Best Dog Beaches in Bodega Bay

Located near the entrance of Bodega Harbor, Doran Beach is a two mile-long and wide beach with light brown sand in the village of Bodega Bay. The two-mile stretch of beach is a part of a recreational park named Doran Regional Park, and it is adjacent to a sandspit located near Bodega Harbor’s entrance. The portion of Doran Beach facing Bodega Harbor is narrower than the southern part of the beach – this broader portion of the beach faces the open Pacific Ocean. There is a rocky jetty on the western end of Doran Beach. As an interesting fact, the beach is named after William (Billy) Doran, who owned the ranch that initially Doran Beach was a part of. Although Doran Beach does not have any lifeguards, the area near the beach has many amenities including picnic tables, barbecues, benches, restrooms, a nearby fish cleaning station, fire pits, and a boat launch area. The beach also offers access to people with disabilities and also allows dogs on leash.

Located near the neighborhood of Carmet, Carmet Beach is a narrow beach with brown colored sand and some rocky portions. The beach is located below a blufftop residential community and it is a part of a state park named Sonoma Coast State Park. Situated along the coast highway, the southern part of the beach is sandier and wider than its northern part. Carmet Beach does not have any lifeguards or other amenities except nearby picnic tables, so please plan accordingly – the picnic tables are located on the blufftop area above the beach. Carmet Beach also allows dogs on leash.  

Located south of Duncan’s Landing along the Sonoma County coastline, Gleason Beach is a small rocky beach with a sparse amount of sand that is part of a state park known as Sonoma Coast State Park. The beach is situated below coastal bluffs which are constantly threatened by erosion - there used to be a blufftop residential area towards the southern end of the beach which has significantly crumbled and eroded away. The area is also impacted by the Gleason Beach roadway realignment project, which aims to address coastal erosion and sea level rise by replacing the existing highway with an 850-foot long bridge span over Scotty Creek and adding a box culvert to span the creek. This project will ensure public access and the preservation of the coastal trail, mitigating the impact of bluff erosion and enhancing the resilience of the state route against future sea level rise.

Located to the south of the town of Jenner in the northern part of Sonoma County, Shell Beach is a small brown sand beach with a few rocky parts and a small amount of shrubs and grass. This beach is located below steep oceanfront bluffs. The beach and the surrounding area have important geological significance because many kinds of rocks are found here including shale, sandstone, and serpentine. The beach is a part of a state park named Sonoma Coast State Park. Please note that Shell Beach should not be confused with another separate beach with the same name called Shell Beach – this other Shell Beach is located in the La Jolla neighbourhood of San Diego. Additionally, if you're traveling around California, consider visiting the charming towns of San Luis Obispo and Pismo Beach, both offering unique coastal experiences.