Mal Coombs Park
About
Mal Coombs Park is a public ocean beach on California's coast, about 1.3 miles from the town of Shelter Cove, on lands within the Bureau of Land Management's Northern California District. It's an easy stop with the basics covered: restrooms are on site, access is accessible, and there's no fee to visit. Late summer and early fall bring the mildest conditions, with typical highs around 68 to 70°F and lows in the low to mid 50s from August through October, based on averages from a nearby weather station at Shelter Cove. Dogs are welcome, so the beach works well for visitors traveling with pets. For more time outdoors, the Hidden Valley Trail and Ocean View Trail both start about 2.4 miles away. Nadelos Campground, about 3.3 miles off, and Wailaki Campground, about 3.5 miles off, offer places to stay overnight close by.
Beach Details
Lifeguards
None
Dogs
Allowed
Parking
Available
Fee
Free
Restrooms
Yes
Accessible access
Yes
As published by the managing agency. Lifeguards, fees and dog rules are often seasonal, so check posted signs before you swim.
Location
Mal Coombs Park
California
Data: California Coastal Commission, YourCoast public access data. Source metadata
Facts about this place
When to go
Best time to go: Mar–Nov. The mildest months here, with typical highs of 61–70°F and lows of 47–54°F.
Typical monthly averages (not a forecast) from the Shelter Cove Aviation, CA weather station, 0.7 mi away. High / low in °F.
- Jan58° high47° low
- Feb59° high47° low
- Mar61° high47° low
- Apr62° high47° low
- May65° high49° low
- Jun68° high52° low
- Jul68° high53° low
- Aug68° high54° low
- Sep70° high54° low
- Oct68° high52° low
- Nov62° high49° low
- Dec59° high47° low
Where it is
- Northern California District · Bureau of Land Management
- Nearest town
- Shelter Cove, California · 1.3 mi
Source: NIFC Jurisdictional Units; USGS GNIS populated places
Nearby
- Hidden Valley TrailHiking2.4 mi
- Ocean View TrailHiking2.4 mi
- Courtyard TrailHiking2.7 mi
- Chamisal Mountain TrailHiking3.1 mi
- Nadelos CampgroundCamping3.3 mi
- Wailaki CampgroundCamping3.5 mi
- Tolkan CampgroundCamping4.1 mi
Mattole RiverCanoeingPhoto: Ellin Beltz, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)6.6 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Best time to visit Mal Coombs Park
Best months: Year-round. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
58° / 47°
Feb
59° / 47°
Mar
61° / 47°
Apr
62° / 47°
May
65° / 49°
Jun
68° / 52°
Jul
68° / 53°
Aug
68° / 54°
Sep
70° / 54°
Oct
68° / 52°
Nov
62° / 49°
Dec
59° / 47°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Shelter Cove Aviation, CA, 0.7 mi away at 246 ft. We don't have this place's elevation, so higher spots nearby can run cooler. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
