Shorttail Gulch Beach

Shorttail Gulch Beach is a hidden beach in the housing community Bodega Harbor in the town of Bodega Bay.

A half-mile trail with steps descends to Shorttail Beach, but this trailhead doesn’t have it’s own parking lot. To get to the Shorttail Gulch Coastal Access Trail you must park in the Pinnacle Gulch parking lot and walk the sidewalks for another half-mile making it a mile-long trip to the sand. A sign across from the parking lot has directions to Shorttail Gulch.

The Pinnacle Gulch parking lot is just a short drive through the homes and golf courses of Bodega Harbor where the public is welcomed. Take the Heron Drive loop road to Mockingbird Drive then follow it a short distance to the Pinnacle Gulch lot on the left (self-issued permit and fee required). You can drive to the Shorttail Gulch Trailhead to see where it begins, but don’t park there.

At low tides look for tide pools at the north end of the beach. If you continue in this direction you can make a nice loop hike by returning to your car via the Pinnacle Gulch Trail.

Address

20600 Mockingbird Rd
Bodega Bay, CA 94923

Park Name

Shorttail Public Beach Access Trail

Owner

County

Pet Details

Dogs allowed on leash

Fees

Fee for parking

Activities

Hiking, Fishing, Birdwatching, Tidepooling

Amenities

Restrooms, Golf Course, Restaurant, Tide Pools

Links

Tide Chart
Surfing Info & Web Cams
Water Temps