Our Coast

Information about the beauty and history of the Sonoma County coast including our coastal communities and preservation efforts.

• Coastal History
• Coastal Protection
• Coastal Communities

About Our Coast

The County of Sonoma’s coastal area is 55 miles of landscape of unsurpassed variety and beauty. North of the Russian River, the coast has broad coastal terraces, high bluffs, a rocky shoreline, and rugged forested mountains. South of the Russian River, the coast terraces narrow and give way to rolling grass covered hills.

The Sonoma Coast draw visitors from around the world with a robust tourism industry. Much of the coastal area is encompassed with federal, state, and county parks, which provide habitat protection and opportunities for public recreation. Locals and tourists benefit from a wide variety of recreation activities including crabbing, hiking, observing migrating gray whales, beach combing, tide pooling, fishing, surfing, camping, boating, horse riding, and more. Notable recreation areas including:

• State Parks:
  • Fort Ross State Historic Park
  • Kruse Rhododendron State Natural Reserve
  • Salt Point Park
  • Sonoma Coast State Park
• Sonoma County Regional Parks:
  • Bird Walk Coastal Access Trail
  • Black Point Coastal Access Trail
  • Coastal Prairie Trail
  • Doran Regional Park
  • Pebble Beach Coastal Access Trail
  • Shell Beach Coastal Access Trail
  • Shorttail Gulch Coastal Access Trail
  • Spud Point Marina
  • Stengel Beach Coastal Access Trail
  • Stillwater Cove Regional Park
  • Westside Regional Park
  • Walk On Beach Coastal Access Trail
  • Gualala Point Regional Park

California Coastal Trail

Sixty-four miles of the California Coastal Trail are located in Sonoma County. This network of public trails along the California coastline is designed to increase access to our coast.