Jug Handle State Natural Reserve protects a particularly rich slice of the Mendocino Coast, from wave-cut bluffs and a pocket beach to forested terraces inland. Its best-known feature is the ecological staircase, where successive marine terraces show how soils and plant communities change with age and elevation.
For travellers based in Fort Bragg, it is one of the most rewarding short hikes nearby. Bring layers, expect wind on the headlands, and take the inland trail if you want the reserve's science rather than just another pretty ocean view.