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.

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 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.

Parking is plentiful weekdays or you must arrive early for weekends! You can also drive in and…read moredrop your stuff off.... They have very nice bathrooms, they offer FREE air service to inflate your rafts! Plenty of picnic tables which can be popular. Calling it a "beach" is a tad misleading but a great access point and a good swim spot for the family. If you can swim upstream about 100 yards there is an awesome spot of rapids to walk up and float down many times. It was awesome! Otherwise the river itself barely moves. Perfect for paddle boarding!

So much fun! 2.5 miles of floating fun. It can be longer as you can maroon yourselves on little…read moreshores and beaches all along the way. The water was pretty low and more than anything calm. We were sore and sunburnt the next day from all the paddling. (Paddles also recommended) We were able to rent shuttle rides (highly recommended) and floats through the regional parks website. When were on the water there were about 1000 people seen throughout the day. My float mate and I both agreed we'd do this again. Kids are able to do this however free life vests are available for them. Can I say dog friendly?? YES! So many furry friends on floats!!

A beach near Jenner that is an easy walk from the parking lot to the beach. There are views of Goat…read moreRock, Arch Rock and home to a large population of harbor seals. Unfortunately the day I went I didn't see any. To the North is the mouth of the Russian River and to the South is Goat Rock. Not a high volume of visitors, people come and go and don't stay for an extended period of time. Nice beach to get your steps in and take in the view. There are restrooms, dogs are not allowed and parking is free.

I love Goat Rock SB! It's a little off the beaten path, straight west from Mark West in Santa Rosa…read moreabout 20 miles of mostly flat but curvy roadway & beautiful views on the way to where Russian River spills into the Pacific. Theres two nice sandy beaches, a large natural bridge out in the distance, & usually plenty of parking even on holiday weekends. Climbing Goat Rock is not allowed since theres a lot of big loose rocks on the sides but the beaches are great & normally have seals & sea lions where the river meets the ocean. You'll find walking paths on the cliffs above as you're driving in & fantastic sunrise/sunsets from the cliffs or from the beaches. Tip: stop at Korbel for a free tasting & tour.

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

Great park to walk along the coast line with interesting rock formations!…read moreWild flowers in a spring is an added bonus!

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