Super Bowling

Visit Bowling Ball Beach on the Mendocino Coast

Hidden along the Mendocino Coast, Bowling Ball Beach lives up to its name, and then some! Giant smoothly rounded boulders (some 12 feet across) are scattered along the beach, and it’s a phenomenal spectacle. You’ve got to go at low tide to truly appreciate the beauty of this place.

It’s about a five-minute walk along a bluff down to a rickety wooden stair-ladder that descends to the sand. Watch your steps (as of January 2023, the recent storms have created some chaos, so keep that in mind). 

Once you're on the beach, it’s another five minutes of walking to reach the big balls! About 100 are visible at low tide. Sit back and watch as the water laps around this natural wonder. Go big!

BONUS: If the beach isn’t for you, try a beautiful bluffside adventure in Point Arena–Stornetta Public Lands, part of the California Coastal National Monument. Stop at the Center Street Market in downtown Point Arena for tasty deli-made sandwiches and all kinds of fun candy provisions. 

The beach is 10.5 miles north of the town of Gualala along Hwy. 1. Park at the western pullout just north of Schooner Gulch River on the highway. There are two trailheads, as Bowling Ball Beach is part of Schooner Gulf State Beach; take the less obvious northern trail, veer right at the fork, and walk five minutes to the bluff. Be cautious dropping down the stair-ladder as there has been a lot of erosion. It’s not for everyone. Once on the beach, walk five minutes north. Dog-friendly, though not recommended because of the challenges of getting down to the beach. 

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Bear Hug

    This 5.5-mile loop through Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park explores one of the newest segments of the acclaimed Bay Area Ridge Trail, one redolent with trees ranging from madrone and manzanita to buckeye and blue elderberry (with a bubbly post-hike bonus).

    View
  2. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  3. Bikers and walkers on the Bay Area Ridge Trail with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them

    National Park City Walk

    See San Francisco the way locals do by hiking the Presidio, a national park right in the city! Wooded trails, secluded beaches, and epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge feature on this 5.5-mile out-and-back on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It’s a lovely slice of the City by the Bay.

    View
  4. Bucks Up!

    Come on in, the water is beautiful. Whether you like swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddling, or heading out on a bigger boat, Bucks Lake is a high mountain haven that’s easy to access, blissfully uncrowded, and surrounded by sandy beaches, picnic areas, pines, and aspens.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Sponsored

    Tram to Cool Treks

    Elevate your fun, getting whisked from palm trees to alpine wilderness on the world’s largest rotating tramcar. The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway transports you up and away on a 2.5-mile scenic route from the desert floor to the refreshing wilderness of Mount San Jacinto State Park.

    View
  2. Coming Up Roses

    Looking to spice up your hiking life? Give your partner a rose—Mount Rose! The 10-mile out-and-back peak hike goes up to one of the grandest views in all of Lake Tahoe. Get ready f

    View
  3. A group of people clamored around the summit marker at Mission Peak in the Bay Area

    Your Mission Is Less Crowded

    Mission Peak is one of the Bay Area’s most popular mountains, with many hikers climbing every weekend. Skip the crowds with this 6-mile loop up the less-traveled southern route.

    View
  4. Vista Hermosa Park in Echo Park Los Angeles

    Vista Hermosa, Echo That!

    Tucked in Echo Park, the little-known gem of Vista Hermosa Natural Park feels worlds away thanks to its serene beauty and thoughtful design. At 11.5 acres there’s still plenty to explore. And it's got a premier view of the iconic Los Angeles skyline.

    View