Caspar Headlands State Beach
Encyclopedia
Caspar Headlands State Beach is a protected beach
in the state park
system of California
, USA. It is located in Northern California
in Mendocino County
near the village of Caspar
. The 75 acres (30.4 ha) park was established in 1972.
. The logging operations ceased in 1955. In March 1939 after the completion of the Golden Gate Bridge
, the area of California north of the Golden Gate was open to exploration by automobile. Prior to that time, roads into the area were crude or non-existent.
In 1997 the main landowner in Caspar announced that he would be selling approximately 300 acres (121.4 ha) of the village of Caspar, including part of the beach. Then, in late 1998, the citizens of the village of Caspar persuaded the Trust for Public Land, based out of San Francisco, to protected the land. The Mendocino Land Trust acquired the adjoining beach in 1999. Then in 2000 the village of Caspar and the Mendocino Land Trust used a grant from the California State Coastal Conservancy as well as state and federal funds to purchase the Caspar Headlands. The Mendocino Land Trust managed the land until the California Department of Parks and Recreation
assumed ownership in June 2002. State Senator
Wesley Chesbro
was present at the opening ceremony.
A hiking trail, part of the California Coastal Trail
, was established in 2011 and connects the beach to the Point Cabrillo Light
one mile to the south.
s.
Some types of animal life are: Coho salmon
, steelhead trout, osprey
, and shorebirds.
Beach
A beach is a geological landform along the shoreline of an ocean, sea, lake or river. It usually consists of loose particles which are often composed of rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles or cobblestones...
in the state park
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
system of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, USA. It is located in Northern California
Northern California
Northern California is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The San Francisco Bay Area , and Sacramento as well as its metropolitan area are the main population centers...
in Mendocino County
Mendocino County, California
Mendocino County is a county located on the north coast of the U.S. state of California, north of the greater San Francisco Bay Area and west of the Central Valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 87,841, up from 86,265 at the 2000 census...
near the village of Caspar
Caspar, California
Caspar is a census-designated place in Mendocino County, California. It is located north of Mendocino, at an elevation of 82 feet . Caspar is located on the Pacific Ocean. In the Caspar area is the historic Point Cabrillo Light Station, which was built in 1909...
. The 75 acres (30.4 ha) park was established in 1972.
History
In the early part of the twentieth century, the area was used for loggingLogging
Logging is the cutting, skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs onto trucks.In forestry, the term logging is sometimes used in a narrow sense concerning the logistics of moving wood from the stump to somewhere outside the forest, usually a sawmill or a lumber yard...
. The logging operations ceased in 1955. In March 1939 after the completion of the Golden Gate Bridge
Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the opening of the San Francisco Bay into the Pacific Ocean. As part of both U.S. Route 101 and California State Route 1, the structure links the city of San Francisco, on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula, to...
, the area of California north of the Golden Gate was open to exploration by automobile. Prior to that time, roads into the area were crude or non-existent.
In 1997 the main landowner in Caspar announced that he would be selling approximately 300 acres (121.4 ha) of the village of Caspar, including part of the beach. Then, in late 1998, the citizens of the village of Caspar persuaded the Trust for Public Land, based out of San Francisco, to protected the land. The Mendocino Land Trust acquired the adjoining beach in 1999. Then in 2000 the village of Caspar and the Mendocino Land Trust used a grant from the California State Coastal Conservancy as well as state and federal funds to purchase the Caspar Headlands. The Mendocino Land Trust managed the land until the California Department of Parks and Recreation
California Department of Parks and Recreation
The California Department of Parks and Recreation, also known as California State Parks, manages the California state parks system. The system administers 278 parks and 1.4 million acres , with over of coastline; of lake and river frontage; nearly 15,000 campsites; and of hiking, biking, and...
assumed ownership in June 2002. State Senator
California State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
Wesley Chesbro
Wesley Chesbro
Wesley P. Chesbro is a Democratic politician from California. He is currently the Assembly member for the 1st Assembly district in California. Previously, Chesbro served as a State Senator from California's 2nd district from 1998 until 2006...
was present at the opening ceremony.
A hiking trail, part of the California Coastal Trail
California Coastal Trail
The California Coastal Trail, or CCT, is an environmental project adopted by the California Coastal Conservancy, an organization developed with the purpose of enhancing coastal resources and providing access to the shore, in 2001. The trail is designed to connect the entire coast of California by...
, was established in 2011 and connects the beach to the Point Cabrillo Light
Point Cabrillo Light
Point Cabrillo Light is a lighthouse in northern California, United States, between Point Arena and Cape Mendocino, just south of the community of Caspar...
one mile to the south.
Recreational uses
The beach is popular for swimming, boating, hiking, and fishing. This area has miles of undeveloped beach adjacent to the headlands. It is also a popular place to watch migrating gray whaleGray Whale
The gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus, is a baleen whale that migrates between feeding and breeding grounds yearly. It reaches a length of about , a weight of , and lives 50–70 years. The common name of the whale comes from the gray patches and white mottling on its dark skin. Gray whales were...
s.
Animal and plant life
The area is home to many different types of marine life, birds, as well as many different species of trees and wildflowers.Some types of animal life are: Coho salmon
Coho salmon
The Coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch, is a species of anadromous fish in the salmon family. Coho salmon are also known as silver salmon or "silvers". It is the state animal of Chiba, Japan.-Description:...
, steelhead trout, osprey
Osprey
The Osprey , sometimes known as the sea hawk or fish eagle, is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey. It is a large raptor, reaching more than in length and across the wings...
, and shorebirds.
See also
- California State BeachesCalifornia State BeachesThe beaches listed below are along the coastline of the state of California. Beaches are listed in order from south to north.- San Diego County :* Border Field State Park* Imperial Beach* Silver Strand State Beach* Coronado Municipal Beach...
- List of California state parks
- Mendocino Headlands State ParkMendocino Headlands State ParkMendocino Headlands State Park is a California State Park in Mendocino, California. It consists of of undeveloped seaside bluffs and islets surrounding the town of Mendocino, two beaches , and the much larger Big River Unit stretching for eight miles along both banks of the nearby Big River.The...
- Caspar, CaliforniaCaspar, CaliforniaCaspar is a census-designated place in Mendocino County, California. It is located north of Mendocino, at an elevation of 82 feet . Caspar is located on the Pacific Ocean. In the Caspar area is the historic Point Cabrillo Light Station, which was built in 1909...