Unexpected turn to get into this parking lot. Plenty of parking…read more It's a bit of a trek through a trail amongst tall grass and in between trees, where it will then open up to the ocean! You had to earn it Pretty serene and peaceful here. Many rocks of all shapes to be found, find some good flat round ones for rock skipping on the water

Wow, this is now one of our favorite places to camp. We love that it is not a huge campground…read more It's a short walk to the lovely beach. It's cool there are bike-in sites as well- I chatted with a few cyclists who came through. Several hikes to choose from. We chose the waterfall hike which was outstanding. Did I mention there are wild bunnies to be seen? Know there is no wi-fi service (which is a good thing when camping). But for urgent matters you can receive service at the ranger station.

Did a moderate 3 mile hike here in early fall. I've been around this body of water many times but…read moremostly as drives around and maybe an occasional picnic on one of it's corners. You can probably drive around the whole bay from Inverness to Marshall in about 30 minutes. My hike because I went with the gps due to my first time, started in the northern corner of the bay just outside of Inverness, so the road is on top of the hills and you can wind on down to water level. Over by Marshall you will already be at water level. This corner also has a popular beach destination where people can swim, kayak, picnic etc called Heart's Desire Beach. From the highway one up top it'll take about 10 minutes on a windy road to reach the beach. My hike started up on top and worked its way down to the water, mostly on single track trail through heavily brushed forest in the hills. No crazy great views until you get nearer the water when you start to see deep blue hues. Once down at the water I took a break on another, but much smaller beach called Pebble Beach. Just sat on a log and absorbed the peacefulness while I rehydrated. There were no one on this beach but I could see decent activity from Heart's Desire Beach about a quarter mile away. Now that I know the general terrain here, next time I'm going to park at Heart's Desire parking lot and climb up, then descend on the way back. On this trip I went down first then had to climb 700 hundred feet or so, so all the sweating was on the tail end. I prefer the former, and that way when done I can just relax and have a picnic on the beach. Lesson learned. Still a solid 4* outing.

After a bit of a drive we found this SP to be disappointing. We were looking for hiking trails over…read morebeach access. Unfortunately, we couldn't even find the overgrown trails. Left after getting out of the car in two different areas trying to find a starting point. Save yourself the drive. No attendant to ask for assistance.

Nice view of the coast and an easy hike from Wrights Beach. Waves are vicious and yet a beautiful…read moresight. Stay clear of these waters as they are known for sneaker waves. Picnic tables are available with plenty of parking. Worth stopping when in need of a break off of highway 1.

Beautiful! There's many trails and picnic tables. And in many places dogs are allowed!read more

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.

O the beauty and how wonderful it is to walk along the coast of California. A beautiful place for…read morereal Gorgeous rock formations such as tafoni sandstone, honeycomb shapes and holes in the rocks. Long time in the making, these geological wonders. Stop to observe and take some pics Really serene walking on the trail and seeing the gentle sway of the wildflowers and feeling the cool breeze

Salt Point is an unsung gem of the Northern California coast - incredible to believe that this…read moreplace wasn't completely teeming with people during our mid-July trip, but we probably encountered fewer an 20 people on the Salt Point Trail. We were staying in Woodside Campground, but had free entrance into Gerstle Cove Campground and access to the coastline. This is where Salt Point Trail begins. Prepare for the deteriorating visitor center and closed bathrooms by arriving ready to go with map in hand. We disembarked around noon and spent about 3.5 hours meandering through the bluffs and tidepools to Stump Beach and back. This is with someone averaging about a mile an hour & using a hiking pole. Everyone had a great time and gratefully no injuries or nuisances occurred! After a late lunch break, I went back to Stump Beach and continued the hike to Fisk Mill Cove - this area is currently closed, but the Bluff Trail from Stump Beach is accessible with some light bushwhacking. I wore jeans and hiking shoes to avoid the poison oak; always remember to check for ticks. The views are entirely worth some lite prep and effort. Enjoy!

Ocean Cove is an amazing place to make the drive to and camp for a weekend, a week, or even a…read moreholiday. Yes, the campground gets packed during holiday weekends--but leaving a 1-star review because a popular campground is full makes absolutely no sense . During busy weekends, the campground fills up quickly with campers enjoying their trips with family and friends. If you show up late to a popular campground during a holiday expecting an empty spot to magically be waiting for you, that might be a planning problem--not an Ocean Cove problem . The campground itself is absolutely beautiful. You get insane, million-dollar ocean views, gorgeous sunrises and sunsets, and a great forest trail to walk through. Eventually, you'll find another incredible ocean-view spot known by many as "Service Rock" --usually where people end up trying to catch some service when there isn't much around the campground. One of my favorite things about Ocean Cove is the people. You meet so many friendly people, randomly start conversations, and easily make new friends. It has a real camping atmosphere that keeps people coming back. Now, some of these 1-star reviews are honestly wild . Someone said the cliffs are dangerous and Ocean Cove needs to fence off the entire campground. Absolutely not. This is a natural coastal campground with cliffs. Parents are responsible for watching their children, and adults are responsible for paying attention to their surroundings. We don't need to fence off one of the most beautiful parts of the campground because somebody forgot that cliffs are, in fact, dangerous . Then there are complaints about the honey buckets. During busy weekends, there are a LOT of people using them. The staff can maintain them, but they can't clean them every 10 seconds . Have realistic expectations. Complaining that Ocean Cove is too expensive is also crazy. Maintaining a campground, paying employees, and keeping a business running costs money. What do people expect--an incredible campground on the California coast with insane ocean views for $10 a night forever? Ocean Cove is worth the money. And the complaints about it being "overly crowded"... seriously? What do you expect during a busy weekend--an empty campground? If the place is packed, that should tell you something: people love coming here. The people working here also deserve recognition. Matt in the store is an awesome guy--friendly, easy to talk to, and always cool. 10/10. Joe is also a great and helpful guy. And Joe and Louise around the campground are both incredibly kind and friendly with a great sense of humor. Just understand: if you give them shit, you're probably going to get shit right back . And lastly: OYSTER DIVE! I don't care what anybody says--those oysters are BOMB. Fresh, cleaned on the spot, freshly grilled, and the sauces are absolutely fire. 11/10. Broke the scale. They never get old, and buying a dozen--or several--is always worth it . Overall, Ocean Cove is a phenomenal place to camp. Incredible ocean views, sunsets, forest trails, great people, amazing employees, and some seriously good food. To the people leaving 1-star reviews because the campground was busy during a holiday, because they expected every cliff to be fenced off, or because a busy employee didn't stare directly into their soul when they walked into the store: respectfully, maybe Ocean Cove just isn't for you . For everyone else who enjoys nature, camping, incredible views, good people, and having a great time--Ocean Cove is absolutely worth the drive and worth every dollar. Ocean Cove NEEDS to stay in business FOREVER and continue being passed down through generations! 10/10. Every. Single. Time.

I've been camping at Ocean Cove Campground for years, and it remains one of my absolute favorite…read morecoastal escapes in Northern California. If you want front-row seats to the Pacific, this is the spot. The campsite sits right up on the bluffs, offering raw, panoramic views of the ocean, dramatic cliffs, and incredible sunsets. There's nothing quite like falling asleep to the sound of crashing waves and waking up with a cup of hot coffee while looking out for sea life down in the coves. First-Come, First-Served: So if you're aiming for a prime oceanfront spot on the bluff edge, plan to arrive early in the day--especially on weekends. Rustic Vibe - It's dry camping (port-a-potties, no hookups), but the stunning location and open layout make it worth every bit. The family-run general store makes stocking up super easy if you run low on firewood, ice, or snacks. It's laid-back, beautiful, and keeps me coming back season after season. Highly recommended if you're looking for proper cliffside coastal camping.

It is a Winding road we travel!! I am not talking about just life. I'm also talking about the…read morePacific Coast Highway. When I think about the PCH, I specifically think of Hwy 1. I guess that Hwy 101 is also considered part of the PCH. The portion of PCH that is Hwy 1 is about 656 miles long. In my opinion, the most scenic part of the Pacific Coast Highway is the portion that takes you to Big Sur. Still, the majority of Hwy 1 is so very beautiful. It is very narrow in parts, and you best be concentrating because there are stretches of the road that you drive right along the cliff's edge. There are also portions of the PCH that are very windy. Even as the driver, I sometimes get a bit dizzy with all the twists and turns. The stretch of PCH that runs through Bodega Bay is also one of my favorites. I never tire of driving and exploring this area.

Road trip! 'coz Nothing Comes Close to the Golden Coast…read more.. Love, love, love road trips on the Pacific Coast Highway! The scenic highway stretches from Washington to California and are actually two highways -- US 101 (in some of California) and Highway 1 for most of California, Oregon, and Washington. With so many miles to cover we usually incorporate stops along the way. Our trips were over time and not all in one stretch, it was fun exploring and venturing in some of these cities/towns along the coast that we run across during our road trips. California's Highway 1 often takes on the spotlight! * The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. No matter how many times we pass by these orange towers and gigantic main cables I think how lucky I am to live just a distance from this photogenic iconic structure. * Tomales Bay (famous for its oysters), Bodega Bay (I always think of Alfred Hitchcock's film, "The Birds" when visiting this coastal town)... and the Sonoma Coast State Park, 17-miles of coastline with expansive beaches. Enjoy many coves and beaches where you can pull over and enjoy the views. * Mendocino Coast and Fort Bragg - Glass Beach is a unique "must see" in Fort Bragg. Our first time in Fort Bragg was in 2011, just 6 days before the Great Sendai Earthquake and tsunami disaster in Japan where effects were felt across portions of the U.S. West Coast including California and Oregon. * Big Sur - my favorite! Highway 1 through Big Sur is designated as American National Scenic Byway & California Scenic Highway. You just have to see it for yourself. I have my most memorable ocean vistas in Big Sur. Pfeiffer Beach and its purple sand is one of my favorite destinations to visit. * San Luis Obispo (SLO) North Coast Byway - uncrowded beaches! Lots of vineyards, wineries, and wine tasting rooms but we came here to visit Hearst Castle (twice)! * Monterey and Carmel - We found ourselves here more often than when I used to live in the South Bay which was only a little over an hour away (approx 70 miles). Now we're over 3 hours away at 304 miles. The drive is worth it. * Santa Barbara - driving, driving, driving... we ended up in beautiful Santa Barbara. We visited the Historic Old Mission and checked out Stearns Wharf. * Morro Bay, Pismo Beach, Solvang - it was by curiosity we discovered Morro Bay... like, what is that huge rock we saw driving from Highway 1... Pismo Beach is a classic beach town in the central coast w/ lots of shops on the boardwalk. The beach was always crowded every time we stopped by. Continued driving and we ended up in Denmark! Well, it's a little slice of Denmark in Southern California. Solvang is pretty with a unique ambience. The entire route is designated as a Blue Star Memorial Highway to recognize those in the United States armed forces. I love the beautiful California coastline and I felt grateful to be living in this crazy state I've called home for the past 42 years. In the Pacific Northwest (Oregon) we loved Astoria and Cannon Beach. Enjoy and be safe on your next road trip! Review #2189

Wow! Love this place so much. Went with my partner and our friends who were pretty familiar with…read morethe campsite and the area. Stayed for 3 nights at the campsite and it was great! Stayed at 22 and 23 and it felt like we were away from people enough. Campsite was clean and well kept up and the camp hosts were so nice and helpful! A bonus with this campsite were the showers and they were hot! Good bathrooms too with flushable toilets. Just remember to bring enough quarters for the showers. The best small hikes next to the campsite and one of them even went down to a beach area! I would say this was one of my favorite campsites to stay at and we will definitely be coming back to explore some more!

Awesome campsites gorgeous views nice trails. Clean bathroom and nice camp attendant. The campsites…read moreare nicely spaced. The attendant gave us some wood. There is a small store with everything you need a small ride down the way.