Jug Handle State Natural Reserve
Caspar, CA
Jug Handle State Natural Reserve protects a small cove beach backed by forest and a series of ecological terraces that climb the hillside above it, each one representing a different stage of soil development over thousands of years. Trails from both Jefferson Way and the path near the Pine Beach Inn lead down to the same beach.
The combination of a genuine cove beach and an unusual geological trail sets it apart from a typical reserve, though the beach itself is small compared to the bigger stretches nearby.
How we score beachesAsk at the visitor information near the trailhead about the ecological staircase trail if the geology interests you, it's a genuinely unusual feature for a short walk.
Free parking is available at the trailheads off Highway 1.
Paths from Jefferson Way and near the Pine Beach Inn lead down to the cove beach.
Leashed dogs are allowed on the beach and headland trails west of Highway 1 at Jug Handle State Natural Reserve, but not on the inland Ecological Staircase Trail.
Summer mornings run foggy before clearing, typical of the Mendocino coast, with water staying cold year round.
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