Chadbourne Gulch is a small stream that flows into the Pacific Ocean at Blues Beach, located between Bell Point to the north and Bruhel Point to the south, approximately 12 miles (19 km) north of Fort Bragg and 1.8 miles (2.9 km) south of Westport, California. The stream drains a watershed of about 1,730 acres (700 ha), with elevations reaching 560 feet (171 m) near the headwater divide. The area is dominated by mixed hardwood and conifer forests, primarily privately owned and managed for timber production and recreation.

This area was historically inhabited by several Northern Pomo groups, particularly the Mitom and Mato. The Coast Yuki people, an entirely different language group from the Pomo, also occupied the area north of Fort Bragg. They were a small subgroup of a larger population with territory further inland near present-day Ukiah. In the 19th century, when lumber mills began to emerge along the Mendocino coast, Native Americans remained a constant presence. Over time, Euro-American settlers suppressed the Mitom and Mato. The Coast Yuki were eventually confined to a reservation, the Round Valley Rancheria.

The beach at the mouth of Chadbourne Gulch, locally known as Blues Beach, is accessible by vehicles. However, the stream mouth and soft sand can be hazardous. Offshore rocks are located at the north end of the beach, including one with a large natural arch. Low summer stream flows typically cause the beach to build up and block the stream outflow, while during rainy periods, the creek flows across the middle of the beach. The stream includes habitats for anadromous fish, with potential for coho salmon and steelhead trout enhancement. The principal watershed landowner is currently Georgia-Pacific, an independently operated pulp and paper company under Koch Industries. Georgia-Pacific is one of the world’s largest manufacturers and distributors of paper products and building lumber. Read more here and here. Explore more of Blues Beach and Chadbourne Gulch here: