Park & nature
Jug Handle State Natural Reserve
Some booking links are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We never let this influence which places we recommend.
Jug Handle State Natural Reserve protects a remarkable ecological staircase, a series of five uplifted marine terraces, each with distinct plant communities. Visitors can hike the 5-mile round-trip Ecological Staircase Trail, which ascends through coastal prairie, pygmy forest, and bishop pine groves. The trail offers interpretive signs explaining the geology and ecology. The reserve also features a short, accessible trail to the beach, where tide pools and sea stacks await exploration.
Don't miss
- Hike the Ecological Staircase Trail through five distinct terraces
- Explore the pygmy forest with stunted trees and unique plants
- Visit the beach for tide pooling and sea stack views
Tickets & tours
Ways to visit Jug Handle State Natural Reserve
You can usually visit on your own. A tour is worth it for transport, a guide, or combining nearby sights into one day.
Cheapest way inGlen Blair Bar Late-night Watering Hole4.7★ · 64 travelers~4 hoursFree cancellationFrom$65 per personSee dates →
Most bookedRedwoods Railbike Along Pudding Creek4.7★ · 260 travelers~2 hoursFree cancellationFrom$286 per personSee dates →
Private & flexibleHike the Natural Reserve & Eat at a Local´s Family Farm5★ · 13 travelers~7 hoursFree cancellationFrom$185 per personSee dates →More attractions in Mendocino