Van Damme State Park
Also known as Van Damme SP
- Status
- Open (per official listing)Daily 6 a.m. – sunset
- Entrance fee
- $10 per dayAnnual pass available
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed, with restrictions
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- parks.ca.gov(707) 937-0851
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
In Mendocino County, about 12 miles south of Fort Bragg, Van Damme State Park covers about 2,432 acres.
Things to do include snorkeling and diving, surfing, boating, fishing, and wildlife watching. Water access includes a swimming beach and boat or kayak rentals. Camping is available: campsites, including RV sites, tent sites, group camping, and showers.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Daily | 6 a.m. – sunset | — |
Official wording
6 AM to Sunset
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Los Angeles).
Fees and passes
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Day Use | $10 |
Official wording
Special rates may apply for peak season, high demand holiday periods, and during weekends. Prices are subject to change without notice. • Vehicle Day Use: $10.00
California park passes
- California Explorer Annual Pass — $195. Vehicle day-use entry to 134 state parks incl. high-demand Southern California beaches Details
- Golden Poppy Annual Pass — $125. Vehicle day-use entry to 112 state parks Details
- Historian Passport — $50. Admission for up to four people at per-person-fee State Historic Parks Details
- Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Annual Pass — $50. Entry to State Vehicular Recreation Areas that collect day-use fees Details
- SNO-Park Pass — $40 season / $15 day. 18 SNO-PARK winter recreation areas Details
From the California state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Camping
- Not required
- Booking system
- ReserveCalifornia
- Phone
- (800) 444-7275
The park has 9 first-come, first-served “environmental” (primitive) sites in a redwood forest along the Fern Canyon Scenic Trail, 1.75 miles2 from the trailhead near the end of the campground.
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
Dogs allowed, with restrictions
Not allowed in or on: fern canyon trail; trails or dirt roads or in hike-in sites.
Are dogs allowed? Yes: Dogs allowed in campground, beach and Spring Ranch. Dogs not allowed on Fern Canyon Trail, Old Logging Road Trail, or Pygmy Forest Trail. • Dogs are not allowed on trails or dirt roads or in hike-in sites.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Camping
Van Damme campground is currently open to existing reservations and has a limited number of first come first serve camping sites available.
There has been a temporary single lane bridge installed to allow for access to campsites on the east side of Little River. The temporary bridge is much narrower than the original bridge and measuring 10 feet in width and 53 feet in length. The bridge configuration does not allow for a straight on and straight off approach or exit.
- Do not gather dead or downed wood. Purchase firewood at campground.
Van Damme is a great place for hiking, biking, birding, jogging, kayaking, botanizing, and watching salmon spawn. Its trails including a 0.25 mile-long wheelchair-accessible boardwalk to view stunted trees in a pygmy forest. Its camping facilities include nine hike-in sites in a beautiful redwood forest. The 1930s-era visitor center was once a recreation hall for the Civilian Conservation Corps.
Read more from the park
Fern Canyon from the Campground
A long, lovely journey through many of the park’s most interesting places. Leave your car at the end of the main road, just east of the campground, follow the directions for the hike above until you get to the trail junction at 2.5 miles. From there, head uphill for 2.5 miles to the pygmy forest. Observe the strange effects of nutrient-poor soil on the plants along the 0.25-mile-long loop through the pygmy forest. Then head back downhill, taking Old Logging Road Trail at the fork. When you reach the Little River again, it’s a glistening, green 2.5 miles back to your car.
CAMPING
Family Camping
Overnight facilities: En route Campsites, Tent Camping, Group Campsites, Hike-and-Bike Campsites, Remote Camping, RV Dump Station, RV Access
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
BoatingFishingSnorkeling and scubaWildlife viewing and birdingSurfingGeocachingHikingCamping
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Showers
- Drinking water
- Visitor center
- Nature center or museum
- Parking
- Group facilities
Water
- Swimming beach
- Boat, canoe or kayak rentals
Camping
- RV dump station
- Tent camping
- RV camping
- Group camping
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
Overview
Van Damme State Park includes nearly 2000 acres of beach and upland on the Mendocino Coast. The park is located three miles south of the town of Mendocino on Highway 1. Phone (707) 937-5804 for more information.
Camping
Currently, campsites 7 and 10 are paved, have wheelchair accessible tables, and are at least usable. A number of other sites are fairly level with hard dirt surfaces and may be usable in dry weather. A generally accessible combination toilet room/shower is located near campsite 11. Toilet permits front transfers, and assistance may be need to reach shower controls from bench. Designated accessible parking is adjacent to the building.
Trails
See Pygmy Forest Self-Guided Nature Boardwalk under Exhibits/Programs.
Read more from the park
Beach/Shore Access
A beach wheelchair is available for use at California State Park beaches in the Mendocino Coast area. Email Mendocino.specialevents@parks.ca.gov or call (707) 937-5804 at least 7 days in advance to reserve, or check in at the entrance station at MacKerricher State Park or Van Damme State Park for first-come, first-serve availability.
Exhibits/Programs
Visitor Center: A small visitor center created within a 1930's historic structure is generally accessible. It includes a video area with flexible seating arrangements that can accommodate wheelchairs. Assistance may be needed with handrails on ramp and stairs. Staff assistance is available to help reach items in sales area. Designated accessible parking is available. Restroom in campground is generally accessible as described under Camping.
Pygmy Forest Self-Guided Nature Boardwalk: Located off Airport Road, this loop trail is generally accessible. Interpretive exhibits describing the forest features are accessible along the approximate 300 yard loop. A ramp from the far end of the loop leads to the Old Logging Road Trail, which may be accessible in dry weather for a short distance. A paved parking lot with 8 spaces includes one van accessible space. The only generally accessible restroom in the park is in the campground adjacent to site 11.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- 8125 North Highway 1
Little River, CA 95456 - Nearest town
- Fort Bragg — about 12 mi south (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 39.2742, -123.7907
- Phone
- (707) 937-0851
Entrances
- Directions point
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
The park is located three miles south of the town of Mendocino on Highway 1. The highway runs through the park separating the campground and the Fern Canyon trail head to the east and the beach and parking lot to the west.
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- California State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- California State Parks Listing page (one link per unit, page_id = officialId), unioned with the CSP Enterprise GIS 'ParkEntryPoints' ArcGIS layer (coords, address, county, unit number, management status) and the 'CSPParkUnit_CurrentStatus' layer (open/partial/full closure)
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
- Photo: Van Damme State Park - January 2025 - Sarah Stierch.jpg — CC0 1.0 (public domain dedication), Missvain
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology