Campbell Cove State Beach

Located in the western part of Bodega Harbor, Campbell Cove is a large beach that has light brown sand.  This beach is located near the entrance of Bodega Harbor in the village of Bodega Bay.  Campbell Cove  is a part of a state park known as Sonoma Coast State Park.  Campbell Cove does not have any lifeguards.  However, it has restrooms and picnic tables.  In addition, dogs on leash are allowed at the beach and the beach also offers accessibility to people with disabilities.  

Campbell Cove offers many fun activities including surfing, bodysurfing, boogie boarding, kite surfing, windsurfing, beachcombing, picnicking, clam-digging, jet-skiing, wildlife watching, fishing, sunbathing, kayaking, canoeing, boating (non-motor),paddle boarding, and swimming.  The usually calm water at Campbell Cove is ideal for amateur swimmers.  During winters, Campbell Cove can get windy and this makes it  ideal for kite surfers, windsurfers, and sailing enthusiasts.  Depending on the time of the year, you can see many kinds of animals in the water near Campbell Cove  including seals, sea lions, and dolphins.  Please note that seals, sea lions, dolphins, and whales are protected under a law named the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and harming them can result in a civil penalty of up to $11,000 and possible imprisonment.   A popular activity at Campbell Cove is fishing - depending on the time of the year, you can catch a large array of fish here including salmon, lingcod, and pickleback.

 In addition, you can also dig for clams in Campbell Cove.  However, if you plan to fish near or dig for clams at Campbell Cove,please follow the local fishing regulations that can be found on the website of California Department of Fish and Wildlife.  In addition, please also ensure that you contact the  Biotoxin Information Line at (800) 553 – 4133 before clam-digging to make sure that the clams here are safe for consumption. Campbell Cove is ideal for vistors looking for a quieter beach experience because this beach sees fewer visitors as compared to other Bodega Bay beaches.  If you like bird watching, there  a pond near Campbell Cove, called the “Hole in the Head” which is  70-feet deep and is a favorite spot for birdwatchers due to the large array of unique bird species found here including vermilion flycatcher, red throated loon, wandering tattler, and various species of ducks.  As an interesting fact, the pit housing the pond was dug initially in the 1960s for the construction of a nuclear power plant by the Pacific Gas & Electric Company and was abandoned following massive protests. 

Getting to Campbell Cove is easy – if you want to access Campbell Cove, you need to turn towards Eastshore Road from California State Highway 1, and then turn right towards Bay Flat Road, which merges into Westshore Road.  The free parking lot for Campbell Cove is located just before the point where Westshore Road bends sharply and proceeds towards a headland named Bodega Head.  We recommend visiting this beach at low tide because during high tide this beach becomes significantly submerged due to its flat topography.

There are many attractions near Campbell Cove.  Bodega Head is a rocky coastal headland that has  walking trails – these walking trails offer an interesting insight into this headland’s unique topography and biodiverdity.  You can see many kinds of animals while hiking on Bodega Head including seals, seabirds, and migrating whales – this headland also offers amazing views of the Pacific Ocean and it also has picnic tables.  The Links at Bodega Harbor offers a fun golf course that was designed in 1978 by the renowned golf architect Robert Trent Jones, Jr. and it was also offers pleasant views of the Pacific Ocean.  Westside Regional Park is a waterfront recreational park that offers many fun activities including camping, boating, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, and picnicking – the park also offers amazing views of the Bodega Harbor.  If you are looking for another attraction near Campbell Cove, Pinnacle Gulch Coastal Access Trail is a hiking trail that offers a fantastic hiking experience along the Sonoma County coastline – this trail also leads to a beach named Pinnacle Gulch Beach. In addition, this trail also offers a couple of other activities including fishing and wildlife watching – this trail also offers amazing views of the Pacific Ocean.  

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Campbell Cove.  Lucas Wharf Restaurant & Bar is an upscale restaurant that offers a pleasant oceanfront dining experience and it also serves delicious seafood including grilled oysters, crab cakes, and seafood sandwiches. The Birds Cafe offers a pleasant oceanfront dining experience and it also offers excellent seafood including clam chowder, fish and chips, oysters, and fish tacos along with delicious chicken strips, artichoke tacos, and corn dogs. Fishetarian Fish Market offers excellent seafood tacos, sandwiches, fish and chips, and clam chowder.  In addition, this restaurant was also awarded the TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice award in 2020.  If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Campbell Cove, the modestly priced Roadhouse Coffee at Bodega Bay offers fantastic quiches, coffee, and desserts and has a homely ambiance.

If you are looking for a hotel near Campbell Cove, there are many great options nearby.  The 4-Star The Lodge at Bodega Bay offers many amenities including a restaurant, complimentary coffee and evening wine tasting sessions, a lounge with a firepit, a fitness center, a spa, a pool, a hot tub, and a sauna.  Another upscale hotel is the 4-Star Sonoma Coast Villa that offers many amenities including a spa, a hot tub, a pool, a nine-hole putting green, a restaurant, complimentary wine tasting sessions, and complimentary breakfast.  A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Bodega Coast Inn & Suites that offers a couple of amenities including complimentary breakfast and a hot tub – please note that the hotel’s hot tub is currently closed to guests.  If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Campbell Cove, the modestly priced Westside Regional Park Campground accommodates both RVs and tents and offers many amenities including a boat launch, drinking water, restrooms with electrical outlets, and showers.  If you want to camp here, we recommend making reservations in advance (you can make reservations online atReserve.SonomaCountyCamping.org or by phone at (707) 565-2267 between 10 am to 3 pm Monday to Friday).