The Bright Lights of MendoNights: The Milky Way Hangs Above the Bluffs of Mendocino

Anthony Cupaiuolo and his family need to get away from their Lake Tahoe home to escape the smoke of the Mosquito Fire which burned nearly 80,000 acres along the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada in Placer and El Dorado Counties.

Where did they seek refuge? Mendocino County.

On Friday, September 16, 2022, Cupaiuolo captured a remarkable image of the Milk Way hanging in the heavens above the iconic bluffs of Mendocino Headlands State Park. The image is timeless. The bluffs plummet into the Pacific as the ancient band of light watches from above. Mankind is nowhere to be found.

Cupaiuolo told us the coastal town of Mendocino “has been our favorite place to visit over the last 15 years and we try to get there once a year. Just an absolutely beautiful area.”

Cupaiuolo is the Executive Director of Tahoe Back Country Alliance and also runs a digital media outfit based in Lake Tahoe called First Track Productions. In both of these roles, Cupaiuolo said he does “a lot of work advocating for and showcasing public lands.”

Thank you Anthony Cupaiuolo for aiming your lens at Mendocino County’s sky and shore helping us showcase our public lands. You can see more images of his trip to Mendocino here.