Area Information
Wondering what to do or where to find "things"?
Beaches
Sonoma County offers broad, sandy beaches, secluded coves, rugged headlands, natural arches, a craggy coastline with fertile tide pools and offshore reefs. The Sonoma coast offers miles of some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world.
Arched Rock Beach: Arched Rock Beach and its rock is right next to Marshall Gulch Beach but from there it isn't possible to see the actual arch. This beach is best visited during low tides so more of the sandy parts are exposed.
Doran Beach: Doran Regional Park features a wide, 2-mile stretch of beach in Bodega Bay and is ideal for walking, picnicking, playing in the sand, flying kites, surfing, and bird-watching. The west end of the park is a popular spot for fishing and exploring sea life.
Gerstle Cove: South Gerstle Cove is within beautiful Salt Point State Park located on the northern Sonoma Coast offers panoramic views and dramatic sounds of the pounding surf, and you'll find the beach here truly amazing!
Goat Rock Beach: Near the mouth of the Russian River is Goat Rock Beach in Jenner. It is known for its amazing scenery along the shoreline and easy access to a pebble & sand beach. Not only is the scenery breathtaking, it is also home to a colony of harbor seals.
Salmon Creek: Salmon Creek Beach is nearly two miles of unbroken, scenic, sandy beach. It is an excellent place for surfing, fishing, beachcombing, and picnicking.
Schoolhouse Beach: offers a beautiful sandy beach surrounded by natural rocky headlands. Schoolhouse Beach is also a great spot for rock or surf fishing.
Shell Beach: Located south of Jenner Shell Beach offers rich tidepools during spring and summer low tides.
Russian Gulch: Just north of Jenner offers a short walk through the forest to beach cove.
Other Sonoma Coast State Beaches
Whale Watching & Wildlife
Whales: The annual south-to-north gray and blue whales travel south to north then back again. On this journey, whales travel from the warm birthing lagoons along the Baja Peninsula to the frigid feeding grounds of Alaska's Bering Sea. The epic migration peaks from January through May though visible during most of the year. A great vantage point and popular viewing area is at Bodega Head in Bodega Bay. Whale watching charters can be booked through Spud Point Marina, Miss Anita Fishing Charters, Bodega Bay Sportfishing, Bodega Charters, or Fish On Charters.
Birding: Bird Walk is a Coastal Access trail in Bodega Bay offering a 1.19 mile path that loops along a saltwater marsh and freshwater ponds. With hundreds of bird species, diversity of habitat (waterfowl, marine birds, shorebirds and song birds), and coast migration route, the Sonoma coast provides birding opportunities all year. Best Bird Watching on the Trails in Jenner and on the Sonoma Coast, Sonoma Coast Birding A pair of Bald Eagles have taken up residence in Jenner 2015-current. American White and Brown Pelicans Osprey, Herons, and Cranes are some of the larger birds of the Sonoma Coast.
Marine and other Mammals: Harbor seals, California Northern Elephant Seal, Sea lions, and Whales are seen year-round. Harbor Seals pups are born from March to June. And gray whales can be seen off shore from December through April. Bobcats, coyotes, river otters, racoons, rabbits, black-tailed deer, skunks, squirrels, or on rare occasions, elusive gray foxes and badgers are seen on the Sonoma Coast.
Bodega Bay Marine Lab: Bodega Marine Laboratory volunteer docents have led interpretive tours for all ages.
Hiking
From easy to difficult treks, you will have your choice with miles of hiking trails along the Sonoma Coast. See sites for trail maps and more information.
Pomo Canyon from Shell Beach: 6.5 mile loop/1594 ft Elevation (moderate)
Kortum Trail: 4.4 / 643 ft Elevation (easy)
Goat Rock to Wrights Beach: 7.5 / 879 ft Elevation (easy)
Sea to Sky Trail Jenner Headlands Preserve: 4.4 mi / 862 ft Elevation (moderate)
Blind Beach Trail: 0.5 mi / 124 ft Elevation (moderate)
Goat Rock Beach to Peaked Hill: 2.2 mi / 390 ft Elevation (easy)
Fisk Mill to Horseshoe Point Trail: 3.4 mi / 229 ft Elevation (easy)
Pomo Canyon to Shell Beach: 7.2 mi / 1463 ft Elevation (moderate)
Armstrong Woods: 1.6 mi loop / 98 ft Elevation / (easy) and other hikes here
Kayak/Surf
KAYAK Jenner
Watertreks Explore the Russian River Estuary, Penny Island and Goat Rock Beach in Jenner
Lotus Kayak Rentals in Jenner by reservation 707.865.9604
KAYAK the Russian River
Burkes Top Rated is a ten mile self-guided kayak or canoe trip through the Redwoods.
You Can Kayak Rentals: offers trips from Guerneville to Monte Rio and Wohler Bridge to Healdsburg
Russian River Adventures Memorial Beach to Wohler Bridge 9 miles 3.5-6 hours
Kayak Bodega Bay (South Sonoma Coast)
Bodega Bay Kayak Kayaking or Paddle Board on Bodega Bay, the Lower Russian River, the Estero Americano or Salmon Creek.
Getaway Adventures offering Kayak, Bike, Hiking and other tours.
Kayak Gualala (North Sonoma Coast)
Adventure Rents You'll be conquering part of the beautiful, 32-mile-long Gualala River, lined with old-growth redwoods and formidable rapids.
https://russianriverexcursions.com/
Surf the Sonoma Coast
Salmon Creek 5-7 ft surf 4.6 ft Tide 12 WNW wind
Russian Rivermouth 3-5 ft surf 4.7 ft Tide 8 WNW wind
Doran Beach 0.5-1 ft surf 4.7 ft Tide 14 WNW wind
Black Point Beach 2-3 surf ft 3.6 Tide 11 NW wind
Bodega Bay Surf Shack: Experience surfing and kayaking on the Sonoma Coast with Bodega Bay Surf Shack. They have it all! Rentals, lessons and latest conditions!
Northern Light Surf Shop: North Light Surf Shop Provide the Sonoma Coast with high-quality surf gear, and amazing apparel since 1986.
Redwoods
While Muir Woods just north of San Francisco is popular and often crowded, a local Sonoma County Redwood forest favorite is Armstrong Woods State Natural Reserve located in Guerneville offering 805 acres of coastal redwoods (the planet’s oldest living) and nature trails to explore.
Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Preserve Amongst the grove, see the tallest, oldest, Icicle trees. And explore on the discovery trail these majestic awesome redwoods.
Riverfront Regional Park offers a redwood forest entry and a great picnic area.
Muir Woods Old growth coastal California redwoods, and a protected National Monument, discover a primeval forest at Muir Woods.
Wine Country
So many fine wines….so little time~
Coastal Wines & Wine Tasting
Flowers Vineyard and Winery: Enjoy a bottle of Flowers Sonoma Coast Chardonnay or Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir paired with chef Tyler Florence’s renowned fried chicken and locally sourced sides.
Fort Ross Vineyard and Winery: Overlooking the majestic Pacific Ocean, floating above the coastal fog & surrounded by forests & meadows, the tasting room beckons.
Wild Hog Vineyard: Wild Hog Vineyard is a small family owned and operated winery and vineyard in the hills between Cazadero and Fort Ross on the Sonoma Coast.
Hirsch Winery and Vineyards: Perched on a ridge overlooking the Pacific Ocean at Fort Ross, Hirsch Vineyards is the birth ground of great pinot noir on the extreme Sonoma Coast.
Sonoma Coast Vineyards: Sonoma Coast Vineyards handcrafts wines from a unique cold-climate growing area west of the Russian River Valley and a mere five miles from the Pacific Ocean.
Gourmet Au Bay: In Bodega Bay, Gourmet Au Bay offers a small-production, award winning wines with bay views.
https://sophiescellars.com/
Sonoma County Wines & Wine Tasting Sonoma's diverse topography, with a Pacific coastline, coastal fog, and rolling hills, means that the region excels at growing cool-climate grapes like pinot noir and chardonnay.
Napa Valley Wines & Wine Tasting The Napa Valley is known for hundreds of hillside vineyards and wineries. With so many to choose from... “How to Make the Most out of Your Wine Tasting Trip” offers tips
Coffee/breakfast/lunch
Cafe Aquatica (from https://www.sonomamag.com/best-sonoma-county-coffee-shops/)
“Cafe Aquatica, Jenner: You’d be hard-pressed to find a Sonoma County coffee shop with a better view than Jenner’s Cafe Aquatica. Situated at the mouth of the Russian River, the (surprise, surprise) aquatic-themed coffee shop has a large outdoor seating area, where patrons can sip their morning brews just feet from the water’s edge. Hungry? Their menu offers plenty of options (veggie and vegan, included) to munch on while you take in the view. 10439 CA-1, Jenner, cafeaquaticajenner.comSeafood/Chowder
https://www.spudpointcrabco.com/Pizza (lunch/dinner)
https://www.hurias.com/home
Dinner
https://www.terrapincreekcafe.com/https://ilovesunsets.com/
Wineries
https://www.sonomacounty.com/articles/fort-ross-seaview-wine-region-and-appellation
https://www.sonoma.com/blog/fort-ross-wineries/
Miscellaneous