for the snowy plover, a threatened bird species.
Ten Mile Beach is located just north of Fort Bragg. Drive north on Highway 1 past the Beachcomber Motel and park in the lot just to the north of the hotel. Parking is free.
Great for the Family, Tidepooling
Ten Mile Beach
Fort Bragg, CA 95437
(707) 937-5804
www.parks.ca.gov