Jug Handle State Natural Reserve
Jug Handle
The 'Ecological Staircase' trail crosses five marine terraces in turn, from coastal grassland to redwood forest and then on to pygmy forest.
Each terrace differs in age from the next by about 100,000 years, and the soil and vegetation change accordingly. The trail, about 4 km one way, comes with an interpretive booklet that explains the landforms and ecological succession. At the entrance there is also a small cove and a headland trail. Parking is free. The reserve lies between Mendocino and Fort Bragg, so it is easy to stop on the way.
Opening hours
Sunrise to sunset
Nearby sights
- Point Cabrillo Light Station
- Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens
- Noyo Harbor
- Russian Gulch State Park
- Mendocino Headlands State Park
- Mendocino Village Historic District
- Skunk Train
- Temple of Kwan Tai