A trip to the Sonoma Coast should certainly include hours spent communing with nature. Our coastline is famous for long sandy beaches below rugged headlands.
Sonoma Coast Beaches & Parks
Best Local Places in Sonoma County
Explore Sonoma’s Unique Terrain
Amaze at the fins of shale jutting out from the cliffs to create natural arches over secluded coves all along Sonoma Coast State Park, which extends seventeen miles from Bodega Head in the south to Vista Point four miles north of Jenner.
A walk along wind-swept bluffs inspires a feeling of total escape from civilization. Heading inland from this wild seascape, you can hike the Pomo Canyon and Red Hill trails, which are accessible from the east side of Highway 1 at Shell Beach. You’ll be walking in the footsteps of Pomo and Coast Miwok people who hunted in these hills and redwood-filled valleys for over three thousand years.
Goat Rock State Park
From the deck here at River’s End you can see the iconic Goat Rock—gatekeeper of the Russian River estuary. The base of the massive outcropping forms the southern end of Goat Rock State Park, which extends north along a crescent of sandy beach to the narrow opening where the Russian River meets the Pacific Ocean.
Visitors to the park are regularly charmed by sea otters and the colony of harbor seals that congregate on either side of the river mouth. Don’t confuse those lounging seals with the silvery driftwood logs that wash up on the same sandy shores.
Jenner Headlands
One of the largest open-space acquisition in Sonoma County, this 5,630 acre preserve includes 14 miles of trails through varying terrain. From towering trees to coastal prairies, you’ll be astonished at the beautiful scenery and majestic views of the Pacific Ocean.
The complimentary parking and entry, along with the ADA accessible restrooms make this nature area open to everyone. You can explore the preserve daily from 8 am to sunset, which makes this nature area a perfect place to spot local wildlife. And since it’s just 1.5 miles north of the Inn, you’ll be able to rest your feet after your hike in your romantic guest room in just minutes.
Hike Amongst The Giants
A day of outdoor adventures in our area would be incomplete without a visit to Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, where 805 acres of old-growth Sequoia sempervirens (the majestic coast redwood) have been preserved since the 1870’s. Crane your neck back as far as you can to gaze up at the mighty Parson Jones Tree standing 310 feet above the forest floor. The oldest tree in the grove, named after Colonel James Armstrong who saved these tree from the lumber industry, is estimated to be 1400 years old!