WOW! New State Parks sponsored group launches volunteer effort at the mostly unseen, spectacular and bizarre Caspar Headlands trail complex
Trailhead has two memorials to people who died off these bluffs.
Volunteers start work on Wednesday to reopen a long-neglected and spectacular trail at the north end of Caspar Beach. One can get trained to help with clearing, then join the new Caspar Cares Trail Stewards effort. Even by the high standards of Mendocino county’s many beach walks, the Caspar Headlands is one of the most interesting and fun public access spots even before the new improvement effort. It can also be dangerous, as two clifftop memorials show. A vigorous effort has been made by Califoria State Parks and others to post warning signs on these bluffs.
Every town has its so-called “secret spots” – the ones plastered across travel blogs and tourism sites. But on the Mendocino Coast the real secrets aren’t advertised. They’re tucked into the folds of the landscape, known only to locals who’ve wandered off the map.
Some hikes, through redwoods, along the beach through secret coves and paths – aren’t listed anywhere. They don’t make it into guidebooks, they are not posted on websites. We could share them, but part of their magic is that we don’t!
But starting with Wednesday’s cleanup we’re letting one secret slip – one of the true hidden gems. It deserves attention – It needs Love – It needs care.
A new California State Parks-sponsored group named Caspar Cares Trail Stewards Program begins work this Wednesday Aug, 13 at 1pm an informative and free training session on trail stewardship followed with a workday of trail clearing. After that, anyone who has been trained can go out and work to maintain the trail.
This trail’s offerings of human history, vista points and birds will thrill even those of us who have been pretty much everywhere. Do it once and you will be back regularly. The entire area west of Caspar Road from the last house to the curve has been quietly brought back by State Parks over the past few years.
One trail goes from behind Good Bones (the old Caspar Inn) all the way to some of the most spectacular viewing of offshore islands and rocks on the Coast.
Another trail starts behind the old Caspar Bank building. One can travel all over that area before taking the third trail, is a walk down to Caspar Beach’s north side. From there, one can take off their shoes and cross Caspar Creek. All the trails and the beach have unique and unexpected historical artifacts and natural wonders. A family of kingfishers has lived on Caspar Creek where the trail comes out for decades. They are likely to fly over and give humans a stern lecture for even being there.
The old brickworks of the Caspar Mill as well as a 19th century State Route 1 are visible.
Just two years ago only the trails behind Good Bones were all but one impassable. Since then, State Parks have beaten back gigantic invasive Scotch Broom, gorse and Himalayan blackberries. Crews have removed downed branches from the also exotic eucalyptus trees as well as pine and cypress trees
We are presenting a photo story on this area, hoping readers will want to join the rest of us who walk there and will want to clean it up, without removing any of the human or natural history.
Mendocinocoast.news met Sonoma-Mendocino Coast District Volunteer Coordinator Amelia Schall Tůmová of State Parks, where she was enthusiastically recruiting people for Wednesday’s cleanup. We almost missed keeping our promise to put a news item out about this. Schall Tůmová says a lot of people have already volunteered to help on Wednesday.
The trail that goes due west is as amazing as the one that goes all the way down to Caspar Beach has nearly as many artificats of legacy logging . There are several nice wide trails that wind around the headlands, with parts pre-paved by the lumber forefathers. See the photos!
The trail leading due west, which is interesting enough to be given a name, is a history walk where one can see railroad tracks and baffling items mostly buried in the soil. One such item is a solid wood flooring of some long-gone lumber mill or perhaps a road to drive heavy equipment on that was built when great solid wood was way cheaper than even gravel!
Take a look at the photos then come see it for yourself – and roll up your sleeves to help if your able. then come out and do some WORK!l. The heavy planks are nearly buried now, Just barely peeking through the grass. Please don’t disturb the sleep of the past. Take away photos only.
When you reach the bluffs, the view stretches out in every direction: ocean, forest, sky. Below lies a beach that is no longer accessible, but bring binoculars, and you can glimpse the massive concrete pillars and blocks, remnants of a once gargantuan lumber mill that once dominated the coastline. Don’t attempt to go down – it’s steep, unstable and very dangerous.
On top of the bluffs are two apparent warnings of what can happen if one gets too close to this edge or is foolish enough to try to go down the cliff face. Some have done this, creating serious erosion. Many deaths on the Mendocino Coast have resulted from cliff falls.
Two memorials marked with flowers, shells and other offerings rest quietly at the top of the bluff. They were both tended lovingly until about two years ago. Mendocinocoast.news identified the boy who died off the bluffs more than 25 years ago and contacted his family. We have offered to clean the weeds out around that one. We are looking for who the other memorial was created for. When we find that out, we can make the same offer. If you know, write to frankhartzell@gmail.com .
And come to the event and help. It will take many dedicated Casparados to keep this trail maintained and cleaned and if like us, discourage people from misusing it.. There are some forms that need to be filled out to participate in Schall’s event on Wednesday, which starts at 1 p.m.
First training. Then some hard work!
“We have scheduled a training with State Parks staff about how to maintain trails safely which is required in order to participate in this program,” Schall Tůmová said.
She has provided a map of how to get to Caspar Road (https://maps.app.goo.gl/CxjuhZnGG74BVGVt8)
Items people are encouraged to bring include a weed whacker,, clippers, gloves, other garden tools and water to drink She asks people to be prepared to brush the trail down to the beach. PPE will be provided. Please bring the completed paperwork if you already have a copy, she said. .
“I will bring name badges and blank copies of the paperwork, which is attached here. If you would like me to send it now via DocuSign, please let me know We plan to have another training in the spring as a refresher Please let me know if you have any questions”
Contact her and sign up to trail blaze at (707) 617-9404 and at Amelia.Schall@parks.ca.gov
