Build each day around low tide and train times, and everything else will fall into place.
One day: the highlights
- Morning: Glass Beach near low tide, then the Coastal Trail and the trestle.
- Midday: ride the Skunk Train up Pudding Creek.
- Afternoon: stroll Main Street or the Botanical Gardens.
- Evening: seafood and sunset at Noyo Harbor.
Two days: add the coast
- Morning: seals at Laguna Point.
- Late morning: Point Cabrillo Light.
- Afternoon: Mendocino village and its headlands.
Three days: add the forest
- Morning: the Ecological Staircase at Jug Handle.
- Afternoon: Russian Gulch waterfall, or a railbike tour.
- On your way out: leave via Highway 128 for Hendy Woods and Anderson Valley wineries.
Heritage train from $50 Mendocino County: Skunk Train Pudding Creek Train Ride
The easy classic: a short heritage train ride from downtown Fort Bragg along the Pudding Creek estuary and into the redwoods to Glen Blair Junction and back. The right choice with children or limited time.
- About 7 miles round trip along Pudding Creek
- Departs the depot in downtown Fort Bragg
- Listing includes the model railroad museum
Train and bar from $55 From Fort Bragg: Redwoods Train Ride and Nightclub Ticket
A train from the depot takes you about 3.5 miles into the redwoods to a bar at Glen Blair Junction that can only be reached by rail. Check the listing for age limits and what the ticket includes.
- Train through redwood groves
- A bar in the forest reached only by train
- An evening out, not a sightseeing ride
Railbike tour from $265 per group Mendocino County: Pudding Creek Railbikes
Ride a small railbike up the old logging line along Pudding Creek, with a long stop among the redwoods at Glen Blair Junction. The price is per bike for up to two. Some reviewers find the riding time short for the price, so go for the setting.
- Pedal the rails through redwood forest
- Crosses wooden trestle bridges
- Layover of about 50 minutes at Glen Blair Junction
Railbike tour from $495 per group Mendocino County: Railbiking Tour Along the Noyo River
The most ambitious option here: half a day on the rails along the Noyo River, starting with a walk down through the redwoods. The listing mentions a lunch stop. Route details differ within the listing, so read it closely before you book.
- The longer railbike route
- Riverside rails deep in the redwoods
- A hike down through the forest to the river
Tips for pacing
Book train seats first, then fit the rest around them. Allow extra driving time on Highway 1, and leave room for fog: it often lifts by the afternoon. See where to stay and getting there.
