Mel Gibson made Point Arena Lighthouse and the Point Arena Headland famous with the tragic ending scene of the movie “Forever young”. The area is tremendously beautiful and should be on your list of places to visit along the North Coast. I often drove past the lighthouse and usually arrived after the early closing hour, until recently when I was lucky enough to gain entrance to the lighthouse grounds. 
The dramatic headlands north of Mendocino encompass Point Cabrillo SHP with its photogenic light station and historic light keepers’ residences. After the clipper “Frolic” ran aground at Pt. Cabrillo, the salvage team soon found the ship looted by local Indians. The rich logging prospects caused the men to construct the first sawmill here and soon the wood industry flourished. Construction of the lighthouse started after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and the subsequent surge in demand for Redwoods.
Unlike other parks, Russian Gulch State Park offers many amenities that make it attractive to casual tourists, but less interesting for photographers. You will not find many hidden jewels here, yet photographers can always discover unique perspectives and interesting views.
Although Jug Handle State Reserve is famous for its ecological staircase, the mouth of Jug Handle Creek that opens into an incredible beach cove is the real star of the park. The park includes about one mile of spectacular coast that is worth stopping for and it harbors one of North California’s finest beaches. Drivers on Highway 1 only get a very brief glimpse of this beach, but many completely miss the park. Take the short hike along the coast or follow the trail and steps right down to the beach to discover this amazing hidden jewel.
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