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Sonoma County

Highway One travels close to the Sonoma County shoreline for most of its 55 miles, from Estero Americano just south of Bodega Bay to the Gualala River in the north, with turnouts and overlooks along the way for drivers to rest and appreciate the spectacular, rugged vistas. This is one of the least developed stretches of California’s coast, sparsely populated outside of the towns of Bodega Bay and Jenner. Much of it is too rugged for easy access, but a number of accessible beaches and trails, mostly in the southern part of the county, are well worth the journey.

Just south of Bodega Bay you can hike the Bird Walk and Doran Marsh Trail for some of the county’s best birdwatching opportunities. Sonoma Coast State Beach, encompassing 17 miles of shoreline, is dominated by a series of sandy beaches and rocky headlands backed by low coastal bluffs. While much of it is inaccessible to wheelchair riders, the drive along this stretch offers gorgeous views. You can also stroll along a boardwalk in the Bodega Dunes,  hike the south trail at  Bodega Head, sections of the Kortum Trail,  and the entire Vista Trail, and camp, picnic, and borrow beach wheelchairs at several locations along the way.

North of Jenner the highway climbs steeply to a coastal blufftop at Fort Ross, where in 1812 Russian explorers and fur traders established the southernmost Russian settlement in North America; the wooden fort has been restored and is now a state historical park. Much of the coast past Fort Ross is privately owned and has limited public access. Though the shoreline is public, there it no easy access to it.
 

Site Overview	Accessible Parking	Accessible Restrooms	Picnic	Hiking	Fishing	Accessible Beach Access
Bird Walk
Bodega Head
Fort Ross State Historic Park
Sonoma Coast State Park
Vista Trail
Wright's Beach