This 0.7-mile trail near Fort Bragg takes you out to Belinda Point and down a stairway to a rocky pocket beach—a nice walk that doesn’t demand much from you or your dog. The trail sits within two public access easements on private property, a setup that came about in the 1990s when the California Coastal Commission required them because decades of public use had established prescriptive rights to the land. The point itself has a modest bit of history: it was named after the 1948 film “Johnny Belinda,” which was shot right here.

The walk is straightforward and manageable with a leashed dog. You’ll start on a boardwalk that crosses through a seasonally wet section, then move into a eucalyptus forest before opening up to the bluff edge. The whole thing feels manageable for dogs who don’t need miles of trail to have a good outing. The stairway down to the pocket cove is solidly built and easy to spot—nothing sketchy or uncertain about it.

The biggest appeal here is the combination of forest walking and coastal views without overcommitting your time. You get some shade under the eucalyptus, a bit of salt air, and that satisfying moment when the trees clear and you see the water. The rocky cove below is the payoff: it’s small and intimate rather than sprawling, which gives it a different feel than the bigger beaches nearby.

The Mendocino Land Trust manages the trail, and leashed dogs are welcome throughout. If you’re staying in Fort Bragg with a dog that doesn’t need a full day hike, this is a solid choice for a morning or late afternoon walk. The parking area near the trailhead can fill up on weekends, so an early start makes sense if you’re visiting in summer.