Beaches on the Sonoma Coast

Breathtaking California beaches, rugged coastline, and the legendary Pacific Coast Highway are all part of the Sonoma Coast, where more than 55 miles of scenic shoreline and seaside villages welcome you.

Discover dramatic cliffs and long sandy beaches for picnicking, hiking, flying a kite, building driftwood castles, exploring tide pools, riding horseback, fishing, camping, and watching the sun set on the Pacific Ocean. To get here, consider flying into STS – Sonoma County Airport.

Here are a few Sonoma County beaches to enjoy on your visit. For a full list, visit Beaches in Sonoma County.

Doran Regional Park, Bodega Bay

Seeking the perfect beach for a family outing? For a picnic, a day of fun, or an overnight camping trip, look no further than Doran Regional Park. This beautiful, two-mile stretch of golden sand rests between Bodega Harbor and the open ocean, making it a top choice for flying kites, building sandcastles, and riding horses.

Protected as it is by Bodega Bay, Doran’s waters are calmer. You can launch a kayak or a speedboat from a jetty at the harbor’s mouth and walk on dozens of trails, including the favorite, Bird Walk Coastal Access Trail.

Doran Regional Park, 201 Doran Beach Road, in Bodega Bay, California

North Salmon Creek Beach & South Salmon Creek Beach, Bodega Bay

Popular Salmon Creek Beach (also in Sonoma Coast State Park) is divided by its namesake creek. North Salmon Creek Beach attracts surfers, and if the waves are high, you’ll witness some spectacular moves.

South Salmon Creek Beach is notable for its nearly two miles of beautiful, uninterrupted sand and dunes, making it a haven for picnics, beachcombing, and fishing. A lagoon forms in the summer where Salmon Creek empties into the ocean, making the water shallow, warmer, and ideal for kids to wade. Pulya-lakum, a Coast Miwok village, was once located at the mouth.

North and South Salmon Creek Beaches in the Sonoma Coast State Park at 3095 Highway 1 in Bodega Bay, California

Goat Rock Beach, Jenner

Situated near the mouth of the Russian River in the Sonoma Coast State Park, Goat Rock’s stunning views of white-capped waves, sand dunes, and immense sea stacks make it an unforgettable stop.

It’s the kind of beach you’ll want to stroll, look for migrating whales, and peer into tide pools. Watch sandpipers and other seabirds, and near the river’s mouth, see a colony of harbor seals.

For a coastal hike you’ll never forget, walk the Kortum Trail on the bluffs above the beach. Always gorgeous, Kortum is particularly so in summer, when the surrounding seagrass has turned golden and is dotted with pink pennyroyal, golden California poppy, and stark red paintbrush.

Goat Rock Beach is in the Sonoma Coast State Park at Highway 1 and Goat Rock Road in Jenner, California

Sea Ranch Coastal Access Trails, The Sea Ranch

The Sea Ranch extends ten miles along a stunning stretch of the Sonoma Coast and is known for panoramic views. Although The Sea Ranch is a privately owned community, it features public trailheads with access points along the Pacific Coast Highway.

Find trails ranging from one-quarter mile to two-thirds of a mile leading to these beautiful secluded beaches: Black Point, Pebble Beach, Stengel Beach, Shell Beach, and Walk On Beach.

The three-mile-long Bluff Top Trail takes you along headlands overlooking the ocean, from Walk On Beach past coves and crashing surf through woods to the 195-acre Gualala Point Regional Park. For more hikes like this, check out Sonoma County Trails Along the Pacific Coast in The Sea Ranch.

Beach trail access points from 35050 to 40101 Highway 1, in The Sea Ranch, California

Gualala Point Regional Park, Gualala

Situated where the Gualala River enters the Pacific Ocean, the park at Gualala Point offers views that go on forever, a vast expanse of white sandy beach and dunes, and a summertime sandspit at the river’s mouth.

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Explore the sand dunes, try your hand at seasonal fishing, take in the views, or relax and soak up the soothing sounds of the ocean. You can also walk up the river to the freshwater marsh and hike the Bluff Trail or beyond to the redwood grove where sword ferns and rhododendrons flourish.

The park’s campground nestles under redwood trees beside the river and is within walking distance of the crashing surf. It includes drive-in and walk-to sites, as well as sites reserved for hikers and cyclists.

Gualala Point Regional Park, 42401 Highway 1, in Gualala, California

Find more fun at Sonoma County River Beaches and Fishing Spots.

See Sonoma County’s safety tips for water activities. Together, we can protect and preserve the beauty and natural resources of Sonoma County for generations to come. Check out our page on Sustainable Travel, and look over the Leave No Trace Seven Principles.

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Written by Sonoma Insider Suzie Rodriguez