North of the little town of Westport are several large seastacks and rocks relatively close to the shoreline. From the pullout walk down the trail and railroad tie stairway to the fine gray pebbled beach for a closer look at the Cormorants and gulls nesting and roosting.

Westport is only 13 miles north of Fort Bragg but feels remote and reflective of the 19th century, when 20,000 residents responded to the demands of the timber industry. Now with a population of approximately 200, visitors find solitude on the edge of the wild coastal waters and redwood forests. The pullout is part of Westport-Union Landing State Beach that is locally known as “Pete’s Beach.”

Westport-Union Landing State Beach has a variety of pullouts, parking areas, and 46 campsites along the bluff from which to view California Coastal National Monument seastacks and rocks.

Heading north, the wide dirt pullout on the south side of the Juan Creek Bridge at Mendocino County mile marker 82.91 provides a good view of the Monument rocks north to the point of Cape Vizcaino.

The pullouts at Hardy Creek, where Highway 1 turns inland from the coastline, provide an excellent view of the end of the Lost Coast, further north. That series of jagged rocks are part of the monument. Cormorants, gulls, and black oystercatchers can be seen on the rocks and exposed reefs below this pullout. It is also a good location to spot osprey that nest and fish in this area.

Year-round

Fees: None