Van DammeState Park - California |
Van Damme State Park consists of about 1,831 acres (7.41 km2) of land in Mendocino County, California, near the town of Little River on State Route 1. It was named for Charles Van Damme (1881–1934), who was born in the area and purchased the land that is now the park with profits from a San Francisco ferry business. On his death, the property became part of the California state park system.
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Van Damme State Park consists of about 1,831 acres (7.41 km2) of land in Mendocino County, California, near the town of Little River on State Route 1. It was named for Charles Van Damme (1881–1934), who was born in the area and purchased the land that is now the park with profits from a San Francisco ferry business. On his death, the property became part of the California state park system.
Russian Gulch
Mendocino Headlands
Van Damme
State Parks
Our Mission
The mission of California State Parks is
to provide for the health, inspiration and
education of the people of California by helping
to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological
diversity, protecting its most valued natural and
cultural resources, and creating opportunities
for high-quality outdoor recreation.
Roaring sea caves,
a rare pygmy forest,
ocean views from
Victorian windows —
welcome to Mendocino
area state parks.
California State Parks supports equal access.
Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who
need assistance should contact the park office at
(707) 937-5804. If you need this publication in an
alternate format, contact interp@parks.ca.gov.
CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS
P.O. Box 942896
Sacramento, CA 94296-0001
For information call: (800) 777-0369
(916) 653-6995, outside the U.S.
711, TTY relay service
www.parks.ca.gov
SaveTheRedwoods.org/csp
Russian Gulch, Mendocino Headlands,
and Van Damme State Parks
Along Highway 1 • Mendocino, CA
(707) 937-5804
© 2003 California State Parks (Rev. 2017)
O
n the Mendocino coast, the air smells
of salt, and the crashing waves create a
continuous resonance. The tall bluffs at this
spot north of San Francisco resemble the
rugged shores of the east coast, but with an
unmistakable California flair. Victorian-era
communities that overlook the sea reflect the
New England roots of their builders who, in
the ordinary course of life, added volumes to
California’s colorful history.
The Russian colony had failed by 1841.
The Fort Ross property had various owners
until 1906, when the fort and acreage were
acquired by the State for restoration,
reconstruction, and interpretation.
Little River, Van Damme State Park
MENDOCINO AREA STATE PARKS
Two miles north of Mendocino, Russian Gulch
State Park’s collapsed sea cave cuts 200 feet
into the headlands to form the boiling surge
known as the Devil’s Punchbowl. Mendocino
is embraced on three sides by unmatched
views from Mendocino Headlands State
Park. Van Damme State Park, beginning at
the mouth of the Little River, has a protected
cove for divers, a fern canyon for hikers, and
a unique forest of Mendocino pygmy cypress.
The climate here is temperate year-round.
Winter rains and cool summer fogs that
usually burn off by mid-morning provide the
moisture necessary for the thriving coastal
redwood trees.
of plenty, native groups often gathered to
share the bounty. When Russian and Aleutian
fur trappers arrived here in the early 1800s,
they were likely the Pomo’s first contact with
non-natives.
When the Pomo were drawn into the
mission system in the early 1800s, their
way of life was forever altered. Within
a generation or two, direct conflict and
exposure to European diseases nearly
decimated them. Today about 5,000 Pomo
descendants, who still occupy parts of their
ancestral lands, gather the raw materials
to make some of the world’s finest Native
American baskets and to pass on this ancient
skill to the next generation of artisans.
MENDOCINO HISTORY
Native Americans
The Pomo date back about 3,000 years on
the North Coast. They built their main village
of redwood bark houses at the mouth of
Big River. The Pomo hunted large and small
game, caught fish and shellfish, and gathered
seaweed, acorns, and various seeds.
Whatever they could not obtain locally, they
acquired in trade with other groups; in times
European and American Settlers
Settled by emigrants from all over the world,
the Mendocino area has a long history of
entrepreneurial exploitation. In 1812 a ship
owned by the Russian-American Company
entered a cove beneath the bluffs of what
would become North America’s southernmost
Russian settlement, Fort Ross. In the 1830s,
the American and Hudson’s Bay trappers
passed through seeking mammal pelts.
The Lumber Mills
The brig Frolic sank off Point Cabrillo with its
San Francisco-bound cargo in 1850. Attempts
at salvage were largely unsuccessful.
However, would-be salvagers, who had
hoped to find treasures for the taking, looked
around at the enormous stands of redwoods
nearby and realized that they had found their
fortune. Within two years, they had built a
sawmill at the mouth of the Big River.
In 1984 an archaeological team from San
Jose State University discovered fragments
of Chinese porcelain in housepits of a former
Pomo settlement. This was the first indication
that the Frolic’s cargo may have been
partially salvaged by local native people.
San Francisco engineer Harry Meiggs built
the sawmill at Big River in 1852. By the early
1900s, Big River had become an important
lumber town.
In 1864 Little River was founded as a
mill town to supply lumber to build San
Francisco. Heavy logging diminished local
timber resources; by 1893 the Little River Mill
had closed, so businesses, services, and the
school were abandoned.
Near Russian Gulch, several small,
short-term mills operated until the area
became “logged over,” but the mills’ pier
was used
Van Damme State Park
!
Wel
come
Russian Gulch and Mendocino Headlands State Parks
(707) 937-5804
OCCUPANCY Eight people are allowed per
family campsite.
FIRES AND FIREWOOD Please be cautious
when building fires—wildfire danger is especially
high during the summer. Fires are allowed only
in established fire rings or camp stoves. Do not
build ground fires outside the fire rings or leave
campfires unattended. Do not gather firewood in
the park—the nutrients must be allowed to recycle back into the ecosystem. You may purchase
firewood at the Entrance Station and Camp Host
Site. The sale of firewood provides funds for the
Mendocino Area Park Association. These funds
support interpretive programs in the park.
VEHICLE PARKING You may have only three
licensed pieces of equipment (including trailers
and vehicles) in each campsite. All motorized
vehicles are subject to fees. Call for information
on the extra vehicle charge. For parking
purposes, trailers are considered vehicles.
CHECKOUT TIME Checkout time is noon.
Please vacate your site by that time.
DOGS Dogs must be kept on a leash no longer
than six feet and under control at all times. They
are not permitted in buildings or on most trails.
Dogs must be confined to a vehicle or tent from
10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
SPEED LIMIT Though the maximum speed
limit is 15 mph, when pedestrians, bicyclists and
children are present, even 15 mph might be too
fast. Use good judgement.
64
62
60
58
63
61
65 68
56
67
59
55
57
70 69
54
52
71
51
53
31
50
Campground 49
47
72
Host
48 46
73
43
42
45
74
44
38
40 41
39
33 34 35 37
36
32
To Mendocino
66
Van Damme
State Park
Bog
Little
River
1
1 2
3
4
5
6
13
12
7
10
8
9
11
Visitor Campground
Center
Host
Day-Use
14 15 16
17
21
18
19
20
To Little River Inn
Phone
Showers
Restrooms
22
23 24 25
26
27 28 29 30
(maps not to scale)
© 2002 California State Parks (rev. 11/2007)
LEGEND
Ranger Station
To Fern
Canyon Trail
Parking
RV Sanitation
Accessible Features
Hiking Trail
Hike/Bike Campsite
Campfire Center
Picnic Area
Vista Point
Locked Gate
Road
Group Camping
En Route Camping
QUIET HOURS Quiet hours are
from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. To ensure an
enjoyable experience for everyone,
please do not disturb other campers,
regardless of the time of day or
night.
NOISE Radios and other soundproducing devices must not be
audible beyond your immediate
campsite, regardless of the time
of day or night. Engine driven
generators or other devices are not
to be operated between the hours of
8 p.m. and 10 a.m.
MOUNTAIN BIKES Use designated paved roads, dirt roads and
trails. All other areas are closed to
mountain bikes.
For emergencies call
2
ANIMAL WARNING Raccoons and foraging
birds may come into the campground at any
time of the day or night. Please lock all food in
your food locker. If the site does not
have a locker, put all
food in your vehicle
and cover it with a
Mendocino
blanket or towel.
Headlands
Do not keep
State Park
food in your
1
d
tent or sleeping
oa
e R 08
k
a
4
area, in exposed ice
le L TY
Litt OUN
chests, or on storage shelves.
C
Place all garbage in dumpsters as
soon as possible—do not allow it to
Jackson
accumulate.
green
Ever
ing
cO
cean
© 2002 California State Parks (rev. 11/2007)
N
Ri o. Bi
r Rg
d.
ve
ouse
Ford H
Blow
Hole
4 8
10
5 6
7 9
Recreation
Hall
To Picnic
Area &
Headland
Lans
.
er Dr
Hees
n
Kaste
Heeser Dr.
t
Goand
Isla
c i fi
Campground 19 20
24
To Waterfall
21 22
Host
18
23
17
25
26
27
Russi
13 14 15 16
an G 28 29 30
ulch Creek
1 3
11 12
t
Stree
Main
Portuguese
Beach
Pa
1
911
Day Use Only
(No camping)
Lake
Little
Ukiah
Russian Gulch
State Park
Big River
Beach
Big
River
CAMPING RESERVATIONS You
may make camping reservations up
to seven months and no less than
48 hours in advance by calling
1-800-444-7275 (TTY 1-800274-7275). Reservations may be
charged to your VISA®, Discover®
or MasterCard®. To make online
reservations, visit our Web site at
www.parks.ca.gov.