The California Coastline is renowned for its spectacular cliffs, rocky outcroppings, pebble beaches, black sand beaches, lighthouses, Redwood forests, and waterfalls plummeting off cliffs onto Sandy beaches below.
The Sonoma Coast State Park in Sonoma County has most of these things and more. If you start at Bodega Bay and drive north, you will find most stops than you can make in one day…or even three (I just finished my third visit this month!).
Its only just over 1.5 hours north of San Francisco and well worth the day trip. From the quaint little resort town of Bodega Bay you head north stopping to see numerous waterfalls rushing over 50 feet over the cliff’s edges onto the sand below. I imagine all the rain we’ve been getting has greatly improved the quality of these waterfalls. The hills slope away from the beaches behind and are dotted with sturdy trees and covered in green grass.
A pull off not far north brings you to Arched Rock, an amazing arch out in the ocean perpetually pummeled by gargantuan waves.
A few miles father and you reach my favorite spot: Goat Rock State Beach. Here you can turn down a poorly maintained narrow road that leads down to the beach itself and allows you to park feet from the waves. To the right is the Russian River, powerful and flooded at my last visit, spilling muddied water into the Pacific Ocean, changing its color for miles. To the left is another beautiful arched rock and some of the most spectacular sunset watching I’ve seen in California.
Continue across the Russian River north through Jenner, CA and you will find several small pull-off with hidden trails leading to secret beaches. My favorite one, not more than a mile north of Jenner, has ropes leading down the embankment to help you climb down to a spectacular pebble beach below. If you make it safely down, hike to the right, following the beach to a huge rocky outcropping where waves splash 30 feet or more over impressive boulders, drenching the rocks below and you if you get too close (Yes of course I got to close).
Keep up with my latest adventures and photos 🙂
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Check out the Equipment I use
Nikon D3300
Nikon D810
Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G ED VR
Nikkor 18-140mm Zoom Lens
Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X116 Pro DX II
Wow these pictures look awesome. Spectacular sunset!
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Thank you! Glad you like them! Check me out on Instagram @jeltown for more 😀
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Gorgous photos!
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Thank you so much! I post daily photos on Jeltown on Instagram if you like these!
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Incredible!
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Thank you😀 hope you can follow me on Instagram as well and see daily photos like these!
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We’re going to have to go to these places next time we’re over there! I love the last picture!
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You should! Its not far and a fun day trip!
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I love this area of California (close to where I’m from)… it is so often overlooked, I think it’s great you blogged about it
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It is often overlooked and im happy i found it!
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Great photos. Wonderful eye.
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Thank you so much. If you want more im always postings new stuff @ Jeltown on Instagram
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Haha, I’m kind of old. The technology is a bit difficult st times but I’ll try.
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Amazing pictures! I have a Nikon D3300 as well and am looking for a lense upgrade . Do you have any suggestions for landscape and travel photography?
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I love my D3300. Do you have a good wide angle lens? They are my favorite! Lighting is so important. Try shooting on rainy and over cast days. Besides sunset these are my favorite shooting times. I just got a D810 and some new lenses which i cant wait to try. Stay tuned. I also posted a few posts about getting the best shots (linked above or scroll down my blog) let me know if you have specific questions. Thanks for stopping by!
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Amazing pictures!!
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Thank you so much! if you haven’t already, check me out on Instagram for more of these type of photos @Jeltown 🙂
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Will do! 😊
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Such beautiful colours
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Thank you so much! glad you like them! Check out Jeltown on Instagram for more similar photos if you like these 🙂 I do a lot of photography
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Spectacular pictures! And thanks for followong my SommerKunstBlog 🙂
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This place looks gorgeous, great photos! We’re going to California later this year so will be sure to pay a visit ☺
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