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Such a nice east trail up to beautiful bluffs in Bodega Bay. Well worth the drive and lots of parking. Even if a spot isn't immediately open, there are cars constantly going in and out. Lots of families
During our trip to Bodega Bay, we made sure to allocate some time in the morning to hit up the Bodega Bay trails. Fairly easy to find via GPS, the road up to here leads straight to a free, paved parking lot. Depending on the time of day, the lot can get quite packed. However people are often leaving as well, so the wait for a spot typically isn't too bad. Additionally, whole Bodega Bay in general is pretty safe, we saw park rangers patrolling the lot quite often. Although we unfortunately came on a foggy day, what limited views we could see of the immediate coastline was still quite stunning. And purportedly, one of the best whale watching spots in California exists right at the parking lot. So no hiking even needed! The trails themselves are all fairly easy and excellent for kids and beginners alike. They are unprotected however so keep an eye on kids and dogs and stay away from the edge. Trail markers could be better posted for visibility, especially at forks. And unfortunately, much of the signage posted explaining the history of the trail has been worn down by the elements and are unreadable. It can get windy up here depending on the time of the year, so be sure to dress appropriately.
It's not hard for an oceanside trail to reach 5 stars! What was nice, too, was that parking was not too tricky too find (there are 2 parking lots, and a handful of "street" parking as well). I never use trailhead bathrooms so obviously I'm not going to write about that here. My husband and I did the short loop that goes a little over 1.5 miles. It was windy the day we went, but there was so much beautiful scenery of the rocks, oceans, and plants. Just be aware that for windy days, you may feel more comfortable having full head coverage so your head and ears aren't freezing! I have more photos of this hike on my blog ! : https://theheartasitis.com/2025/04/14/our-1st-anniversary-at-bodega-bay-ca/
Such a beautiful place. It's a pretty gentle trail and not crowded at all during the week. Gorgeous views. Lots of wildlife- especially birds. Parking is easy. There are restrooms.
This area is always beautiful per usual. Looking to cool off from the valley heat? This is the drive you need to take. So many cool restaurants in the area to try. Good for overnight or day trip. There are plenty trails to discover and dog friendly. Spend the day bird watching or watching the waves crash endlessly into the beach.
Come for the views- they can't be beat! Easy hike to the beach or to the top of Horseshoe Cove. Always bring a windbreaker as wind is likely. Grateful for this preserved land.
Really beautiful trail! Wish we had a bit more sunshine but enjoyed this loop. Lots of lovely flowers, shrubs, rocks and waves.
Nice place to enjoy the summer, limited parking on weekends. The trail is unprotected, please be careful when walking near the cliffs. It is very windy.
Bodega Bay Trailhead is just stunning. The views alone is worth the trip. There's a small beach area you can hike to below, but the water beyond is what truly amazes me.
If you are visiting Bodega Bay and have some free time, we highly recommend you take a hike along the Bodega Bay Trailhead. "Hike" might be a bit of a misnomer since you walk along a well-maintained path with minor elevation gain. We saw people of all ages, from kids to seniors, enjoying the views. And those view are spectacular as you stand hundreds of feet above the Pacific Ocean. The loop also gives you an opportunity to look back on the town of Bodega Bay. The trail can get a bit crowded, and the parking lot fills up fast -- although there is plenty of parking along the roadway. Overall, just a fantastic way to spend an hour or two.
I'm trying to keep my tradition of doing something outdoors-y for my birthday and this year I decided to head to this spot. What a lovely hiking trail! Very beginner-friendly as there are no steep inclines/declines (especially if you stick to the graveled route), it's not too long (took me a little less than an hour to complete the loop frequently stopping to take pics and to catch the views), and it's very hard to get lost with the well-defined walkways (when in doubt, just follow along the cliffside lol). A little too easy of a hike for me to be quite honest but hey it was a nice birthday stroll. :) I will say though that this time of year (October to winter) is not the best time to visit because pretty much all of the flowers and most of the greenery are dead lol. Still, if it's your only time to go then go!! The year-round gorgeous elevated sights of the Pacific Ocean are worthwhile. If you do go at this time, I think it's better to double back once you start moving away from the cliffside because the rest of the trail is just gray sadness lol (well, I guess you could see Doran Beach when going this way but eh it's nothing really spectacular IMO haha). The gusts here can get pretty strong so sweaters and coats are strongly recommended!! Ample parking (at least for a weekday afternoon at this time of year). No parking fee. Not a difficult drive at all to reach (paved roadway, no hairpin turns, GPS gives accurate directions to the parking lot.....all good stuff!). Decent phone signal here; for whatever reason I completely lost phone signal specifically at the parking lot but on the actual trail my phone signal returned lol.
Currently looking out my window of dark clouds and drizzle is making me wish it were last Sunday again where I was hiking Bodega Bay Trailhead. Couldn't have asked for better weather as the fog burned off at my arrival of 820am. The main objective was to look for whales, but didn't see any after wandering the various paths at the lower part of the parking lot and later up the other trails with a light incline and elevation. Somehow ended up at a path that overlooked the University of California Marine Lab Building. The sunshine and light breeze made for peaceful moments of staring out into the ocean. Nobody came to this part of the trail so the tranquil of nature surrounded me. Perhaps my review is biased of coming here for the 1st time with the perfect weather and not very many people. Parking was easy so early in the morning. There are a couple of non-flushable toilets, bring your own TP and hand sanitizer. #8/2021
Apparently this spot is a favorite of my in-laws; they took me on a hike here on Christmas Eve day. It has fairly non-strenuous trails that will take you up onto the bluffs with a great view of the ocean waves hitting the rocks and of the bay itself. The trails are not significantly long; you'll most likely be done within an hour unless you pause frequently for photos or to soak in the salty breeze. There are two parking areas-- the larger one is lower to the right and the upper one is to the left on a less well-maintained road (if your vehicle can handle it, there are typically more spots available there). Both parking lots have pit toilet restrooms available. No payment is required to park or visit.
Such a gorgeous place! Plenty of parking, decent bathrooms, and even recycle trash bins. We rented a camper van for the weekend, and parked it for the day at Bodega Head. We enjoyed hiking the loop trail, and managed to get back inside the van before the afternoons winds picked wayyyyy up! It was a beautiful day, and we truly enjoyed our time here. read more
What is this dream place! Nature and ocean and plants and flowers! The contrast of the colors of the plants is wowwww! Vibrant. Stuff of your hiking dreams. So romantic Trails are clearly marked and wide enough No borders to keep you from falling off, omg be safe. That's what made it even more amazing after going hiking in Carmel although that was amazing too but had the borders so this was a way more natural setting In January the whales already made their way to Baja Mexico, didn't stop people with binoculars looking for Them but you might not find any. Stopped to chat with the whale organization volunteers at the parking lot and they have a lot to share! Happy hiking read more
This trail is absolutely beautiful and offers the most stunning views you can find along the coast. The cliffs and the ocean vistas are mesmerizing . Parking can be hectic - its a very popular spot, especially on the weekend so you might have to wait for a spot. read more
5 months ago
Such a nice east trail up to beautiful bluffs in Bodega Bay. Well worth the drive and lots of parking. Even if a spot isn't immediately open, there are cars constantly going in and out. Lots of families read more
During our trip to Bodega Bay, we made sure to allocate some time in the morning to hit up the Bodega Bay trails. Fairly easy to find via GPS, the road up to here leads straight to a free, paved parking lot. Depending on the time of day, the lot can get quite packed. However people are often leaving as well, so the wait for a spot typically isn't too bad. Additionally, whole Bodega Bay in general is pretty safe, we saw park rangers patrolling the lot quite often. Although we unfortunately came on a foggy day, what limited views we could see of the immediate coastline was still quite stunning. And purportedly, one of the best whale watching spots in California exists right at the parking lot. So no hiking even needed! The trails themselves are all fairly easy and excellent for kids and beginners alike. They are unprotected however so keep an eye on kids and dogs and stay away from the edge. Trail markers could be better posted for visibility, especially at forks. And unfortunately, much of the signage posted explaining the history of the trail has been worn down by the elements and are unreadable. It can get windy up here depending on the time of the year, so be sure to dress appropriately. read more
1 year ago
It's not hard for an oceanside trail to reach 5 stars! What was nice, too, was that parking was not too tricky too find (there are 2 parking lots, and a handful of "street" parking as well). I never use trailhead bathrooms so obviously I'm not going to write about that here. My husband and I did the short loop that goes a little over 1.5 miles. It was windy the day we went, but there was so much beautiful scenery of the rocks, oceans, and plants. Just be aware that for windy days, you may feel more comfortable having full head coverage so your head and ears aren't freezing! I have more photos of this hike on my blog ! : https://theheartasitis.com/2025/04/14/our-1st-anniversary-at-bodega-bay-ca/ read more
This area is always beautiful per usual. Looking to cool off from the valley heat? This is the drive you need to take. So many cool restaurants in the area to try. Good for overnight or day trip. There are plenty trails to discover and dog friendly. Spend the day bird watching or watching the waves crash endlessly into the beach. read more
2 years ago
Really beautiful trail! Wish we had a bit more sunshine but enjoyed this loop. Lots of lovely flowers, shrubs, rocks and waves. read more
1 year ago
Bodega Bay Trailhead is just stunning. The views alone is worth the trip. There's a small beach area you can hike to below, but the water beyond is what truly amazes me. read more
9 months ago
If you are visiting Bodega Bay and have some free time, we highly recommend you take a hike along the Bodega Bay Trailhead. "Hike" might be a bit of a misnomer since you walk along a well-maintained path with minor elevation gain. We saw people of all ages, from kids to seniors, enjoying the views. And those view are spectacular as you stand hundreds of feet above the Pacific Ocean. The loop also gives you an opportunity to look back on the town of Bodega Bay. The trail can get a bit crowded, and the parking lot fills up fast -- although there is plenty of parking along the roadway. Overall, just a fantastic way to spend an hour or two. read more
4 years ago
I'm trying to keep my tradition of doing something outdoors-y for my birthday and this year I decided to head to this spot. What a lovely hiking trail! Very beginner-friendly as there are no steep inclines/declines (especially if you stick to the graveled route), it's not too long (took me a little less than an hour to complete the loop frequently stopping to take pics and to catch the views), and it's very hard to get lost with the well-defined walkways (when in doubt, just follow along the cliffside lol). A little too easy of a hike for me to be quite honest but hey it was a nice birthday stroll. :) I will say though that this time of year (October to winter) is not the best time to visit because pretty much all of the flowers and most of the greenery are dead lol. Still, if it's your only time to go then go!! The year-round gorgeous elevated sights of the Pacific Ocean are worthwhile. If you do go at this time, I think it's better to double back once you start moving away from the cliffside because the rest of the trail is just gray sadness lol (well, I guess you could see Doran Beach when going this way but eh it's nothing really spectacular IMO haha). The gusts here can get pretty strong so sweaters and coats are strongly recommended!! Ample parking (at least for a weekday afternoon at this time of year). No parking fee. Not a difficult drive at all to reach (paved roadway, no hairpin turns, GPS gives accurate directions to the parking lot.....all good stuff!). Decent phone signal here; for whatever reason I completely lost phone signal specifically at the parking lot but on the actual trail my phone signal returned lol. read more
Currently looking out my window of dark clouds and drizzle is making me wish it were last Sunday again where I was hiking Bodega Bay Trailhead. Couldn't have asked for better weather as the fog burned off at my arrival of 820am. The main objective was to look for whales, but didn't see any after wandering the various paths at the lower part of the parking lot and later up the other trails with a light incline and elevation. Somehow ended up at a path that overlooked the University of California Marine Lab Building. The sunshine and light breeze made for peaceful moments of staring out into the ocean. Nobody came to this part of the trail so the tranquil of nature surrounded me. Perhaps my review is biased of coming here for the 1st time with the perfect weather and not very many people. Parking was easy so early in the morning. There are a couple of non-flushable toilets, bring your own TP and hand sanitizer. #8/2021 read more
Apparently this spot is a favorite of my in-laws; they took me on a hike here on Christmas Eve day. It has fairly non-strenuous trails that will take you up onto the bluffs with a great view of the ocean waves hitting the rocks and of the bay itself. The trails are not significantly long; you'll most likely be done within an hour unless you pause frequently for photos or to soak in the salty breeze. There are two parking areas-- the larger one is lower to the right and the upper one is to the left on a less well-maintained road (if your vehicle can handle it, there are typically more spots available there). Both parking lots have pit toilet restrooms available. No payment is required to park or visit. read more
6 years ago
When the fog burns off you're treated to breathtaking 360-degree views of the ocean, vast deep blue seas as far as the eye can see. Parking is free but hard to come by especially on warm days when the sun is beaming down upon the coast, enticing beach goers. The trailhead is part of Sonoma Coast State Park that shelters the north and west sides of Bodega Harbor from Pacific storms. Bodega Head has two leisurely trails that you can hike individually or combine into one longer loop. Both are family friendly. The East Trail is a 1.7-mile loop that travels across Bodega Head's southern coastal bluffs. Bodega Head is the rocky headland that forms the entrance into Bodega Harbor. Along this trail are stunning views of the open Pacific Ocean, sea stacks, Bodega Bay, and the Doran Split (a 2 mile long sandy peninsula within the peninsula that protects the bay on the south). The West Trail, a 1.2-mile loop, will have you trekking over coastal bluffs and leads to an overlook view of Horseshoe Cove and the Bodega Marine Laboratory and Marine Reserve west of the trailhead (accessible from Westshore Road, call to confirm if they're still open to the public for free guided tours on most Fridays). The highest point of the promontory is 265 feet, take head as the sheer drop off the cliff side is no joke. One of the best whale-watching spots in all of NorCal is along these cliffs near the West Trail parking lot, where you'll find a plethora of sealife and Grey Whales migrating between October through February from Alaska to Mexico. Come back and brave the wind between February through April for their return voyage. During each weekend from January to May, volunteers from the Whale Watch Public Education Program are at Bodega Head to enlighten you with their knowledge of whales and migration (look out for their telltale vests). BYOBino's! From Westshore Road: Veer left for the east trailhead; Or right for the west trailhead. "Dogs not allowed" though we frequently see many on the trails. read more
4 years ago
A truly amazing place with incredible ocean views, bluff trails and beach access. Bring a picnic, and enjoy your lunch at one of the picnic tables near the beach access point. After lunch, head up on one of the trails. I took the southern loop trail which was a very well marked and easy trail on the bluffs with ocean views. The late-May wildflowers were abundant; quite a few different varieties and so beautiful. It was a clear day so we had fantastic visibility, but the wind was very strong. Make sure you dress in layers, you never know what kind of weather you will get on the coast. Note: Although leashed dogs are allowed in the little picnic area, dogs are not allowed on the trails. read more
Beautiful trail with amazing views! The trail was very well maintained and easy to walk on. Several benches to take a break at. Definitely want to have good walking shoes and be prepared to take some breaks if you aren't above average fitness. The view itself was worth every second. It was so beautiful and the cool ocean breeze was nice. My only complaint was the bathrooms left a lot to be desired. I understand it's a trail restroom but these were little more then a glorified hole in the ground. No sink, so bring hand sanitizer. read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
5 years ago
Lovely place to walk and see incredible views. Easy path to follow. Walk to almost the end til you hear the barking seals which crowd a small rock. Bring binoculars. We also saw a family of deer. Has bathrooms and parking. Worth it. read more
I am not a huge fan of the heat and since this trail is right by the water it was super breezy. We arrived around 11am and there were plenty of parking spots opened and picnic tables, if you wanted to enjoy your lunch there. My friend took us off trail so I wasn't very sure which trail we were on, but there were plenty of signs pointing to the actual trail. I loved that there weren't much elevation and plenty of beautiful views, even when it was a gloomy morning. There were a lot of parents hiking with their kids on their back and also kids hiking on their own. I recommend bringing a light jacket for when it does get cold and also a hat! read more
6 years ago
8 years ago
A great get away when you need time for self or with friends. Beautiful cliffs and scenic views. There are a lot of birds if are into bird watching. We enjoyed a picnic on one of the cliffs and relaxed listening to the waves. Saw some whales in the distant and tons of sea lions can he heard barking. The town has some nice small food stops with friendly people ready to help and serve. read more
More info about Bodega Bay Trailhead
Westshore Rd
Bodega Bay, CA 94923
Directions
Hours
Indoor Amenities
Outdoor Amenities
Ask the Community - Bodega Bay Trailhead
Does anyone know if dogs are allowed on the trail?
No dogs are allowed (environmental protection for an endangered species)
