Shorttail Gulch Beach in Bodega Bay, CA

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About Shorttail Gulch Beach in Bodega Bay, California

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