Hinman Park | Lake County Parks
- 3494 CA-20, Nice, CA 95464, USA
- (707) 262-1618
Description
Scenic park with a beach & trails plus the Pygmy Forest, where mature trees stand only inches tall.
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8001 CA-1, Little River, CA 95456, USA
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- 2598 S Main St, Lakeport, CA 95453, USA
Upper Lake Park | Lake County Parks
- 615 CA-20, Upper Lake, CA 95485, USA
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Van Damme State Park is such a peaceful mix of forest and coast. You get these beautiful fern covered trails that feel almost magical, and then suddenly you’re right by the ocean. The pygmy forest was especially interesting , it’s not something you see every day. Everything feels quiet, fresh, and untouched, which makes it perfect if you just want to slow down and enjoy nature for a bit. Definitely one of those underrated stops along the Mendocino coast.
Carrie Hoag
Nice, interesting beach; mostly large boulders, cobblestones, gravel. Shells, but none intact. Great tidepools at negative tide. Seaweed, kelp, etc makes progress slow, as it is all over rock and extremely slippery. Frequented by kayaking groups. Adequate parking and restrooms available.
TTORII R.
My husband likes to ride his bicycle long distances, so he will ride from Santa Rosa, CA to Van Damme State Campground in about 12 hours. I drive there & set up camp for us. We’ve been to Van Damme State Campground 5 or 6 x’s. We Love it there. Our favorite Campsite is #18. There’s a pretty little creek behind the site, they put in a New Bigger Metal Bear Box with a place to put a lock- it was awesome. We were able to put so much of our stuff in it. There was still the old wood bear box also. There was a large fire pit with an attached grill. You can buy firewood from the Rangers or Camp Hosts. As of 4/30/26 one bag cost $12- lasted about 1-1/2days AND was Cheaper than purchasing at big grocery stores, in town of Mendocino or Fort Bragg.
The bathrooms were about 50-60 feet away- have flushing toilets & showers. It costs $1.00 for 5 minutes (only quarters or you can buy Tokens from Camp Host or Rangers).
Generators can run from 8am-8pm. We don’t use them, so it kinda sucks when they’re on, but there is a part of the Campground that doesn’t allow Generators. Next time I’d like to try a campsite in that area!
The weather changes from day to day- the 2nd day was sunny and beautiful (5/1/26) and we set up on Van Damme Beach, had lunch, relaxed & just enjoyed the beautiful view. The 3rd & 4th day were overcast & cool, needed a light jacket or sweatshirt & pants.
Rangers, hosts and people visiting in general are nice & friendly. We’ll be going back in the next 6 months.
Just be sure to make reservations way in advance! The Campground fills up quickly, especially in the peak seasons!
Kseniia Divakova
We visited Van Damme State Park on Saturday with our two kids (ages 3 and 6). We decided to go for a hike, and we were told the trail would be kid-friendly — which turned out to be absolutely true.
We only had to cross a small stream twice, but it didn’t make things difficult at all. The trail itself was pleasant and easy to walk. There isn’t a clear final destination, though — after about two miles we reached a fork and decided to continue another mile and a half toward a different parking area.
Overall, it was a nice and interesting hike. I wouldn’t say it’s the most scenic trail, but the weather was great, the air felt fresh, and we all enjoyed the experience.
Teresa K
Gorgeous camping area in Mendocino Co. Beautiful fairly easy hike. Parts are paved. Lush green everywhere. The sound of running water next to us was so nice. Only drawbacks some areas, muddy to hike through.