The Sonoma Coast near Jenner was a nice stop during our trip. We weren't completely blown away, but…read moreit was still a pleasant place to visit and take in the scenery. The coastline is rugged and peaceful, and it was really cool to see the seal nursery - lots of seals lounging and playing, which was definitely the highlight. Jenner has a quiet, calm vibe, making it a good spot to get some fresh air, take photos, and enjoy a low-key coastal view. Overall, a nice experience if you're already in the area.

I solo adventured to Sonoma Coast State Park in approximately 2018. I was looking for a beach a…read morenice drive away from where I was living in the East San Francisco Bay Area and had found this site listed on the California State Parks website. I went exploring around a large rock named Goat Rock. I did not see any of the hoofed ungulates on my visit. To the south of Goat Rock, the beach was a little narrowed with occasional pieces of rounded sea glass and intact mussel shells. I picked one of the shells up and noticed a faint violet color. It was one of those light phenomena where exposure to light drains the color from the shell, meaning the next day the faint violet color was gone. Parking was limited and I was fortunate to arrived before the masses. There were not any trees for shade on the beach, though the cool of the water on my feet did provide reprieve from the warmth for my feet.

We did Sea to Sky to Raptor Ridge Loop. What an amazing hike!…read moreWe did this one counterclockwise so we could get over the steep climbs at the beginning, and the second half of the hike felt much easier. We also took a few detours along the way, and each one was worth it. The first detour led us through dense trees. The second had us climbing up a large rock that opened up to gorgeous views of the surrounding hills and the ocean. The third was a short loop (Hawk Hill), which I'd definitely recommend! The views from the top are stunning and absolutely worth the extra steps. The real highlight of the day was spotting a BOBCAT in the wild. I've never seen one in person before and it made our day. It was foggy at the bottom, but the higher we climbed, the clearer it became. At one point we were actually above the cloud line, which was incredible. There's also a viewing scope at one of the overlooks, but we happened to reach it when the fog was at its thickest so we couldn't see much. It's definitely worth checking out if you visit on a clearer day. A few tips: wear sunscreen (I skipped it and got sunburned), bring plenty of water, and pack a hat and sunglasses because once you're above the fog, the sun gets surprisingly strong. There are also several picnic areas along the trail if you want to stop, take a break, or enjoy a snack. Parking is free. Overall, this is a moderate hike with a good amount of climbing, but the effort pays off. The trail was in great condition and wasn't crowded. Between the incredible views, the detours, and the unforgettable bobcat, this hike easily earns five stars!

Another fabulous Sonoma Coast hike. One of our favorite day trips…read more Anytime is beautiful to visit this hiking destination but we love going in but May! It is the perfect time to soak in vibrant wildflowers and lush green landscapes. We love taking Plumette, our Schnoodle. She loves sniffaring here. ‍ Pups must be on Leash. Leave no trace.

Blind Beach is simply beautiful, can be enjoyed from the top for views only; or can be enjoyed by…read morebeing on the beach, there are two sides to the beach and can be great for all ages. Lots of parking available all over. It has that vastness that someone like myself much enjoys to just keep looking into. I like to be next to the water without having to go far out into it & love the sound of the waves and of the birds around. After some exploration prefer to park myself at one spot and catch up on my favourite book. The downside of being at Blind beach is the amount of bugs and flies all around. We tried shifting places, including parking at the top spot; despite sitting inside the vehicle and using the bug repellent nothing worked, so we had to finally leave and still were accompanied by a few inside our vehicle right up till the end :)

Cool place to hang out for a hour or so and take some nice pictures, Goat rock reminds me of a…read moresmaller version of "The Rock" and Morro Bay. The beach around goat rock is space but has a lot of character (see pictures). If you dare you can climb the shale rocks and get really close to the breaking waves. As you look out from Goat Rock you will see a very picturesque rock formation that looks like a bridge out in the ocean. Overall if you're driving up the coast on highway one and need a restroom break or just want to chill for a couple then this is you stop.

Super nice beach up by bodega bay with plenty of space to roam around and find seashells and live…read moremussels! It's a bit of a decline going to the beach from the parking lot, so be weary with littles!

Portuguese Beach is definitely a must see. I visited a few years ago and was very impressed with…read moreit. It has some amazing rocks in the water and to see the water and waves hit thos tall rocks is a magical experience. It has a lot of multi colored pebbles ! That was amazing, I never saw soooo many colored pebbles and colored rocks before, it is absolutely a magical beach. The road to get there was a lot of fun as well, very curvy.

Can't believe I haven't reviewed this amazing trail sooner! I've hiked it for years and it never…read moregets old. Usually I stop at the Pomo Campground, but this time we went all the way up Red Hill and looped back. The views are unreal -- ocean, Russian River, and the coastal range all in one sweep. If you make it to the top, bring a sandwich and take in the scenery from the picnic table. Totally worth it!

Fun trail with lots of diversity. Hiking the Pomo Canyon trail, you'll get redwoods, coastal views,…read morewildflowers, sweeping hillsides and rocky meadows. I find the easiest way to start is by parking at Shell Beach on the Sonoma coast-it's also free to park here. Cross Highway 1 and you'll see the trail climb, at first as a wider fire road but then narrowing and starting to leave behind the traffic noise of the coastal highway. It's moderately challenging to climb but levels out in spots and alternates between sun and shade. When you get to the first junction (a short way in) of Red Hill trail, keep left and follow the signs for Pomo Canyon, as I feel the trail is best done counter clockwise. Along the way up, you'll go through narrow single track trails that are a bit overgrown-long pants recommended! In April, there was a colorful array of wildflowers and still some mud on the trail. You'll encounter some beautiful redwood groves before you each the next junction which gives you an option to turn left and make it down to the Pomo Canyon campground or to the right to complete your loop via the Red Hill trail. I like to turn right and climb red hill to enjoy the sweeping views of the coast and Jenner, where you can see the junction of the Russian River. This will loop you back down to where you started and ends up being just shy of 6 miles. Beautiful views, majestic redwoods and colorful wildflowers make this a fun spring hike.

Five stars across the board. The staff, views and accommodations make the drive worth it. Each…read morecampsites are unique, clean bathrooms and working warm water for showers. Plus, the ocean cove store is filled with your essential items. What makes this place a gem, is the staff. Joe, Luis, Matt and Henario are all very knowledgeable of the space. You're in great hands. We will be back!

Arriving was tricky because it was late and dark. Luckily our other party members had already…read morearrived, so they met us at entrance. We tent camped and waking up to the sounds of crashing waves, smells of early risers cooking breakfast, emerging from my slumber to feast my eyes on the Pacific Ocean crashing against our California Coastline... ahhh ZEN We hiked, sort of. Just down to the tide pool area (or whatever ya call it), checking out rock formations. I found a couple of heart shaped rocks and even made a face from rocks. I called him "stoned"... Before we left come Sunday, I rocked a table. Meaning I painted a rock and left a piece of my inner peace to the finder (whomever it would be). Sincerely C.Wray

Shell Beach is a favorite location for beach combing and tide pooling. Note that the walk down to…read morethe beach is a little steep so take your time. There are many hiking trails that start from this beach. Some are flat with gorgeous views if you want to walk and soak in the views. If you are looking for more of a challenging hike with an incline there is the Shell Beach to Pomo Canyon or the Shell Beach to Red Hill loop. You will just need to cross the road. There is a large parking lot and the parking is free. They also have bathrooms that are well kept. Whatever trail you decide you will have picturesque views of the Sonoma Coast. Enjoy this beautiful area on the Sonoma Coast. These pictures are of the Shell Beach to Red Hill hike around 10:30am, before the fog burned off for the day.

This is a small secluded beach with a pretty steep stairway down to the beach from the parking lot…read more It's a good bit of cardio climbing up and down. The parking lot has lots of spaces and it's free. The restroom is well maintained, port a potty style, no running water. Once on the beach it's a smaller area, easy walk to the water and the rocks at the end. There's a small tide pool area too. A nice relaxing beach with not many people, so can enjoy it almost to yourself. There are also many trails off the parking lot. I walked the Kortum Trail - it's a beautiful trail with stretches of wooden paths, sprawling greenery with mountains to on side and the, coast along the other. This trail leads to goat rock. It's a pretty steep incline towards the end but worth the views when you reach the top. It's a 2.3 mile round trip hike. I wish I had read a little history before I went on the hike, I later learned the large rocks you can see from the trail are named "Mammoth Rocks" it's believed the Mammoths rubbed against the rocks and created smooth polished patches 10-14 ft high. Probably end of ice age 10 to 14 thousand years ago. Great area, beautiful state beach and lots of hiking with breathtaking views of the coast.

Incredible views of the coastline that I enjoyed every step of the way. Would be a great place to…read moretake out of town family or friends to show off California's natural beauty and to walk your dog too to the Blind Beach side. Goat Rock side no dogs allowed because the seals always wean their pups on the beach, but the dog friendly side is so spacious and a nice long stretch of beach with iconic rock arches out in the water that you will never forget. In my opinion, one of the most beautiful places in all of California and if it is low tide, there will be many starfish visible on the rock formations on shore lower section which is normally submerged! If you get a good sunset, this place cannot be beat for photos overlooking the water with those rock formations. It could make anyone with a cell phone camera take photos that look like a professional landscape photographer took them.

Good reliable information Would come here again. I highly…read morerecommend this website. It's reliable and factual

gorgeous place with amazing views. It's just absolutely stunning. I love that you can climb on top…read moreon the other side and just go close enough the edges to see everything.

What a massive & beautiful part of the Bodega Bay coast! I have photographed a couple Wedding…read moreelopements here, along with a proposal, and its by far one of my favorite spots in the area!

Wow! Love this place so much. Went with my partner and our friends who were pretty familiar with…read morethe campsite and the area. Stayed for 3 nights at the campsite and it was great! Stayed at 22 and 23 and it felt like we were away from people enough. Campsite was clean and well kept up and the camp hosts were so nice and helpful! A bonus with this campsite were the showers and they were hot! Good bathrooms too with flushable toilets. Just remember to bring enough quarters for the showers. The best small hikes next to the campsite and one of them even went down to a beach area! I would say this was one of my favorite campsites to stay at and we will definitely be coming back to explore some more!

Awesome campsites gorgeous views nice trails. Clean bathroom and nice camp attendant. The campsites…read moreare nicely spaced. The attendant gave us some wood. There is a small store with everything you need a small ride down the way.