Great Pacific Coast Parks for Beach Walks

Walk on these Northern California beaches for awesome views of crashing surf and the Pacific Ocean along Sonoma County’s scenic coastline. Stroll along the shore and bury your toes in soft sand, photograph sandpipers or sea lions, stop for a picnic, watch for whale spouts, and look in tidepools.

Here are a few of the best Sonoma County beaches for walks.

Gualala Point Regional Park, Gualala

This stunning park at the junction of the Gualala River and the Pacific Ocean offers breathtaking views and white beach dunes. In summer, a sandspit at the river’s mouth forms a perfect spot to dip your toes in the water. Walk along the shore to look for shells, stack driftwood formations, explore sand dunes, sit and admire the views, and if the season is right, try your hand at fishing.

If you are up for a longer walk, head to the park’s Bluff Top Trail, where you can walk atop coastal cliffs that afford vast ocean views. Stop at Whale Watch Point for a great chance to spot migrating gray whales. The park’s campground is nestled under redwood trees beside the river in earshot of the gently rolling waves.

Stillwater Cove Regional Park, Jenner

Situated on a particularly gorgeous stretch of Pacific Ocean coastline, the 210-acre Stillwater Cove Park offers fabulous ocean-view hiking, along with great birding, fishing, a beach suitable for launching kayaks and other small boats, abalone diving, and 20 reservable campsites that include a hiker/bicyclist group site.

While you’re here, don’t miss a chance to catch a glimpse of history by taking the short trail to the historic one-room schoolhouse at nearby Fort Ross State Historic Park.

Sonoma Coast State Park, Bodega Bay

This truly amazing park consists of a series of beautiful beaches separated by rocky bluffs and headlands, stretching 17 gorgeous miles from Bodega Head to Jenner. Along the way, you’ll find more than a dozen access points to park and make your way onto a beach. Stop, walk, and explore these inviting Sonoma County beaches.

• Shell Beach is a great place to beachcomb and explore tidepools.
• Goat Rock is an iconic destination and a fun spot to watch seals.
• North Salmon Creek and South Salmon Creek beaches are prime surfer hangouts with breathtaking waves.
• Bodega Head has many beaches for ocean strolls, as well as coastal bluff hiking and whale watching. 

Discover more about Sonoma Coast State Park.

Doran Regional Park, Bodega Bay

Looking for the perfect beach for a family outing, picnic, or camping trip? Look no further than Doran Regional Park. This beautiful, two-mile stretch of golden sand rests between Bodega Harbor and the open ocean, and is a top choice for picnics, flying kites, building sand castles, and riding horses. Protected by Bodega Bay, the water at Doran ranks among the safest in the county for swimming, and there’s even a popular tent campground here.

At Doran, you can launch a kayak or a speedboat from a jetty at the harbor’s mouth and walk on dozens of trails, including the Bird Walk Coastal Access Trail, which is a favorite for bird watching.

Sea Ranch Coastal Access Trails, The Sea Ranch

This seaside community extends for 10 pristine miles along a beautiful strip of the northern Sonoma Coast known for panoramic views of sea, sky, rocky ocean outcrops, and migrating whales. Although The Sea Ranch is a privately owned community, the public can access and use six beautiful trails at points located along the Pacific Coast Highway.

These coastal trails range from one-quarter mile to two-thirds of a mile, and lead to pretty Sea Ranch beaches:

• Black Point
• Pebble Beach
• Stengel Beach
• Shell Beach
• Salal
• Walk on Beach

Salal and Walk on Beach are connected by the three-mile Bluff Top Trail, which takes you along the headlands overlooking the ocean.

Review Sonoma County’s safety tips for water activities. Together, we can protect and preserve the beauty and natural resources of Sonoma County for generations to come. Check out our page on Sustainable Travel, and look over the Leave No Trace Seven Principles.

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Written by Sonoma Insider Suzie Rodriguez