Hike the Dunes to the Beach

Hike Bodega Bay Sand Dunes to Salmon Creek Beach

Bodega Head is popular for its impressive cliff-hugging hiking trails, but few people follow the path north to a less-trodden hiking trail winding along the bluff and down to spectacular South Salmon Creek Beach.

To make this 4-mile (round-trip) journey from the Bodega Head parking lot, follow the trail north up along a dramatic bluffside until you reach a sign pointing the way to Salmon Creek Beach. You'll pass through the UC Davis Bodega Marine Reserve and across sand dunes covered in tall coastal grasses.

It’s likely you’ll have the trail all to yourself. After passing through the Marine Reserve, follow trail posts though sand dunes to the beach (a sign points to Salmon Creek Beach). Follow the trail until you reach a large resting area with picnic tables.

At this point, you’ll see a gently rising sand dune. You can’t see beyond it, so climb over it and descend to South Salmon Creek Beach (pretty much any nearby route you take at this point will deliver you to the beach). South Salmon Creek Beach is normally quiet this time of year, inhabited only by giant driftwood. Walk the dune-backed beach (just remember where you entered), or spread a blanket and relax for a while. Returning the way you came is equally rewarding, as the hike offers views of Tomales Bay.

BONUS: When you reach the trail sign to Horseshoe Cove (about a quater-mile from the parking lot), take the quick detour out to the rocky mounds overlooking the sea and the Marine Laboratory. Late day is the best time to be here to avoid major crowds and to witness the sun sinking into the horizon, brightening the ocean waves and coloring the clouds pink.

From Highway 1 in Bodega Bay, make a left on East Shore Rd. Go half a mile and turn right on West Shore Rd. Go another 3.5 miles to Bodega Head’s west parking lot. Take the signed trail north of the parking lot going up the bluffs. Return the way you came. No dogs.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Drive-In Whale Watching

    Just north of Point Reyes, Bodega Head sits high on the tip of a curving, thumb-like peninsula and offers excellent whale watching in winter.

    View
  2. Sponsored

    Top Dog Destination

    Redding is a pawsitively ideal destination for you and your four-legged pal. Surrounded by Shasta and Lassen and mountainous Whiskeytown, with year-round sunny days and the gleaming Sacramento River running right through it, Redding is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream.

    View
  3. Hike Mount Tamalpais into Muir Woods

    Muir Woods Through the Backdoor

    A backdoor entrance into Muir Woods? Hike a tranquil trail that starts in Mount Tamalpais State Park and quietly leads into Muir Woods, letting you avoid the busyness of the main parking area.

    View
  4. Stay at Wuksachi Lodge in Sequoia National Park

    Stay in a modern yet rustic lodge with vaulted wood-beam ceilings, grand stone fireplaces, panoramic windows overlooking a snow-filled forest, and jagged mountain peaks all around. Wuksachi Lodge in Sequoia National Park has adventure trails leaving right from its lobby.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Point Dume Bloom!

    On this 2-mile loop hike in Mailibu's Point Dume Natural Preserve, you can find yourself walking through fields of brilliant yellow specimens—some of them chest high and taller—but also dip down to pristine beaches and tide pools, possibly crowning your visit with a gray-whale sighting.

    View
  2. woman hiking Stornetta Public Lands

    Strolling Stornetta

    Big Sur has some competition. Located along the rugged Mendocino County coastline, the 1,665-acre Point Arena-Stornetta Public Lands is a spectacular place to meander for miles along bluffs overlooking small coves, sea caves, dunes, and clusters of offshore islands.

    View
  3. man snowshoeing Calaveras Big Trees

    Big Foot in the Big Trees

    When dinosaurs roamed the earth they shared space with giant sequoias, the biggest trees in the world. Get up close to these bold beauties on a docent-led snowshoe trek in Calaveras Big Trees State Park.

    View
  4. Urban Hike in LA County

    LA Discovery Walk

    Wide-open spaces, hidden art, local cuisine, unique wildlife: Take a cultural walk through the San Gabriel Valley on a 3-mile park-to-park discovery route, then go get some delicious craft beers.

    View