Manchester State Park
RV Guide

Visiting the Point Arena Lighthouse is a perfect way to learn more about the cultural and natural history of the area. The original lighthouse was constructed in 1870 but was unfortunately destroyed by an earthquake in 1906. The lighthouse that stands today is a replica of the original that was built in 1908 shortly after the original collapsed.

The lighthouse towers 115 feet into the sky and once contained a unique 1st Order Fresnel Lens built in France. Today, visitors can go inside and stroll through several exhibits that highlight the six known shipwrecks that have occurred around Arena Rock before climbing up to the top of the lighthouse for amazing views of the Pacific Ocean.

Wildlife and marine life watching is an ideal thing to do in Manchester State Park. From December to April, visitors can treat their eyes to views of migrating gray whales making their way down to Baja California. There is also spectacular wildlife and birding opportunities onshore within the park. Bring a good pair of binoculars to view bird species such as the endangered snowy plovers on the beach and the sanderlings, dunlin, blue herons, egrets, and an occasional peregrine falcon on land. Mammals roaming inland include deer, river otter, as well as more domestic animals like flocks of sheep and herds of cows that often graze along the coastal grasslands.

Visitors will want to be sure they bring some comfortable shoes for two popular activities at Manchester State Park: beachcombing and hiking. The beach at the park is almost four miles in length and stretches from Alder Creek Beach in the north to Arena Point in the south. The beach is a natural collecting zone for debris, especially driftwood which is plentiful. Visitors will be able to find all sorts of interesting things that have washed up on shore, most of which they can take home as a souvenir from their trip.

Guests who want to explore more than the beach can follow the five-mile round-trip hike on the Davis Wetlands Trail. This trail takes park visitors through numerous ecosystems including ponds, coastal dunes, beach, forested areas and, of course, wetlands.

The waters of the Pacific Ocean are prime surfing waters, especially on the coastal areas off of Manchester State Park. These waters are ideal for advanced surfers who can expect a difficult paddle to get out of the rip currents to find 10-feet swells with both right and left breaks. Windsurfing is even better with constant winds throughout the summer months and there is plenty of ocean water with good swells to ride. Another activity that is becoming increasingly popular in the park is kite boarding. With almost four miles of beachfront, kiteboarders can find plenty of space to lift off and cruise the waters along the coastline of the park.

An extremely popular thing visitors love to do in Manchester State Park is to go scuba diving. The protected waters of the park provide calm, uncrowded waters where marine life thrives. Additionally, there are six known shipwreck sites around Arena Rock that are located 100 feet off the shoreline in the southwestern portion of the park. Divers can explore these shipwrecks and search for over 30 other shipwrecks that are presumed to have crashed at or near Arena Rock. Be aware that shore diving is discouraged because of strong rip tides, so scuba divers must enter the water by boat.

Fishing at Manchester State Park is superb, especially when steelhead make their runs on Alder Creek in the north and Brush Creek in the south. These creeks are the best place to fish in the park. Anglers should be aware that these two creeks can only be accessed on foot. Surf fishing is also popular along the northern beaches where anglers can expect to find perch, steelhead, salmon, and cabazon. All visitors who intend on fishing are required to have a valid fishing license. Be sure to check California State Fishing Regulations for size and bag limits before fishing in the park.