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    Shell Beach

    5.0 (7 reviews)

    Shell Beach Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Shell Beach

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    Reviews With Photos

    Shayla B.

    Kind of shocked that nobody else has reviewed this gorgeous beach, but also not so shocked because I'm sure they were all trying to keep it a secret. Well folks... guess I'll let this one out of the bag. Shell Beach is absolutely stunning! It's just one of the many beaches located within Sonoma Coast State Park. But one of the big differences between this beach and the others is that it's much more secluded. Yes you'll find other people enjoying this beach too, but there won't be a big crowd of people. There's a nice sized parking lot along with several spots on the side of the road to park if the lot gets full. There are also restrooms here and they seem to keep them pretty clean and well stocked with toilet paper. This beach is also the hub for many hiking trails including the Kortum trail and the Pomo Canyon Trail that's located right across the street. What I enjoyed most about Shell Beach were the picturesque views and how warm it was. Beautiful white waves and gorgeous rocks in the distance. You'll even have the perfect view of nearby Arch Rock. The waves are gentle and the wind gusts aren't very heavy it tends to stay warmer on this side. There are so many places to setup shop and relax on this beach too. I didn't get into the water so I can't really comment on the sand or the tides, but just looking at this beauty was enough to satisfy me. And the people that you will run into are so chill. Minding their own business but still friendly enough to say hello if you so happen to pass them by. Also found some really pretty shells while I was there. One thing to note is that the trek down to the beach is a little steep but still totally doable. Just be careful when you reach the log steps because a few of them weren't actually bolted down like the others were. It's also very family friendly. Saw a few kids playing in the water when I touched down. It's a lot smaller than the other beaches nearby, but still spread out enough to be enjoyable. Looking forward to coming back here again for some hiking and for more beach play.

    Greenstone
    Scott H.

    Geologic wonderland. Beautiful beach in a relatively sheltered area. Black sand.The speech is not for swimming, it's for lying on the beach, admiring the geology, or hiking. This is one of the best places to see a huge variety of the rocks from The Franciscan melange.

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    Doran Regional Park - What a great view

    Doran Regional Park

    4.2(163 reviews)
    7.8 mi

    Love this beach and always enjoy coming out here for a day trip. There is an entry fee, but it's…read moreworth it for how clean, spacious, and relaxing it is. There's plenty of parking, which makes it super convenient, and it never feels too hectic even when it's busy. It's such a nice spot to just unwind, walk along the beach, and enjoy the peaceful views. They also have camping spots available, I camped here a long time ago and remember having a great experience. Whether you're planning to camp or just want a relaxing day by the water, this is one of my favorite places to visit in Bodega Bay. Definitely worth checking out :)

    Very disappointed, especially for the price…read more We chose this campground based on the ratings online and the fact that showers were available, but unfortunately, our experience did not match what we were expecting. To be clear, we weren't looking for an RV park or luxury camping experience, and we understand that this is a campground. However, for $50+ per night with zero hookups and no water at the site, we expected more for the cost -- especially when basic amenities like clean, functional showers were one of the reasons we chose this campground. The showers were extremely dirty, with spider webs and dust caked throughout the shower area. There was also no way to adjust the water temperature, which made it impossible for our toddler to shower safely with his dad. The showers also have very little privacy. They are connected directly to the bathroom area, and the only separation/privacy is essentially the walls of the bathroom stalls. This was not what we expected and made the shower experience uncomfortable. The shower timing was also frustrating. There was no warning that the shower was about to shut off, and the timing seemed to be off because I definitely did not receive the full amount of time that I had paid for. The bathroom/shower situation was disappointing as well. On the men's side, there was only one bathroom stall and one shower, while the women's side had two bathroom stalls and one shower. This is in the Jetty Camp Loop, which has 40+ campsites. Another frustrating issue was that the camp host was not available, and there was no campground contact number available other than an emergency dispatch number. So when we had questions or concerns, there was essentially no one available to help. We are honestly very disappointed that we chose this campground based on the online ratings. Maybe we caught it on an off weekend, but unfortunately, we cannot confirm the positive experiences reflected in those reviews. Again, we weren't expecting a luxury or RV-park experience. We simply expected clean, functional facilities and a better overall experience for $50+ per night. Unfortunately, this campground did not meet those expectations.

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    Doran Regional Park
    Doran Regional Park - Our catch - Boiled and grilled.

    Our catch - Boiled and grilled.

    Doran Regional Park

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    Dillon Beach - cottages

    Dillon Beach

    4.0(231 reviews)
    13.9 mi

    Yesterday Andrea said she wanted to go swimming in the ocean so after coffee and other refreshments…read morewe headed 4.1 miles to the beach. Initially the $15 parking fee was a no go but after a minute decided to go in. I was all in cause I was looking forward to Andrea stripping down and diving into the surf. Well..... After getting her toes wet from the cold, cold sea she decided to scrape those plans to my disappointment and everyone else on the beach. So in the fog we did get our feet wet, enjoyed the surf, the dogs and the Dillon Beach Air Force (pelicans) performing low fly overs. The beach was packed. People and dogs everywhere. After feet in the water for a bit it seemed actually swimmable but as much as I persuaded Andrea to go in we left without me holding on to her clothes. Next time. Next time. Lots of families and BBQ's getting out of the rat race for a moment to recollect the sanity they may or may not have had at one point. Upon leaving hopefully the sand that will be everywhere will remind them of a nice time on the coast. I know we will continue to remember it.

    $10 cover charge to get in. You can use credit card, lot of parking space. A physical sign before…read morethe beach tells you to keep going down the road instead of taking a right as Google maps would tell you to do those directions seem to be correct. Doesn't seem to have a shower area to shower off the sand. Fine grain sand. Not very Rocky. Bathroom has benches for easier time to get changed. Big dumpsters for throwing away stuff

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    Dillon Beach - Town

    Town

    Dillon Beach - Wind Surfer

    Wind Surfer

    Dillon Beach - Wind Surfer

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    Wind Surfer

    Shell Beach - beaches - Updated September 2026

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