Learn about the history of Big River with guide Rick Hemmings...
Birding Tours
Learn about the birds of Big River with David Jensen, President of the Mendocino Coast Audubon Society...
Big River Moonlight Tour
Big River after dark is beautifully lit with moon-glow. Very romantic!
Wildlife Tour
View and learn about Big River Estuary's wonderful wildlife with naturalist Sara Grimes...
Proa Outrigger Tours
This uniquely styled proa outrigger is the perfect way to see Big River in style...
Bioluminescence Tours
Explore Big River after dark to see the water come alive with luminescence...
Historical Tour
Native Americans were the sole inhabitants of the lower Big River area, now called Mendocino, prior to 1851. The Mitom Pomo who had traditionally visited the coast from Little Lake valley, (Willits) came to live here permanently in 1850 because it had become unsafe for them inland. Their village Buldam, was located between Little Lake road and Big River, near what was once called Fury Town, only a half mile or so from what is now Mendocino.
Then in 1852, three men took shipwreck survivor William Kasten's dugout, and paddled it up Big River with high hopes of finding valuable Redwoods. What they found began a tidal wave of change. The Big River historical tour will touch on what happened next to the men and woman who came to Mendocino to start a new life, and to those who were already here and had to flee for their own. Learn about the truly ingenious system of transporting huge redwoods down river by releasing a series of dams in sequence, to create a monster log carrying wave. Their are many artifacts still visible along Big River that are remnants of this original system, including the remains of two paddle wheel steamers called Big River Maru 1 & 2. Also learn about what Mendocino was like in the 1800s and find out the hidden story behind the town of Fort Bragg. All this and more while we gently paddle our super cool and stable outrigger up beautiful Big River!
Local history, like most things, becomes more interesting the more you learn about it. Rick has been with Catch a Canoe & Bicycles Too! for a little over twenty years now, and has had many years to acquire knowledge about “all things Big River.” For him it has always been natural to be interested in the area in which he lives, and to wonder what it was like for the others who lived here before. He has spent a great deal of time researching all aspects of Big River and the North Coast and remains passionate about living in this beautiful place and learning as much as he can about it.
