Big River State Park (a.k.a Big River Unit, Mendocino Headlands SP)
Big River Estuary (Big River Unit, Mendocino Headlands SP)
7,400 acres of the Big River watershed were purchased in March 2002 in a campaign of national scope, and this land will shortly become California’s newest state park. In the meantime, it is attached to the Mendocino Headlands State Park as the Big River Unit. A logging road follows the river for many miles, making for a pleasant walk or bike ride.
Walk or ride your bike past the first gate. The road is mostly level, with gentle hills along the edge of Big River for the first seven miles. You’ll pass an abandoned quarry in the first mile. At 4 ½ miles, there’s a small laguna at Dry Dock Gulch where you’ll find wood ducks, blue herons, and other birds. At 6 ¾ miles, the road forks at the 7-Mile Y. If you stay right, you’ll come to Big River in another 1.2 miles - this stretch is lined with huge blackberry bushes in late summer. When you reach the river at this point, you’re at the end of the tidal estuary (8.3 river miles). If you go left at the fork instead, you’ll come to Lily’s swimming hole in another 3 ½ miles of double- and single-track path.
If you’d like a more adventurous climb, there are numerous side trails all along the way. The area between Big River and Little Lake Road is filled with logging roads and other trails. Since Little Lake Road is about 600 feet higher in elevation than Big River, virtually all of these side paths and roads require a significant amount of climbing. A good starting point for climbing is the side road at Dry Dock Gulch.
Access: go south on Highway One past Main St, and turn left on the north side of the Big River bridge - the sign says “Big River State Beach”. Go down the hill, and bear left (east) to the gate. 707-962-0470 or 937-5804
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kris said,
why is there so little informaiton on fishing the big river in califonia?
is it a fishing river?
dff said,
Kris,
I checked the California Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations from the Department of Fish and Game. Big River is one of the rivers with special fishing regulations, and here’s what it says is allowed:
1. Fourth Saturday in May through October 31: only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be used — and the bag limit is 0.
2. Nov 1 through March 31: only barbless hooks may be used — bag limit is 1 hatchery trout or 1 hatchery steelhead, with a big caveat. “Hatchery trout or steelhead are those showing a healed adipose fin clip (adipose fin is absent). Unless otherwise provided, all other trout and steelhead must be immediately released. Wild trout or steelhead are those not showing a healed adipose fin clip.”
There’s another note that says Big River may be subject to closure in low-flow conditions, and it is the responsibility of the angler to call to obtain info on the status of any stream. The number is 707-944-5533.
I’ve been biking up Big River for years, and the only fishermen I’ve ever seen have been crabbers near the mouth of the river. I checked the regulations, and they are the same for the Noyo, Navarro, and Garcia rivers. The regulations book I have is good through February 28, 2008.
kris said,
thanks for the response.
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