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    Russian Gulch State Beach

    5.0 (5 reviews)
    Open Open 24 hours

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    2 months ago

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    Sonoma Coast State Park

    Sonoma Coast State Park

    4.7(58 reviews)
    2.6 mi

    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.

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    Sonoma Coast State Park
    Sonoma Coast State Park
    Sonoma Coast State Park

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    Shell Beach - Gorgeous view. Missing the beautiful cypress that came down last year though.

    Shell Beach

    5.0(7 reviews)
    4.5 mi

    This is a small secluded beach with a pretty steep stairway down to the beach from the parking lot…read more It's a good bit of cardio climbing up and down. The parking lot has lots of spaces and it's free. The restroom is well maintained, port a potty style, no running water. Once on the beach it's a smaller area, easy walk to the water and the rocks at the end. There's a small tide pool area too. A nice relaxing beach with not many people, so can enjoy it almost to yourself. There are also many trails off the parking lot. I walked the Kortum Trail - it's a beautiful trail with stretches of wooden paths, sprawling greenery with mountains to on side and the, coast along the other. This trail leads to goat rock. It's a pretty steep incline towards the end but worth the views when you reach the top. It's a 2.3 mile round trip hike. I wish I had read a little history before I went on the hike, I later learned the large rocks you can see from the trail are named "Mammoth Rocks" it's believed the Mammoths rubbed against the rocks and created smooth polished patches 10-14 ft high. Probably end of ice age 10 to 14 thousand years ago. Great area, beautiful state beach and lots of hiking with breathtaking views of the coast.

    Shell Beach is a favorite location for beach combing and tide pooling. Note that the walk down to…read morethe beach is a little steep so take your time. There are many hiking trails that start from this beach. Some are flat with gorgeous views if you want to walk and soak in the views. If you are looking for more of a challenging hike with an incline there is the Shell Beach to Pomo Canyon or the Shell Beach to Red Hill loop. You will just need to cross the road. There is a large parking lot and the parking is free. They also have bathrooms that are well kept. Whatever trail you decide you will have picturesque views of the Sonoma Coast. Enjoy this beautiful area on the Sonoma Coast. These pictures are of the Shell Beach to Red Hill hike around 10:30am, before the fog burned off for the day.

    Photos
    Shell Beach - Thankful for the beauty and coolness of the beach during the heatwave

    Thankful for the beauty and coolness of the beach during the heatwave

    Shell Beach - Steep steps up & down to this beautiful and small beach

    Steep steps up & down to this beautiful and small beach

    Shell Beach - Wonderful walking paths along the Pacific!

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    Wonderful walking paths along the Pacific!

    Stump Beach Cove - Driftwood Structure

    Stump Beach Cove

    4.3(3 reviews)
    2.6 mi

    Nice secluded beach. Lots of driftwood lying around. Wonderful opportunity for you artists who like…read moreto build structures with driftwood. We, photography enthusiasts, thank you for your lovely creations which make for great pictures. You can find the entrance to Stump Beach along Hwy 1 at Salt Point State Park. Dirt parking lot. Be careful and watch your step. Maybe not for the elderly to travel. There are steps going down to the beach but they are not maintained well and there are drops along the way. The ground can get uneven in some spots. If you make it down to the beach, the rocks are interesting; smooth and they make for a nice display along the beach.

    I've been lucky over the years to have visited some pretty amazing beaches. Some are sprawling and…read morebustling, some calm, some with crashing waves, big rock formations, caves, etc...some secluded, some on the edge of a city, some in the middle of nowhere. If you love the water, you can appreciate a nice beach regardless of the context or the particular environment. That being said, this is the kind of beach that I love the most. Quiet and secluded, no one around, down a long walkway and away from most everything. I could spend all day in a spot like this just napping and listening to the waves crashing in. If you're coming down this part of the coast it's definitely worth a stop if only just to take it in for a moment. There are a few trails that run around the hills overlooking it if you feel like taking a hike and seeing some amazing views, and a short trail that leads to the beach itself from the small parking lot. The parking lot itself could be easy to miss if you weren't watching for it so be on the lookout. Skip the big places that you've heard of and head here. Have the beach to yourself for a while. You'll be glad you did.

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    Stump Beach Cove - Stump Beach

    Stump Beach

    Stump Beach Cove - The shell life.

    The shell life.

    Stump Beach Cove - Wildflowers aplenty!

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    Wildflowers aplenty!

    WaterTreks - Kayaks at the water's edge.

    WaterTreks

    4.0(38 reviews)
    2.6 mi

    Easy to book boats in advance on the phone. Was a bit hard to find the shop (van + stall) itself,…read morethey're situated in the parking lot across from a restaurant. There isn't a designated lot but you can either try to park near the visitors center (small amount of not timed parking) or along the street which is what we did. Decided to do some single kayaks. There is an option for either a 2 hour time frame or a 4 hour one. If you have the time then I would honestly recommend the 4 hour one. The routes that they have you travel are different (but the 4 hour also covers the 2 hour loop). Overall the water was pretty calm and we got to see plenty of seals. Recommend stopping by the beach, they'll point out where you can do so during the orientation talk, and walk along the shore to the seal and birds area. It's also a nice area to take a food break.

    Two family adventure - four adults, four teenagers. What a lovely family experience. It was easy to…read morebook a few days in advance, and they even accommodated our request for 1 canoe, and then honored our 2 solo and 2 tandem requests. The on-shore guide showed us a nice map with a suggested route. I would have been happy with 90 minutes, but the rest of my avid kayaker group was happy to have the full 2 hours. Memorable summer family memories. Our friends had kayaked in Bodega in the past, and thought this experience was far more interesting and easier to navigate.

    Photos
    WaterTreks - Protected Wildlife Habitat also protects paddlers from River Mouth Currents.

    Protected Wildlife Habitat also protects paddlers from River Mouth Currents.

    WaterTreks - School Field Research or Guided Educational Tours

    School Field Research or Guided Educational Tours

    WaterTreks - Our 2 hour loop in the heart of the wildlife nursery. 1/2 day route available on calm days. It could be quite windy near the upstream bridge

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    Our 2 hour loop in the heart of the wildlife nursery. 1/2 day route available on calm days. It could be quite windy near the upstream bridge

    Sonoma Coast State Beach

    Sonoma Coast State Beach

    4.5(30 reviews)
    4.3 mi

    This is a beautiful stretch of beach that runs through Jenner and the towns in either side…read more Along the way there are several places to pull out. One is Salmon Beach. It's a beautiful beach with plenty of flat sand. There is ample parking and a bathroom Close to Bodega Bay.

    SCW and I drove over to Sonoma Coast State Beach salmon creek during a recent wine tasting trip. I…read morewanted to see the ocean and walk along the beach so we could get some nature. I really enjoyed the area as the highway winds along the beach with many spots to pull off and enjoy the beautiful views of the ocean. Salmon creek area is nice with a parking area with restrooms available as well. There are trails that go down to the beach which depending on which you choose can be quite steep. Take your time and be rewarded by the cool fresh air coming off the water onto the beach. We took our time to wander along the water, finding shells and cool rock formations from the constant exposure to the water. There's quite a bit of driftwood on the beach which it looks like some have made into forts/ seating areas all of which are unique. Portions to the north of Salmon Creek are rocky but you'll find cool views from around each bend along the shore. I enjoyed our time on the beach exploring and watching the waves crash, the various birds in the surf and on the shore. Definitely worth the drive and taking the time to stop and enjoy nature.

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    Sonoma Coast State Beach - A Bunch of Surfers

    A Bunch of Surfers

    Sonoma Coast State Beach - Surfer

    Surfer

    Sonoma Coast State Beach

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    Russian Gulch State Beach - beaches - Updated May 2026

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