The Beaches in Sonoma Coast State Beach

Many California state parks include just a beach or two along their section of the coastline. Sonoma Coast State Beach has bragging rights over all the other state parks. It is actually a large collection of picturesque state beaches that spans 18 miles between the endpoints. Along this beautiful drive on Highway 1 in Sonoma County there are 26 separate named coastal access locations that are part of the state park. See the map above and the list of beaches below.

Wrights Beach

This is a rugged stretch of the California Coast, but hidden sandy coves can be found tucked below the rocky headlands. These beaches are a short drive from the Santa Rosa area, Marin County, and even the Bay Area. The best campgrounds can be found at Bodega Dunes and Wrights Beach, but there are more in the area. Other accommodations can be found in the coastal towns of Bodega Bay and Jenner and the many inland towns of Sonoma County such as Sebastopol, Windsor, and Healdsburg.

Dogs are allowed on many of the Sonoma Coast State Beaches, but they are prohibited on the sand and dunes of Goat Rock Beach, Bodega Dunes, and the Salmon Creek Beaches due to wildlife protection.