This hike is always a great one. I would rate this one as moderate as the loop we hiked was a bit…read moreover 7 miles with 1225 ft in climbing. It begins with approximately over 3 miles of climbing with ferns & redwoods. We were on the search for the rocking chair- we found the location but it was replaced with Adirondack chairs- not as much fun, however, much more suitable to sit and enjoy the fabulous views. Instead of making this an out and back hike we did the loop coming down a much easier incline.

Monte Rio park has been on my list to check out since it newly opened…read more However, there wasn't much to see here. There is NO parking lot and you have to park along side the road. While I was unloading 3 dogs out of my truck, cars were zipping by us at 45-55mph or they had to jump out into poison oak on passenger side. NO BATHROOMS So ya better bring a bucket. I took the trail along the creek and I felt like I was walking through people's backyards and now understand why the home owners are upset about this park. I crossed the street to check out the other trails hoping it would be better. It wasn't and my option was to go straight up on a very narrow trail rittled with poison oak. It just wasn't worth it. So I took the dogs to the beach instead. Nothing here to write home about. No need to come back.

Fun hike that starts with an immediate elevation going up. We came to see redwoods but left seeing…read moretons of banana slugs and some cool stairs near a creek. The parking space is very limited and it's a bit hard to find but worth it to see it like it is now before it gets expanded. We came around 8:30 in the morning and there were just 2 others cars. I'm not sure about the exact rules but there were people going in morning walks with their dogs. It's cooler and wetter in this area than other parts of the Bay Area and we must have came at just the right time because we had continuous sightings of giant banana slugs. There's a cool creek down a valley with stairs forming a V-shape on both sides. Kids loved throwing rocks in and crossing a log that has fallen over the water. Overall hike is shaded and nice, you can go for quite awhile but the scenery looked about the same headed up the mountain and we spent a nice hour and 20 here without needing to hit the summit

O the beauty and how wonderful it is to walk along the coast of California. A beautiful place for…read morereal Gorgeous rock formations such as tafoni sandstone, honeycomb shapes and holes in the rocks. Long time in the making, these geological wonders. Stop to observe and take some pics Really serene walking on the trail and seeing the gentle sway of the wildflowers and feeling the cool breeze

Great park to walk along the coast line with interesting rock formations!…read moreWild flowers in a spring is an added bonus!

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.

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

How much more beautiful can this state be? I swear there's like a hidden treasure in every part…read morethat I seem to visit. And, the Tomales Bluffs are absolutely NO exception to this. Tucked away at the end of the Tomales Bay Trail lay the most enchanting and ferocious bluffs beneath the mountain side. The views from the top of the mountain are gorgeous, but the view from the bottom of the mountain are even more spectacular. You will have to embark on a 4.7 mile hike just to get there. But believe me when I say that it's completely worth the 9.5 mile hike that you'll have to endure. The hike to the bluffs is a beauty in itself, but the real rewards is getting down to that gorgeous ocean. It'll feel like you're in another world. All you'll be able to do is look... and enjoy. Enjoy all the beauty that will surround you, from the steep mountainous cliffs to the shallow waters that hug the coastline. Watching the waves crashing against the rocks was almost numbing for me. It provided the greatest sensation after hiking almost 5 miles to get there. So many birds, so many waves, and so many incredible views. The wind on my face felt so wonderful. Pack a lunch and some water when you go so that you can enjoy your lunch with a glorious view. It would only makes sense to savor as much of this moment as possible while you're there. If you're heading to Tomales Bay and have some extra time to spend, I would highly recommend the hike to the Tomales Bluffs. It's an experience that you'll be sure to never forget.

Simply beautiful. The hike is relatively flat though you might traverse over 600 ft of elevation…read morechange along the way on this 4.7 mile (one way) trail. But it's not as easy because of the sand (where did that come from, seriously?) stretch along the way that makes it that much harder to walk through. I saw some folks on horseback so if you got the quadrupeds, bring them along!

Love this beach and always enjoy coming out here for a day trip. There is an entry fee, but it's…read moreworth it for how clean, spacious, and relaxing it is. There's plenty of parking, which makes it super convenient, and it never feels too hectic even when it's busy. It's such a nice spot to just unwind, walk along the beach, and enjoy the peaceful views. They also have camping spots available, I camped here a long time ago and remember having a great experience. Whether you're planning to camp or just want a relaxing day by the water, this is one of my favorite places to visit in Bodega Bay. Definitely worth checking out :)

It's June and COLD at the beach. We don't mind. I like this beach because of the close parking and…read morethe availability of bathrooms. It's an easy (long) walk from end to end if you want some physical activity. Great spot for kites. I took a nap and woke up to this bird carefully approaching our blanket spread probably hoping for a sleepy person not guarding the snacks. Not today birds!

Absolutely stunning views of both the Estero, Doran beach and especially where the Estero meets the…read moreocean. Although late in the season, still a bounty of wildflowers to enjoy. We hiked the 5 mile loop which is a relatively easy one. Met some lovely people along the way. Many people had their dogs (on leash of course). I was most appreciative of the Portable Potty when reaching the beach. There is a solo picnic table there to enjoy the views. The aqua colors in the Estero are gorgeous. As it was a low tide, we came across many shells and beautiful rocks. On this hike you are able to see Bodega Head to the North & the Point Reyes peninsula to the South.

Estero Americano Coast Preserve came onto my radar with the publication of a recent glowing article…read morein the SF Chronicle. The point of the article was to tell folks about the parking issues arising as a result of this newly opened, pristine, 547 acres of open space but I think what it wound up doing was getting it on the radar of everyone who hadn't already learned of it. Either way, wow. The preserve sits on the border between Sonoma and Marin counties overlooking the vast coastline (which includes the Greater Farallones Marine Sanctuary) in one direction and, when you hike the Ridge Trail, the Estero Americano River and tons of preserved, glorious land. I've spent considerable time hiking in the UK and as I hiked in this preserve I couldn't help but wonder why I'd gone so far. Surely what we have in our own backyard is equally stunning. The preserve contains two hiking trails, Ridge and Bluff and if you hike both entirely (I did) you'll have walked 5 miles. Part of the walk along the Bluff Trail takes you down to the ocean at the point where the river meets it (sometimes). There's a picnic table and a port-a-potty down there. Parking has now been restricted on one side of the street but is allowed on the side of the street bordering the preserve. On a weekday, free street parking at the entrance to the trailhead was easy; weekends sound like a different story entirely. Leashed dogs are allowed and poop bags are provided at the entrance to the trailhead. Right now this preserve is immaculate and I hope it stays that way. Estero Americano Coast Preserve is a beautiful addition to a breathtaking, gorgeous space.