The Secret Spot Along The Northern California Coast You've Surprisingly Never Heard Of
By Jill S.|Published April 11, 2017
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Jill S.
Author
Jill is a freelance writer from a small Northern California town and lives in the Sierra Nevada mountains. If you have an idea for an Only In Northern California story, email her at jsanford@onlyinyourstate.com.
A lot of people are familiar with the gorgeous Point Arena Lighthouse and surrounding area, but how many of us are familiar with the name “Stornetta Public Lands”? This incredible stretch of coastline actually includes Point Arena and was designated in 2014 as part of the California Coastal National Monument, which ensures the protection of islets, reefs and rock outcroppings along the coast. Read on to hear about why the Point Arena-Stornetta Public Lands are so awesome.
This protected land in Mendocino County features rocky coastline and iconic Northern California scenery.
It includes 1,665 acres just north of the small town of Point Arena. It ensures that this beautiful coastline will be will be preserved for future generations under the authority of the Antiquities Act.
The public is allowed to use the land for bird watching, fishing, picnicking, nature photography, and wildlife observation, but overnight camping and parking is prohibited.
This Historic Point Arena Lighthouse is bordered by part of the Point Arena-Stornetta Public Lands and visible from the monument area. The original version of the lighthouse was built nearly 150 years ago, and reconstructed almost from scratch after a devastating earthquake in 1906. It now reportedly draws about 40,000 visitors per year, and is a striking and iconic photographic subject.
