Sonoma Coast State Park

We needed a getaway that wouldn’t cost too much. We decided on Bodega Bay. We loved the beaches of the area. Very clean. Very peaceful. Dog friendly on leash and lovely!

Gorgeous California coastal parks/drive between Bodega Bay/Salmon Creek and Jenner with lots of turnoffs, plus individual beach access parks (with parking). Some have rustic restrooms. Most parking lots are on top of the cliffs (so beach access is down a steep trail or has LOTS is steps). A few have drive down to the beach parking, but you need to walk in over high dunes; views are still worth the trip for those with limited mobility. Excellent place for sunset/ocean pics with miles of crashing surf (on beaches and cliffs) and sea stacks (rock formations).

Beautiful place to stop and walk down to the water. Bit of a steep climb up and down at the spot we stopped at but there are a few different spots which may be less steep.

There were restrooms which were very clean and accessible.

Fifteen minutes away, we spend lots of time investigating the many moods of Bodega Head and it's always beautiful, no matter the weather. Great place for a hike, gentle grades with beautiful vistas and plenty of wildlife.

Great place. Wonderful time with my black lab! Couldn't have asked for a much needed relaxing day with my best friend. So many different hiking options!

We did not expect this to be as spectacular as it turned out. Nice leasurely hike. Wicked views. One of our crew is afraid of heights so she was a standing back from the cliffs. This is a must-see on your list!

What an amazing view but the wind was so strong that it blew my favorite silk red scarf away to the abyss. My family was laughing but I was sad, lol.

It really doesn’t get any better than this. The rocks jutting out of the water & breathtaking views remind me of the San Luis Obispo area, only not near as many people. It’s a great place to surf, or kick back and watch others catching a wave from one of the many stops along HWY 1 to pull out. There is a different beach it seems around every corner, and it’s not hard to find a place all your own. Most beaches are pet-friendly as well!
This is NOT however, a place to swim (except for clearly marked beaches). The waves, current, and fast drop off to deep waters make it one of the most dangerous places to get in the water. However, many places you can easily see multiple types of whales as they are migrating north or south, and the deeper waters along with areas that stick out a little further into the sea make for perfect watching places. It never gets old heading to the Sonoma Coast. Check out the local shops and area stores in nearby Bodega Bay. Just a great area in general, and one of the endless wonders of the Bay Area.

Great views and mesmerizing waves, a great place to hit the beach!

Bodega Dunes Campground is my fav spot. No hookups, but they have water/dump station onsite, clean bathrooms with flush toilets & hot showers, spacious sites, and affordable rates. Walkable trail to beach access is a major plus! Close to other trails & town. We stayed in site 79 which is close to the bathrooms, it was quiet, and I liked the paved driveway so that cut down on the amount of getting into the trailer.

Beautiful place, lots of wildflowers blooming everywhere now end of April

We went here to watch the sunset and it was absolutely gorgeous. I will never forget it.

This is a great park. Dry camping, sites certainly not level but the location is well worth any of these kinds of “difficulties”. 28 foot airstream.

Brilliant seascapes. Plenty of places to stop for photos or to walk along a beach. Wildlife abounds. Pelicans at the exit of Russian River. Watch a seal colony from the cliff path. An odd deer. Then oysters and fish stew for brunch at Fisherman's Cove.

Perfect place to take long walks on good trails. Beautiful coastal rock formations, 360 degree views from the two points. I ran here in the early morning. Came across 3 deer casually having breakfast, and allowed Mt to phot them. Came back later to walk the trails with my wife, and she took tons of pics. A beautiful Harbor Seal island off the south side of the Head, so we Sat on a comfortable bench, listened to all their sounds and viewed them through our binoculars.

A beautiful stretch of Sonoma county coastline. Epic Northern California views. Plenty of places to stop for views or to park and get down to the beach.

Bring clothing and warmth options as it can be 85 15 minutes inland and crazy *$$ cold at the ocean with wind and fog.

Excellent opportunity to observe seals and pelicans in their natural habitat. The beach is beautiful and pristine. It's a joy to see Russsian river emptying itself in the ocean and the ocean waves pushing it back. Please take your family for a picnic... worth spending a day. Please take dispose off your garbage responsibly.

We got very lucky with our first drive on the coast as it was extremely clear and the view went on for miles. The coastal highway is in great condition for both night and day drives with spectacular views. There are tons of pull off spots to stop and take in the scene or let the faster cars pass by. We stayed in a VRBO 10 minutes away so we will be driving through this park everyday. Love it.

What can you say? Absolutely gorgeous nature and and amazing hiking!

The trails are exposed - no shade and nowhere to hide from the wind. It does gets windy and the wind is cold!

The scenery is well worth it though! Ive been coming here for years and it never gets old.

Beautiful scenic trails, wonderful coastal air, not too crowded during the week. Would recommend weekday visitation to avoid the hustle and bustle of the touristy folk. Awesome birdwatching, there's sea lions or seals all over the area during particular times of the year. Whale watching spot during their migrational visits during particular times of the year. There's para sailing, wind surfing, paddle boarding, and plenty of beaches and trails to burn off all the fresh seafood you should be gorging yourself with. Great place to retreat to. If you like Hitchcock the movie The Birds was filmed on location here so there's sights and points of interest as well. Very enjoyable and very mellow if you can schedule around and avoid the weekend tourists.