Greenwood State Beach sits at the mouth of Greenwood Creek in the village of Elk, a quiet stretch of the Mendocino Coast where lumber schooners once loaded timber from clifftop chutes. Today the cove is empty and wild, accessible by a short trail down the bluffs to a cobble-and-sand beach framed by sea stacks.
Details
- 🏞️Type
- State Park
- 🏛️Managed by
- California State Parks
- 📍State
- CA
- 🗺️Address
- Brisbane, CA, 94005
- 📞Phone
- (707) 937-5804
- 🕐Hours
- Open Daily from 6:00am - One hour after Sunset Vistior Center: 8:00am - 12:00pm & 12:30pm - 4:00pm March - November
- 🐾Pets Allowed
- Yes
- 📡GPS
- 39.12794, -123.71660
The Place
The beach occupies a narrow cove at the edge of Elk, a tiny coastal town about 17 miles south of Mendocino. Greenwood Creek flows through the center of the cove, and the sea stacks offshore draw cormorants and shorebirds. The surrounding headlands are grassy and windswept, with interpretive panels about the Chinese laborers and Portuguese settlers who built the 19th-century lumber trade here.
When to Go
The Mendocino Coast is accessible year-round, though summer fog is common. Clear autumn days in September and October offer the best combination of stable weather and smaller crowds. Winter brings dramatic surf and gray whale migration (December through April). Avoid holiday weekends if you want the cove to yourself.
Getting There
Drive Highway 1 to the village of Elk, about 17 miles south of Mendocino (or 32 miles north of Jenner). The park entrance is directly off Highway 1 on the west side. Limited roadside parking available.
What to Do
A short trail drops from the bluff to the beach in about 0.25 miles. From the headlands, scan for harbor seals hauled out on offshore rocks. Tidepools are accessible during low tide. Dogs on leash are welcome on the beach and blufftop trails.
Reservations & Fees
No entrance fee. Day use only; no camping.