Estero Americano Beach in Bodega Bay, CA

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About Estero Americano Beach in Bodega Bay, California

Estero Americano Beach on Bodega Bay straddles the Marin County and Sonoma County border. For years, adventurous sea kayakers have been coming here from the town of Bodega Bay to enjoy the protected waters of Estero Americano behind the beach. Now there’s a way to get to the beach and the estero (a tidal inlet/estuary) by foot. In early 2026 a new park called the Estero Americano Coast Preserve was opened by the non-profit The Wildlands Conservancy. This preserve is full of trails for hiking and one of them, the Bluff Trail, leads down to the shore where you can walk or wade across to a huge sandy beach. This is a seasonal water crossing however and shouldn’t be attempted when the water is deep and flowing quickly out of the estero.

The trails are free to the public to use but the housing community where the trailhead is located charges a fee for parking. The parking lot is located at 20600 Mockingbird Rd, Bodega Bay, CA 94923 and the gate for the trail is at 20345 Osprey Dr. This trailhead, known as the Shorttail Gulch Trailhead, is the starting point for another short hike that leads down to Shorttail Gulch Beach which is a spectacular spot at sunset.

Estero Americano Beach and the water behind it is protected as the Estero Americano State Marine Recreational Management Area. Depending on the time of year, there might be an opening to the estero or it might be completely covered by sand. Bodega Bay Kayaks has kayak rentals available if you want to paddle out to this spot. Doran Beach is a great place to get out onto Bodega Bay.

Address: 20600 Mockingbird Rd
Bodega Bay, CA 94923
Park Name: Estero Americano Coast Preserve, Estero Americano State Marine Recreational Management Area
Owner: Non-Profit, State MRMA
Fees: Fee for parking
Activities: Hiking, Kayaking, Birdwatching, Waterfowl Hunting
Amenities: Trails, Viewpoints, Estuary
Links: Aerial View of Estero Americano
Tide Chart
Water Temps
Surfing Info & Web Cams