Name: Bowling Ball Beach
Rating: 5

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About Bowling Ball Beach in Point Arena, California

Bowling Ball Beach is located at the northern end of Schooner Gulch State Beach. If the tide is out it’s hard not to notice the large round rocks that resemble bowling balls as you walk along the beach. This area of the state park is great for tidepooling and the rocky features are only exposed when the tide is low (a negative tide is best) so consult tide charts before your trip. This is a popular place for professional photographers to set up tripods and get sunset shots of the bowling balls.

At the far north end of Bowling Ball Beach there’s a surfing area known as Whiskey Shoals (near the mouth of Ross Creek) which is more accessible for surfers from the Moat Creek Public Access.

For Bowling Ball Beach there is a parking area alongside Highway 1 across from Schooner Gulch Road.

From the parking area there are two trailheads. The northern one goes to Bowling Ball Beach and the southern one goes to the main beach at Schooner Gulch Beach. Unfortunately, the northern trail is subject to erosion where it descends the bluff so it’s sometimes closed.

Address: CA-1 & Schooner Gulch Rd
Point Arena, CA 95468
Phone: 707-937-5804
Park Name: Schooner Gulch State Beach
Other Names: Saunders Reef, Ross Creek Beach
Owner: State Park
Pet Details: Dogs allowed on leash
Fees: Free parking
Activities: Photography, Fishing, Surfing, Picnicking, Tidepooling, Beachcombing, Hiking
Amenities: Tide Pools, Driftwood, Toilet, Trails, Fossils
Links: Tide Chart
Water Temps