Hiking in Bodega Bay

Unfurling along a particularly stunning stretch of Sonoma County’s rugged coastline, Bodega Bay is a favorite destination for locals and travelers. A longtime base for a fleet of fishing boats, this small, friendly town is also home to a handful of independent shops, art galleries, and excellent seafood restaurants.

You’ll also find four hiking trails: Two at Bodega Head, a third that winds along a bird-viewing path in the marsh at nearby Doran Regional Park, and a fourth that leads to a small but delightful beach.

Each Bodega Bay trail offers spectacular ocean vistas and coastal pleasures that include the salty kiss of sea breeze, colorful wildflowers from spring into summer, the likelihood of spotting one or more migrating gray whales, and the haunting cries of sea birds.

All four trails are short (loops range from 0.75 to 1.7 miles in length) and easy to walk—many hikers combine these trails. Be prepared, though, to spend longer than usual while traversing these small distances because you’ll likely be stopping here and there to gaze at the scenery and absorb the astonishing beauty that surrounds you.

Bodega Head Trails 

Bodega Head

A massive granite promontory, Bodega Head — part of Sonoma Coast State Park — shelters the north and west sides of Bodega Harbor from Pacific Ocean storms. Bodega Head has two trails, which you can hike individually or easily combine into a longer hike.

East Trail

The East Trail, a 1.7-mile loop, travels across Bodega Head’s southern coastal bluffs to offer gorgeous views of the open ocean, sea stacks, Bodega Bay, the sandy, two-mile-long Doran Split (which protects the bay on the south), and a great deal more.

West Trail

The West Trail, a 1.2-mile loop, faces west, traverses coastal bluffs, and leads to an overlook view of Horseshoe Cove and the Bodega Marine Laboratory and Marine Reserve (where tours and visits have been temporarily suspended). After gradually climbing 200 feet, you’ll be at the highest point of the peninsula (265 feet), rewarded for your efforts with 360-degree views.

Be sure to pause on the cliffs near the West Trail parking lot, where you’ll find one of the best whale-watching spots in California. Chances of spotting cetaceans are best from October through February when Grey whales are southbound from Alaska to Mexico and February through April on their return voyage.

On weekends from January through Mother’s Day, volunteers from the Whale Watch Public Education Program are at Bodega Head to answer questions and share their knowledge of whales and migration. If you have binoculars, bring them on the day you visit.

Directions: To reach both Bodega Head trailheads from Highway 1 in Bodega Bay, take the East Shore Road exit and continue one-quarter mile to Bay Flat Road, where you’ll turn right (Bay Flat soon becomes Westshore Road). In 3.3 miles, veer left for the east trailhead parking area or turn right for the west trailhead parking area. Parking is free. Dogs are not allowed on these trails.

Bird Walk Coastal Access Trail

Bodega Bay’s Bird Walk Coastal Access Trail, part of Sonoma County Regional Parks, offers remarkable bird-watching opportunities — for a good reason. Located slightly north of Doran Regional Park along Bodega Harbor, the 1.19-mile path circles two freshwater ponds. Overlooking marshland that provides year-round habitat for thousands of waterfowl, shorebirds, and songbirds, the rectangular loop is gentle, easy, and accessible for wheelchairs and strollers. Dogs on a leash are permitted on the trail.

Directions: The trailhead parking lot is located at 355 Highway 1 on the south end of Bodega Bay. Turn right at the “Bird Walk Coastal Access” sign (0.7 miles south of the Bodega Bay Visitor Center). Park at the trailhead parking lot, and then ascend a brief rise to the gravel trail. A parking fee is required.

Pinnacle Gulch Trail 

The half-mile, unpaved Pinnacle Gulch Coastal Access Trail traverses a gorge that leads to a quarter-mile beach on Bodega Bay that’s dotted with exciting rocks and tide pools. From here, you’ll enjoy the offshore view of Pinnacle Rock, Bodega Head, Tomales Bay, Point Reyes, and the two-mile-long, crescent-shaped sand spit of Doran Beach.

Directions: On the southern end of Bodega Bay, immediately after Highway 1 heads east (away from the coast), turn south onto South Harbor Way. Drive one block and turn left onto Heron Drive; turn left onto Mockingbird Road and drive a short distance to the posted trailhead for Pinnacle Gulch trailhead at 20600 Mockingbird Drive (it’s across from a small parking area in the Bodega Harbor golf course community). A parking fee is required.

Post-Hike Meal

There’s much more to do and see in Bodega Bay after your hike. This charming coastal town is a sensational place to indulge in seafood like crab, salmon, and rockfish fresh from a local boat.

Grab a seat at one of the picnic tables in front of Spud Point Crab Company, where you can bite into a fresh crab sandwich and gaze at fishing boats docked nearby. Perhaps you’d prefer a casual dinner at the Tides Wharf Restaurant, where scenes from Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds were filmed. Or you might go all out with a feast at Terrapin Creek Café, where fresh ingredients and innovative cuisine have won national acclaim.

Want to stay longer? Head to the luxurious Bodega Bay Lodge, where each room provides beautiful ocean views. The elegant guest lodges at the Inn at the Tides are nestled in secluded surroundings, while the Bodega Harbor Inn, conveniently located in old town Bodega Bay, overlooks Bodega Harbor. For more options, check our listings of coastal hotels and B&Bs.

Off-Season

Bodega Bay experiences a typically mild winter, with temperatures from the mid-40s to the mid-60s Fahrenheit. This season offers an ideal opportunity to explore the town, as it sees fewer visitors, allowing you to immerse yourself in the area’s natural splendor fully. If you’re a fan of crab, the winter months present the prime occasion to savor this delicacy in the charming coastal town of Sonoma County.

Written by Sonoma Insider Suzie Rodriguez.