Mackerricher State Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Mackerricher State Park is a popular destination in California for nature enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers.
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Summary
Located on the Pacific Coast, the park covers 2,200 acres and boasts a diverse ecosystem, including sandy beaches, rocky shorelines, tidal pools, and forested areas.
Some of the top reasons to visit Mackerricher State Park include its scenic hiking trails, wildlife viewing opportunities, and stunning ocean views. Visitors can also enjoy a variety of outdoor activities, such as fishing, kayaking, surfing, and birdwatching.
One of the park's main attractions is the Ten Mile Beach Trail, a 6.5-mile hike that offers stunning views of the coastline and passes through several different habitats. Other notable points of interest include the Laguna Point Boardwalk, which provides panoramic views of the ocean and surrounding bluffs, and the Seal Rock Picnic Area, which is a popular spot for watching seals and sea lions.
Interesting facts about Mackerricher State Park include its history as a former lumber mill site, with remnants of the old mill still visible in some areas of the park. Another notable feature is the park's collection of historic buildings, including the 1886 Frolic shipwreck site and the 1916 Union Lumber Company Store.
The best time of year to visit Mackerricher State Park is during the summer months, when temperatures are mild and the weather is typically sunny. However, visitors should be prepared for foggy conditions and cool temperatures in the morning and evening, particularly along the coastline.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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