There is the ocean side and the river side. On the river side it is quiet and not windy at all. On the ocean side it is windier, but there is tons of scrap wood and seaweed that people are constantly using to make teepees and other small shelters. Also it seems to be an informal off leash dog area.

Big River was excellent for kayaking. Went out on a freezing & windy early November day, and it was beautiful. Easy kayaking once you head upstream. Only thing, we didn't see any sea mammals, only a few egrets & herons. Went there the following day to ride up the Big River road, no cars, easy bike ride for the first... More

The wide, well-maintained road along the river is a perfect place to run, bike or just walk. The views are outstanding and canoeing or biking is really fun. You can be in the redwoods and enjoy the river at the same time.

We rented a two person canoe and took it up the river to have a picnic! We were followed by a river seal and made friends with other people on the river.

Rent a bike and ride up the old lumber road along the river. Beautiful views, great ride. There are also canoe rentals available.

rowing or kayaking on this river is fabulous. you can rent a canoe and even go on a full-moon paddle at night. no full moon for us - foggy - but we saw luminescence in the water as we paddled.

Have a tide table, and visit at lowest tide, when a sandbar arises. Wonderful beach just to relax, or take a slow stroll. My husband uses a cane but is able to walk there at low tide. Parking is easy in parking area under the bridge. Take a picnic lunch!

We were looking for a nice beach to walk our dog. The view was beautiful opening to the ocean and the river seemed to be a great place for families. People were enjoying sun bathing and swimming. The river seems to be a great place to kayak and canoe.

We did a kayak trip on the big river this past weekend. Definitely recommend this as one of your activities in mendocino. We rented a kayak from Catch a Canoe located just off of HW1 next to Stanford Inn. $28 per person. it was a beautiful scenic location. One point to note is that the current is stronger when you... More