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ALBION RIVER CAMPGROUND

KAYAKING AND CANOEING THE ALBION RIVER

Kayaks and canoes are now available to rent at the campground for use on the Albion River. Rentals include life vests for your safety. Pack your pick nick and head up stream for a self guided leisurely day on the river. What will you see? Click on the link to river photos below.

Albion River Campground is at the mouth of the Albion River with easy access to both the ocean and river. Albion bay is a great place for novices and intermediate paddlers to explore when the waves are not crashing (trails.com ). When the water conditions are right, there are miles of coastline for the experienced paddlers to explore. You will find islands, caves, coves, kelp beds, and resident harbor seals. Take a rod and you might even find a fish. Your National Weather Service weather radio is the best source for up-to-the-minute water conditions in our area. Always plan on wind by around midday.

On the other hand, there are also miles of river which can be explored most anytime. Do not forget, the Albion River is tide influenced for about five miles up river so plan your trips with the flow. With high tide, you can paddle to the willows that block the channel. That is one "long ways" up the river. What is beyond the willows? Just around the bend beyond the willows is the Albion North Fork. I never had the desire to investigate any farther. Patches of blackberries are another story. Blackberry vines require an immediate and thorough investigation for ripe berries, mostly during July, when spotted along the river's edge. The river's edge also harbors many landmarks of early redwood logging and railroad history. Finding the many artifacts and determining their purpose will highlight many trips for investigation.

We will tell you about the largest landmark! Up the river and behind the floating cabin on the right is a dam with a narrow opening. The last known use for the dam was as a roadbed for the railroad completed in 1904. Location of the dam to power the water wheel for the first saw mill is still in question. The reason we are telling you about this one is to advise you of the current that still builds with the tides through the narrow opening in the dam. There is quite a nice shoreline inside the dammed area, especially at high tide, that you may want to see. However, with bad timing, you may have trouble getting in or out. You can always portage over the dam or wait for slack tide.

Many other artifacts remain for your investigation. There are still piling formations visible from the river. Most of them were associated with the old standard gage railroad and its many log delivery functions. Not so visible are the foundations for the first sawmill structure by the dam, logging operations and, yes, even towns where the loggers lived. River towns like Brett and Clearbrook Junction disappeared with the industry.

Click here for river photos.

See fishing report page for weekly kayaking activities.


Up the Albion River.


Two other large rivers are just a short drive from the campground:

  • Big River at the town of Mendocino has a tidal current like the Albion River although water flow is reduced by sand buildup at the ocean mouth. It even has a fast white water rapid when the river empties into Mendocino Bay along the south bank. Like all the other rivers on the Mendocino coast, Big River too served a large redwood logging operation. The entrance to parking is on the north side of Big River Bridge. This is a no-fee state park at this time. Parking was changes again but the huge boulders are still there. The launch area has been fenced in with easy access and nearby parking. Someone was listening.

big river launch site

Big River launch site

  • Navarro River at the junction of Highway 1 and 128, is the other larger river. The Navarro has the distinction of having little tidal action in the river when the rains stop because of the sand bar that builds at the river's mouth. There was an attempt many years ago to keep the river mouth open with a dike for salmon migration. That attempt ended with a washout from the first rains. A river current will be noticeable as the river narrows upstream. The entrance to parking is on the first road just south of the Navarro Bridge at the intersection of Hwy 128 and Hwy 1. It goes to a state beach past the remains of a saw mill and once famous summer resort. ****(There is a fee box at the entrance to the camping area and another now at the parking area just outside the camping area. At least they installed port-a-potties at that end for your use.) This river is quite scenic with greenery along its banks and overhanging trees. Old pilings line the river banks near the mouth where old bridges crossed the river and lumber mills operated. A wharf for loading lumber extended out into the ocean from the north bank. The old swimming hole used by the locals is about 4 miles up the river (highway mile marker 3.66).

    **** New data.

Navarro beach

Navarro beach and sand dam.

 

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