In brief:
3.2 mile out and back hike on a Sonoma County bluff above the ocean is a perfect summer destination to escape from city heat.

Highlights:
Coastal views, easy hiking.

Distance, category, and difficulty:
This 3.2 mile out-and-back hike is easy, with about 375 feet in elevation change. There is one short uphill stretch, and the rest of the hike is flat.

Exposure:
Full sun.

Trail traffic:
Light-moderate.

Trail surfaces:
Dirt trail.

Hiking time:
1 1/2 hours.

Season:
Really pleasant in summer.

Getting there:

From the junction of CA 1 and Bodega Highway (Sonoma County) drive north on CA 1 about 12.5 miles (about 7 miles north of Bodega Bay), then turn left into the Shell Beach parking lot.

GPS coordinates* for trailhead:
Latitude 38°25'5.16"N
Longitude 123° 6'15.70"W
(* based on Google Earth data, shown as degrees, minutes, seconds)

Gas, food, and lodging:
Stores, gas, and restaurants south in Bodega Bay, or north in Jenner. There are several very good campgrounds in the area, including Bodega Dunes and Wrights Beach.

Trailhead details:
Paved parking lot with two designated handicapped spots. No parking or entrance fees. Vault toilets at edge of parking lot. No drinking water or maps. Nearest phone at Wright's Beach. Trails are poorly suited to wheelchairs. There is no public transportation available to this trailhead.

Rules:
Park hours are 8 a.m. to sunset. No dogs, horses, or bikes on Kortum Trail.

The Official Story:
CSP's Sonoma Coast State Beach page
Park office 707-875-3483

Map choices:

• Sonoma Coast State Beach map (pdf)
• The Hiker's hip Pocket Guide to Sonoma County, by Bob Lorentzen (order this book from Amazon.com) has a simple map and trail descriptions.



Go to Bay Area Hiker Home page