Frolic Cove Walk-Mendocino
(scroll to bottom for photo gallery)
Location: Point Cabrillo Light Station State Historic Park, 13800 Point Cabrillo Dr., Mendocino, CA 95460, between the towns of Mendocino and Fort Bragg
Starting Point: Point Cabrillo Light Station Parking Lot, 13800 Point Cabrillo Dr./Lighthouse Road for day visitors, disability placard parking available closer to the lighthouse on Lighthouse Road. Overnight guests at lighthouse keeper house rentals have separate parking at the historic building area.
Info links:
For all web links, if a link doesn’t jump directly, copy and paste into browser.
Frolic Shipwreck History information link (Point Cabrillo Lightkeepers Association):
https://pointcabrillo.org/learn/history/frolic/
Point Cabrillo Light Station information link (Point Cabrillo Lightkeepers Association):
https://pointcabrillo.org
Explore Point Cabrillo information link (Point Cabrillo Lightkeepers Association):
https://pointcabrillo.org/visit/explore/
Frolic Cove Project information link (California State Parks):
https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/21299/files/Frolic%20Cove%20Resource%20Summary%2004-11-08.pdf
Point Cabrillo Museums information link (Point Cabrillo Lightkeepers Association):
https://pointcabrillo.org/visit/museums/
Staying at Point Cabrillo information link (Point Cabrillo Lightkeepers Association):
https://pointcabrillo.org/rentals/head-house/
Map link:
Point Cabrillo Light Station map link, scroll in for trail map to Frolic Cove (Point Cabrillo Lightkeepers Association):
https://pointcabrillo.org/visit/find-us/
Distance:
For day visitors starting the hike from the parking lot at Point Cabrillo Drive at Lighthouse Road, the Frolic Cove loop is roughly two miles, with a slight variation depending on which trails you choose. Those staying near the lighthouse have a shorter walk, since they eliminate the half mile from the parking lot to the lighthouse area. Hikers can also add an extra segment to their hike south of the lighthouse.
Considerations:
• Disability placard parking is available near the historic residences closer to the lighthouse
• There is a toilet facility near the residence and museum area.
• Dogs are also allowed under close leash control.
• Pay attention to health and safety signs, including wildlife information signs.
• Any location with cliffs requires caution. Cliffs can crumble unexpectedly. Stay away from cliff edges.
• Park area is open from sunrise to sunset. Lighthouse museum and giftshop noted as open from 11 AM to 4 PM, but hours may vary.
• Wildlife in the area means there are also ticks. Stay on trails, out of tall grass.
• The informational on a grassy rise indicates you’ve made it to the key point above Frolic Cove.
The trail:
For day visitors parking at the entry parking lot near Point Cabrillo Drive, getting to the turnoff trail toward Frolic Cove can be done either by the half mile stroll along Lighthouse Road toward the lighthouse or by the North Trail running parallel to Lighthouse Road, starting from the north end of the parking lot. Those staying at the lighthouse rentals, or those who use placard parking, can start from the lighthouse historic buildings area.
Scroll closer using the map in the link above (or any map app, or even better, a good paper map) to see the trail options to Frolic Cove, parts of which lead along the bluff edge, with other trail segments passing through coastal prairie and grassy areas. Heed signs (including the tick warning sign off one section of trail). We saw a lovely deer with two fawns on a section of trail close to the historic residences.
Our walk as depicted in the photo gallery started from the lighthouse area, where a trail sign near the small museum building steers walkers north toward Frolic Cove. We took the trail hugging the coastline and enjoyed ocean views, crashing waves, with wildlife sightings both onshore and in the water.
As the cliff edge trail veers inward along the cove, a keyhole rock tunnel comes into view in the rocks below. This means you are getting close to the rise above the cove where an informational sign about the Frolic shipwreck history means you’ve hit the key spot with the shipwreck area view. We saw people on the sand below at Frolic Beach, but didn’t venture down as we were short of time and didn’t see an easy access path down to the beach.
From the information sign, facing back toward the lighthouse and historic buildings, a gentle path through grassy open space made for an atmospheric change from the ocean bluff path. Our morning walk was marked by mist along the tree line beyond the golden grass. This coastal scrub/prairie grass terrain offers a calming sense. Walk quietly and you may see a family of deer ambling nearby as we did.
Day visit walkers have the option to go back to the parking lot via the North Trail, or to go out to Lighthouse Road and return by the road, perhaps after stopping to visit the lighthouse and historic buildings. (Those staying near the lighthouse have returned “home” at this point.)
The lighthouse itself is full of historical information, including relics gathered from the wreck of the Frolic. The Frolic Cove walk is a relatively flat, easy walk that offers ocean views and grassy paths, for those looking for a walk without steep climbs.
(Frolic Cove Walk-Mendocino Hike Notes were originally paired with the “Walking On the Edge” Insights post.)
Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page. Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. See products with inspiring designs that support the efforts of HikingAutism under Support/Shop. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links.
Check the Home page for the broader background story. If you’re not able to take one of these Northern California hikes, hopefully you can enjoy the photo galleries at the bottom of each hike page! Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, follow on Twitter at @HikingAutism and Instagram at lisalouis777
(scroll to bottom for photo gallery)
Location: Point Cabrillo Light Station State Historic Park, 13800 Point Cabrillo Dr., Mendocino, CA 95460, between the towns of Mendocino and Fort Bragg
Starting Point: Point Cabrillo Light Station Parking Lot, 13800 Point Cabrillo Dr./Lighthouse Road for day visitors, disability placard parking available closer to the lighthouse on Lighthouse Road. Overnight guests at lighthouse keeper house rentals have separate parking at the historic building area.
Info links:
For all web links, if a link doesn’t jump directly, copy and paste into browser.
Frolic Shipwreck History information link (Point Cabrillo Lightkeepers Association):
https://pointcabrillo.org/learn/history/frolic/
Point Cabrillo Light Station information link (Point Cabrillo Lightkeepers Association):
https://pointcabrillo.org
Explore Point Cabrillo information link (Point Cabrillo Lightkeepers Association):
https://pointcabrillo.org/visit/explore/
Frolic Cove Project information link (California State Parks):
https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/21299/files/Frolic%20Cove%20Resource%20Summary%2004-11-08.pdf
Point Cabrillo Museums information link (Point Cabrillo Lightkeepers Association):
https://pointcabrillo.org/visit/museums/
Staying at Point Cabrillo information link (Point Cabrillo Lightkeepers Association):
https://pointcabrillo.org/rentals/head-house/
Map link:
Point Cabrillo Light Station map link, scroll in for trail map to Frolic Cove (Point Cabrillo Lightkeepers Association):
https://pointcabrillo.org/visit/find-us/
Distance:
For day visitors starting the hike from the parking lot at Point Cabrillo Drive at Lighthouse Road, the Frolic Cove loop is roughly two miles, with a slight variation depending on which trails you choose. Those staying near the lighthouse have a shorter walk, since they eliminate the half mile from the parking lot to the lighthouse area. Hikers can also add an extra segment to their hike south of the lighthouse.
Considerations:
• Disability placard parking is available near the historic residences closer to the lighthouse
• There is a toilet facility near the residence and museum area.
• Dogs are also allowed under close leash control.
• Pay attention to health and safety signs, including wildlife information signs.
• Any location with cliffs requires caution. Cliffs can crumble unexpectedly. Stay away from cliff edges.
• Park area is open from sunrise to sunset. Lighthouse museum and giftshop noted as open from 11 AM to 4 PM, but hours may vary.
• Wildlife in the area means there are also ticks. Stay on trails, out of tall grass.
• The informational on a grassy rise indicates you’ve made it to the key point above Frolic Cove.
The trail:
For day visitors parking at the entry parking lot near Point Cabrillo Drive, getting to the turnoff trail toward Frolic Cove can be done either by the half mile stroll along Lighthouse Road toward the lighthouse or by the North Trail running parallel to Lighthouse Road, starting from the north end of the parking lot. Those staying at the lighthouse rentals, or those who use placard parking, can start from the lighthouse historic buildings area.
Scroll closer using the map in the link above (or any map app, or even better, a good paper map) to see the trail options to Frolic Cove, parts of which lead along the bluff edge, with other trail segments passing through coastal prairie and grassy areas. Heed signs (including the tick warning sign off one section of trail). We saw a lovely deer with two fawns on a section of trail close to the historic residences.
Our walk as depicted in the photo gallery started from the lighthouse area, where a trail sign near the small museum building steers walkers north toward Frolic Cove. We took the trail hugging the coastline and enjoyed ocean views, crashing waves, with wildlife sightings both onshore and in the water.
As the cliff edge trail veers inward along the cove, a keyhole rock tunnel comes into view in the rocks below. This means you are getting close to the rise above the cove where an informational sign about the Frolic shipwreck history means you’ve hit the key spot with the shipwreck area view. We saw people on the sand below at Frolic Beach, but didn’t venture down as we were short of time and didn’t see an easy access path down to the beach.
From the information sign, facing back toward the lighthouse and historic buildings, a gentle path through grassy open space made for an atmospheric change from the ocean bluff path. Our morning walk was marked by mist along the tree line beyond the golden grass. This coastal scrub/prairie grass terrain offers a calming sense. Walk quietly and you may see a family of deer ambling nearby as we did.
Day visit walkers have the option to go back to the parking lot via the North Trail, or to go out to Lighthouse Road and return by the road, perhaps after stopping to visit the lighthouse and historic buildings. (Those staying near the lighthouse have returned “home” at this point.)
The lighthouse itself is full of historical information, including relics gathered from the wreck of the Frolic. The Frolic Cove walk is a relatively flat, easy walk that offers ocean views and grassy paths, for those looking for a walk without steep climbs.
(Frolic Cove Walk-Mendocino Hike Notes were originally paired with the “Walking On the Edge” Insights post.)
Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page. Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. See products with inspiring designs that support the efforts of HikingAutism under Support/Shop. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links.
Check the Home page for the broader background story. If you’re not able to take one of these Northern California hikes, hopefully you can enjoy the photo galleries at the bottom of each hike page! Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, follow on Twitter at @HikingAutism and Instagram at lisalouis777
