Coast Ranges – North

The coast ranges north of the Bay Area are much like their counterparts to the south. The main difference is that the mountains here grow taller and their slopes grow wetter as one moves north. The coastal population of this region is also much smaller and more spread out. Besides Eureka, there are no medium to large cities on the California coast north of San Francisco.

At one time a nearly unbroken redwood forest stretched from the Golden Gate north into Oregon. While many of the redwood groves have fallen to the axe, the legacy of the Redwood Empire lives on. The north coast has seen its share of booms and busts. As such, the region is characterized by a fierce individualism that straddles both sides of the political spectrum. But like many of the other more rural and remote sections of the state, the economy is often dependant on forces beyond local control.

Mendocino Headlands State Park

Bluffs, sea arches, caves and islets are just some of the coastal features on display at Mendocino Headlands State Park. These coastal land formations are an ever present reminder of how this area is forever being reshaped by the sea.

Mount Tamalpais

San Francisco and the north bay are seen in this view from the summit of Mount Tamalpais. Like much of the Bay Area, Mount Tamalpais is the result of uplift, folding and buckling along the nearby San Andreas fault.

Napa Valley

Napa Valley was close enough to the gold fields to attract disillusioned miners fleeing the Gold Rush. At that time there was still a nearly unbroken forest stretching north of here along the coast. Sawmills and lumbering operations soon sprang up. Before long, prosperous residents would build quaint Victorian homes that line Napa's streets to this day.

Sand Spit

Here we see a sand spit forming at the mouth of the Navarro River in Mendocino County. Sand spits are depositional features and common near coves, headlands, and river mouths. Longshore currents will "drift" sediment load as it enters the sea. The sediment will be further transported by the waves meeting the current and the shore at oblique angles down the coast.

Rough Seas and Rugged Coasts

One of the reasons California has no major metropolitan areas on the coast north of the Bay Area is due to scenes like this in northern Sonoma County. With few natural harbors, an emergent coastline, and perpetually stormy seas, the Northern California Coast did not present many welcoming sites for exploration or settlement.

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