Reviews

Teresa K

Gorgeous camping area in Mendocino Co. Beautiful fairly easy hike. Parts are paved. Lush green everywhere. The sound of running water next to us was so nice. Only drawbacks some areas, muddy to hike through.

Kayla K

The employees here are incredibly kind and helpful. They clean the bathrooms every morning and patrol the campsites to keep it relatively quiet. The campground itself is very cool with some sites up a hill that feels very secluded from the highway. I left my shoes behind and they were so helpful in getting them back and everyone I talked to was very understanding and kind. I don't recommend leaving your things behind, but I definitely appreciate all of the staff members at Van Damme. Thank you park staff for all that you do!

Ramakrishna

Nice experience of trails , picnic spots . Dwarf garden though took the trouble of visiting from the other end was not so good looks wise but very interesting. We need to book for picnic spots and for a day drive just buy a pass for $10. The Kayaking beach in front of the park is interesting.

Kina Marie

Everything was beautiful and breathtaking people everywhere were kind and with a smile. Park rangers were very attentive and made us feel safe Always! Been going for 4 yrs now and never tire. We saw deer raccoons & even Mr skunk stopping by to say hello. Can't wait to come back again.

Claire E Corcoran

One of the prettiest places I've ever been! The campground is gorgeous, with a nice mix of open grassy spots and more private ones. There's plenty of room for kids to run around, and they have showers. There's a beautiful hike from the end of the campground up a canyon, or you can drive up to the other end of the trail and go down. At the upper trailhead there's a short loop trail through a pygmy first of old but tiny trees, with good interpretive signs. Not part of the park itself, but right across the road there's a state beach with lagoons and rocks, along with short drives to several other beaches and sea caves

Ashley

We had a great time. The Rangers are all friendly and helpful. The camping areas are well maintained and it was gorgeous of course. Would recommend checking wind conditions and pick sites tucked back in the tree lines if it is going to be windy. Walking distance to the ocean and beautiful trails to hike.

Jay Bigford

Van Damme State Park is one of a kind. Absolutely beautiful all year long. Spectacular little beach. Free day use for whale watching. Tons of hiking trails. Riding a bicycle is one of the best ways to see the park. Botanizing or watching the salmon spawn. Don't forget to check out the unique pygmy forest or just spend your time relaxing in the campgrounds.

Guillermo Inchausti

Great park for a short visit, god and clean facilities, great pit stop if you are traveling in the area.

Doreen O'Donovan

Sept 2024 update: Fern Canyon trail is open. We camped in the lower front loop. It is definitely colder than the back loop by the amphitheater. The breeze and fog come straight from the beach. Also, the camp host has a lot of bright lights which are annoying. The shower is designed in such a way that it is impossible to keep your clothes dry. We took the bog trail which was full of interesting plants. The boardwalk on the trail has completely fallen apart in some places. Be careful. June 2023: The campground is open and in good condition. The Fern Canyon trail is closed and it will be for awhile. Dogs are not allowed on trails. The only day use is at the beach where there are picnic tables and restrooms.

Dominica H

We came here in the morning to explore the tide pools. Lots of amazing creatures to discover. Wasn’t as nice of a swimming beach as others in the area though.

Cristian Arreaza

The park has a parking lot and bathrooms. Yes, I did start with the essential information on this review, your welcome. This beach has a lot of sand, rocks, sea shells, and drift wood. You can walk along the coast, sit on the edge of the parking lot, or sit on the tree logs in the back of the beach. The state park is divided by Hwy 1. There is a beach side and across the street is the park side. This is a nice place to collect special items, come watch the sunset, meditate, do yoga, or just relax.