Mal Coombs Park (Shelter Cove Lighthouse) in Whitethorn, CA

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About Mal Coombs Park (Shelter Cove Lighthouse) in Whitethorn, California

Mal Coombs Park is located on the west side of the small resort town of Shelter Cove. There is a small rocky beach hidden away below the park.

Many visitors stop here, not for the shoreline access, but rather to see the Shelter Cove Lighthouse which stands in the center of the park. The lighthouse is actually the old Cape Mendocino Lighthouse which was moved to this location near Point Delgada and reassembled in the year 2000. The park has a parking lot and picnic tables just steps from the lighthouse and the beach.

At low tide, abundant marine life is exposed in tide pools below the beach. Much better sandy beaches are nearby, including Black Sands Beach and Shelter Cove Beach, where you can walk the shoreline north and south of Shelter Cove.

The Oceanfront Inn and the Shelter Cove Campground are both next to Mal Coombs Park. Other accommodations and restaurants are nearby in town.

Address: 1176 Lower Pacific Dr
Whitethorn, CA 95589
Park Name: Mal Coombs Park
Other Names: Mal Coombs Beach
Owner: BLM
Pet Details: Dogs allowed
Fees: Free parking
Activities: Lighthouse Tours, Whale Watching, Tidepooling, Camping
Amenities: Lighthouse, Restrooms, Picnic Tables, BBQs, Tide Pools, Campground
Links: Tide Chart
Water Temps