Accessible Trails in Bird Walk Coastal Access Trail - Sonoma County - Northern California

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Northern California > Sonoma County > Bird Walk Coastal Access Trail

Bird Walk Coastal Access Trail

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Bird Walk is a mile-long loop trail through a revitalized 14-acre saltwater marsh at the mouth of Cheney Creek, where it empties into Bodega Harbor. This is one of Sonoma County’s prime spots for birdwatching; here and in the neighboring dune ponds, mudflats, freshwater marshes, and grasslands, you may see snowy egrets, northern harriers, northern pintails, and marbled godwits, to name just a few. The trail runs atop a levee circling two dredge disposal ponds that were built in 1980 to hold silt from the dredging of Bodega Bay. The vegetation along the levee has been restored to improve bird and wildlife habitat. Bird Walk connects to Doran Marsh Trail in Doran Beach Regional Park for an additional .8-mile hike.

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Trail/Pathway Details

Bird Walk

Trailhead: Parking lot off Highway One

Length: 1-2 total miles

Typical Width: 4 ft. & above

Typical Grade: Level

There are two gentle slopes: one from the parking lot to the trailhead and the other from the trail to Cheney Creek bridge.

Terrain: Firm

Description

On a summer day mid-week, we mostly had this trail to ourselves. The coast was blanketed in a thick fog that muted the colors of the marsh and enhanced the colors of the birds, making them easier to spot. The brilliant white of the snowy egrets announced their presence amidst the orange pickleweed, and through an opening in...
view full description On a summer day mid-week, we mostly had this trail to ourselves. The coast was blanketed in a thick fog that muted the colors of the marsh and enhanced the colors of the birds, making them easier to spot. The brilliant white of the snowy egrets announced their presence amidst the orange pickleweed, and through an opening in some cypress trees we spotted a stately blue heron standing completely still, ready to pounce on any tasty bite that might appear within reach of its beak.

Two paths lead from the parking lot to the loop trail, which sits some 25 feet above the lot on top of a levee: the first is very steep; the second, a switchbacked asphalt ramp a few feet beyond, is the easier option. Arriving atop the levee, you are greeted by a massive, grass-covered rock rising from the marsh. If you choose to circle clockwise around the loop, you'll first pass a pumping station on your left—down a hill and set back from the trail, it's unobtrusive, and you'll likely be more focused on the vistas of Doran Park Marsh and Bodega Bay to the west. Within a few hundred feet you come to two spur trails; one travels down a gentle slope to a bridge that crosses Cheney Creek, where you can connect to the Doran Marsh Trail and extend your trip another .4 miles each way. The other, a hard-packed dirt trail that bisects the loop, is overgrown with grasses and quite bumpy, and doesn’t have the best views. Continue along the loop, stopping at strategically placed benches to enjoy the views and birdsong. For me, what started as a serene stroll quickly turned into a challenge to see how many different birds I could identify.

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Accessibility Details

The facilities listed below meet all of our access criteria unless otherwise noted.

Accessible Parking: Yes

Off Highway One

Accessible Restroom: Yes

At parking lot

Accessible Picnic Tables: Yes

Next to the parking lot on a grassy area; can hear traffic from nearby Highway One.

Doran Marsh (Morning Shu)

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Additional Information

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Website:	www.Sonoma-county.org/parks

Managing Agency:	Sonoma County Regional Parks

Address:	355 Highway One, Bodega Bay

Nearest City:	Bodega Bay

Phone:	(707) 565-2041

Hours:	Sunrise to sunset

Fees:	None

Dogs:	On leash Leash must be no longer than 6 feet

Reviewed by Bonnie Lewkowicz, June 2, 2010
This web guide is a project of Access Northern California. Thanks to our partner the California Coastal Conservancy

DISCLAIMER: Although the information contained in this web-guide was believed to be correct at the time of publication, neither Access Northern California nor California Coastal Conservancy shall be held responsible or liable for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions, nor for information that changes or becomes outdated. Neither Access Northern California nor California Coastal Conservancy assume any liability for any injury or damage arising out of, or in connection with, any use of this guide or the sites described in it.