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Hiking

• Bodega Bay extraordinary views and hiking trails can be found at Bodega Head. Turn right on Eastshore Road from the Inn, turn right on Bay Flat Road go about 3 miles. There is a dirt parking lot on the bay side of Campbell Cove with a display sign the explains the area known as “Hole in the Head”. The Cove is a safe place to view tidepools. Up the hairpin turn to the ridge top, there is bayside and ocean side parking.
  
• Along Highway One north of the Inn is the Bodega Bay Community Park, this park contains The Children’s Bell Tower, a moving memorial to Nicholas Green, the little Bodega Bay boy who was shot by bandits in Italy. His parents generously donated his organs, the Italian people and indeed the world have been touched by this story. Ms. Branscomb has sculpted a bronze bust of little Nicholas, who was a frequent visitor to her Gallery. The bronze was installed at the park in 2001.
  
• Sonoma Coast State Beaches
  Actually a string of many beaches separated by rocky bluffs, this offers more than 5000 beautiful acres along a diverse, mostly gentle 18 miles of coastline from Black Ranch in the north to Bodega Head in the south.
  
• Black Ranch Trails - North of Jenner
  Three trails:
  1) One mile paved loop, handicap accessible: High Bluffs overlooking steep headlands.
  2) 2.75 mile steep round trip to beach.
  3) 3.5 mile round trip to Russian Gulch: Over headland to point, then steep descent from bluff to beach
  Time: One half hour to two hours (each trail)
  Elevation Gain/Loss: minimal on paved loop
  Best time: Spring, early summer for wildflowers
  Warnings: Stay back from steep, crumbly bluffs. Watch for poison oak.
  Directions to trailhead: All on west side on Highway 1 north of Jenner at the following mile markers> Black Ranch M.26.3 Descent to river mouth M.23.21
  
• Shell Beach to Pomo Canyon - The absolute best hike in Sonoma County
  Distance 5.5 miles round trip - It is easily done to go as far as you like and turn around. Time: 3 or 4 hours Elevation Gain/Loss: 720 feet +
  Terrain: From the beach to marine terraces, through grasslands then over a ridge, to the redwood forest and down to the creek canyon.
  Best time: Spring for wild flowers Warnings: Watch for poison oak. Carry water
  Directions to trailhead: On west side on Highway 1 at the following mile marker M.18.22, turn into the paved parking lot for Shell Beach. Trailhead is just across Highway 1.
  
• Beach to beach hikes from Jenner to Bodega Bay
  Park at most any beach lot and follow the trails to the north or south.
  

  One of the best is:
  Blind Beach to Shell Beach
  [then you can try Shell Beach to Wrights Beach]
  Distance: 3.75 mile round trip or 8 miles round trip to Wrights Beach.
  Time: two hours
  Terrain: Over the ridge of Peaked Hill, then down to gently sloping, grass covered marine terrace overlooking the shore.
  Elevation Gain/Loss: 360 feet + / 360 feet -
  Best time: Spring, early summer for wild flowers
  Warnings: Stay off Goat Rock: every year people fall or are swept into the sea from this dangerous sea stack. Stay back from steep, crumbly bluffs. Watch for poison oak.
  Directions to Trailhead: Less than one mile south of the Russian River mouth on Highway 1 at mile marker M.19.15, turn into the paved parking lot for Goat Rock Road. Go .75 mile to the Blind Beach parking lot.

• DUNCANS MILLS is a quaint town that spans Highway 116 on the way to Guerneville about 15 miles from Bodega Bay. Take Highway 1 north, you will cross the Russian River at Bridgehaven, take Highway 116 east (right) toward Guerneville, a beautiful scenic drive along the river to Duncans Mills. There are many interesting art galleries, shops, coffeehouses, restaurants, wine and cheese tasting rooms, and antique stores. Rent a kayak from Gold Coast Coffee, a lovely coffee house that has a brick oven bakery and makes pizza.
  
• Fort Ross North Headlands
  Distance 2.75 mile loop or 3.25 round trip
  Time 1 to 2 hours
  Terrain: Gentle Headlands descending to Northwest Cape, then northwest on headlands to overlook of Kolmer Gulch Cove and Beach.
  Elevation Gain/Loss: 120 feet + / 120 feet -
  Best time: Spring, early summer for wild flowers
  Warnings: Stay back from steep, crumbly bluffs.
  Directions to trailhead: Turn west off Highway 1 at Mile marker M.33.00 into main parking area for Fort Ross State Historic Park
  Fees: Day Use $3
  
• FORT ROSS State Park housing the remains and re-creation of the southernmost Russian Outpost in the Americas. A fascinating place and a beautiful drive up Highway 1, 12 miles north of Jenner on Highway 1.
  
• Take a walk or hike in the redwoods at Armstrong Redwoods State Park. Take Armstrong Woods Road to the end and you will find a wonderful park with majestic canyons of ancient redwoods where many fine walks and hikes can be found. If you park in the lot outside the entrance you may walk in for free. There are trail maps available. There is a fee to drive in to the park and a nice drive around the valley floor. A real treat awaits the brave who drive through the valley and take the sometime single-lane winding road to the ridge top, a fabulous 360 view for hundreds of miles. There are many hikes from the ridgetop. Get a map of the park at either the entrance or the visitors center.