Map & Guide

BLM/CA/GI-2015/009+8300 Cover photo and lighthouse photo by Bob Wick, BLM

California

Coastal

National Monument

Point Arena-Stornetta Unit

Conserving Our Lands

National Conservation Lands, including the California 

Coastal National Monument, are part of an active, 

vibrant landscape where people live, work, and play. 

They offer exceptional opportunities for recreation, 

solitude, wildlife viewing, exploring history, scientific 

research, and a wide range of traditional uses.

Contact Us

Bureau of Land Management

Ukiah Field Office

2550 North State Street 

Ukiah, CA 95482

(707) 468-4000 

blm.gov/ca/ukiah

California Coastal 

National Monument

blm.gov/ca/ccnm

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blm.gov/ca

blm.gov/ca/ccnm

Situated along the rugged Mendocino 

County coastline adjacent to the town 

of Point Arena, is the 1,665-acre Point 

Arena-Stornetta Unit of the California 

Coastal National Monument. The first 

shoreline unit of the Monument offers 

spectacular views of coastal bluffs, sea 

arches, the estuary of the Garcia River, 

and sandy beaches and dunes with 

eight miles of marked paths.

The Point Arena-Stornetta Unit (Unit) was included as 

the first shoreline unit of the California Coastal National 

Monument by Presidential Proclamation on March 

11, 2014. The Unit expands the Monument to include 

coastal bluffs and shelves, tide pools, onshore dunes, 

coastal prairies, riverbanks and the mouth and estuary 

of the Garcia River. Purpose for the designation was for 

the protection of important biological resources and 

habitats, cultural resources, geology and recreational 

use and access.

The Unit is open for daytime activities including wildlife 

viewing, hiking, bird watching, fishing, picnicking, nature 

photography, and public access to the Mendocino 

Coast. The privately owned Point Arena Lighthouse can 

be accessed via Lighthouse Road (county road), which 

runs through the area at the north end. 

The California Coast National Monument was 

established on January 11, 2000, and comprises more 

than 20,000 rocks, reefs, and islands spread along 

the 1,100 mile California coastline. These dramatic 

features contribute to California’s awe-inspiring coastal 

scenery and provide havens for significant populations 

of seabirds and marine mammals. The Monument 

protects feeding and nesting habitat for an estimated 

200,000 breeding seabirds and thousands of loafing and 

breeding pinnipeds (seals and sea lions).

In an Emergency

• Call 9-1-1

• Mendocino County Sheriff (707) 964-6308

• Nearest hospital is 44 miles north on Hwy 1. 

Mendocino Coast Hospital, 700 River Drive, 

Fort Bragg, CA (707) 961-1234

Packed with Human History

When Europeans first arrived, the area was inhabited 

by the Bokeya or Central Pomo tribe. The ocean played 

an important part of the Bokeya life. Fish , shellfish, sea 

mammals, and seaweed were gathered from the ocean 

and coast for food. From the land, vegetables, berries, 

roots and greens were gathered and mammals and 

birds hunted. The Bokeya traded items from the coast 

for acorns, buckeye, and pine nuts found further inland.

During the late 1800s, the town of Flumeville or 

Rollerville was located roughly at the intersection of 

Lighthouse Rd. and Highway 1. This small settlement 

helped move timber from the interior forests via the 

Garcia River with a system of flumes (trough-like 

channels filled with water), a narrow gauge railroad, and 

chute to sailing ships at Point Arena Harbor. 

Cattle troughs, a milk barn, and road system from the 

early 1900s remain as evidence of dairy operations. 

Joseph Sheppard established a Jersey dairy farm on 

portions of this area in the late 1800s. Around 1924, 

A.O. Stornetta purchased the ranch from the widow of 

Joseph Sheppard. Stornetta was known for combining 

local dairy operations.

Point Arena Lighthouse Tower—1870

Pictured—The original 

lighthouse tower in the 

year it was opened. 

Constructed of brick 

and mortar in 1869, the 

tower housed a First 

Order Fresnel Lens. The 

tower was 100 feet tall. 

The great earthquake 

of 1906 damaged the 

lighthouse beyond repair 

and destroyed the lens. 

It is speculated that the spiral staircase prevented the 

tower from collapsing. The original staircase is still in 

use today inside the second tower.

Pacific Enterprise

The Pacific Enterprise was a 6,736 ton freighter, 412 

feet long and 55 feet at the beam. She was built in 

the United Kingdom by the Blythswood Shipbuilding 

Company and owned by the Norfolk and North 

American Steamship Company and commanded by 

Captain Cogle. Launched in 1927, the ship ran aground 

in a heavy fog off Point Arena Lighthouse on September 

9, 1949 carrying a cargo of wheat, lumber, canned 

salmon and metals.

Leave No Trace 

• Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their 

experience. 

• Respect all wildlife, including marine life. If animals 

notice your presence, you are too close.

• Please do not deface, carve, or write on trees or 

rocks.

• Leave all natural and cultural resources in place, 

including artifacts, vegetation, mushrooms, animals, 

driftwood, or shells.

• Trash—Pack out everything you pack in. Including 

food scraps and any small “micro-trash” such as 

cigarette butts.

Safety/Caution 

Whether hiking, wildlife viewing or driving, your safety 

depends on your good judgment, adequate preparation, 

and constant awareness. Your safety is your 

responsibility. 

Lighthouse Road is narrow with pedestrian and 

cattle crossing—reduce your speed. Turning around 

motorhomes and trailers can be difficult.

Weather 

Weather on the North Coast can be changeable with 

fog, wind, rain or sun. Dress in layers for your comfort 

and changing conditions while visiting the area. 

Water 

Carry enough water per person for hiking. Water is 

not available on site. Cooler coastal temperatures are 

deceiving and you can still become dehydrated.

Coastal Cliffs 

Cliffs/bluffs are unstable—do not climb. Be careful of 

edges when using a camera, viewing wildlife, or just 

walking. Due to wind, water, and wave action, the edges 

may be undercut and not visible from the top of the Harvesting and threshing, Sheppard Ranch circa 1900

Photo courtesy of Held-Poage Research Library, No. L-02236

bluff. These conditions are ever-changing and may not 

be marked. 

Wildlife 

The Unit is home to nine special status species, 

including plants, mammals, birds, amphibians, fish and 

insects. Commonly seen marine animals include harbor 

seals seen loafing on the rocks and migrating gray 

whales.

Grazing

Grazing reduces invasive bunch grasses which compete 

with other native succulent plants that are critical to 

many of the special status species.

Respect the Neighbors

There are private properties within and adjacent to the 

Point Arena-Stornetta Unit that are closed to the public. 

Respect private lands, signs and closures. 

The City of Point Arena has provided public access on 

the southern end of the Unit. Be respectful to the City 

and community as there are community activities at 

City Hall. Do not park adjacent to the building.

Harbor seal by David Ledig, DOI

Photo courtesy of Point Arena 

Lighthouse

Photo courtesy of Point Arena Lighthouse
Enjoy Your Visit 

Today & Tomorrow 

The California Coastal National Monument is managed 

to conserve and protect coastal resources. Visitor use 

should be consistent with these objectives. Please 

practice Leave No Trace principles and the following 

guidance:

• Stay on paths. Trails are under development and are 

subject to change. 

• Pack out your trash.

• Cliffs are unstable—do not climb.

• Dogs must be on leash. Clean up after your dog.

• Keep your distance from wildlife and do not feed 

wildlife.

• This area has active livestock grazing. Make cows 

aware of your presence by talking to them in a 

calm voice. For your and your dog’s safety, do not 

approach cattle.

• Day use only from 1⁄2 hour before sunrise to 1⁄2 hour 

after sunset. No fires and no camping.

• No cutting or collecting firewood.

• No discharge or use of fireworks, firearms or other 

weapons, including bows and arrows, pellet guns, 

paintball guns.

• No motorized vehicles or hang gliding.

These lands were acquired by BLM and made possible 

by the many generous grants and contributions 

by agencies, non-government organizations and 

individuals with the three phases of acquisition. 

A special thanks to the community of Point Arena. 

For a complete list of those responsible, go to: 

blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/ukiah/stornetta.html

Photo by Jim Pickering, BLM

Lupine and wild iris by Jim Pickering, BLM

California

Coastal

National Monument

Point Arena-Stornetta Unit