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Bodega Bay Hiking Directions And Photos

Hiking Bodega Head at near the town of Bodega Bay is an unforgettable experience. Here you can see one of the most unspoiled parts of the California Coast. When the fog lifts, you can get a great view of both Sonoma and Marin County coastlines, and see down as far as Point Reyes Peninsula. Hiking Bodega Head. The area is popular with whale watchers, who come to see the gray whale migration each year. Bodega Head is a headland which just out into the Pacific Ocean and forms Bodega Harbor. One the harbor side, fishermen fish for crabs, which are found along the deep drop off on the sheltered side of Bodega Head.
Hiking Bodega Head is not that challenging, but is not recommended for children. The trail features steep drop off’s and a number of people have died from falling off of them over the years. Pay close attention to trails and warning signs and stay back from the cliffs.
Here is a photo of the rocky shoreline at Bodega Head near Bodega Bay.

A number of secluded coves can be found along this hike. Bird watching at Bodega Head is some of the best around, and draws birders from all over the nation. Wildflowers blanket the hillsides in color in springtime, offering some nice scenes for photographers.

Directions To Bodega Head.

From Highway 1, drive through the the town of Bodega Bay. At Eastshore Rd, you will see a sign for the Bodega Bay Marina. Turn left here, follow the road down the hill, then make a right turn onto Bay Flat Road. Go past Bodega Harbor and follow the road southeast. Look for the Campbell Cove sign.  Just up the hill is a free parking lot and public restrooms. Stay on the maintained trails and off of the barren cliffs, as human caused erosion is becoming a problem. You can follow the hiking trail counter clockwise around Bodega Head. Along the way, you can hear the sound of seals and sea lions coming from Seal Rock just offshore. A local captain, Captain Rick, takes tourists out to seal rock.

As you come back down the hill, stop and take a look at “Hole In The Head” This huge hole was dug as part of a nuclear reactor project which was scrapped by PG&E years ago and then donated to the state park system. Lots of bird life can be found around the pond, and birders often set up tripods and use cameras with long lenses to photograph them.

Below is a photo taken along the Bodega Head hiking trail, looking back toward the town of Bodega Bay. There are actually a couple of hiking paths you can take here. One will take you down to the Salmon Creek/Bodega Dunes loop which will take you down to Bodega Dunes Campground. A map of the trails can be found in the parking lot at the top of the hill.

Below is a Google map of Bodega Head. You’ll find a better hiking map at the trailhead.