Carmet Beach(Sonoma Coast State Park)

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.  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.  

Carmet Beach offers many activities including sunbathing, picnicking, fishing, tidepooling, beachcombing, and wildlife watching.  The water near Carmet Beach is unsafe for water activities  including swimming and surfing because it is known to have really strong currents, dangerous waves, and extremely cold temperature.  We also recommend being careful when standing or walking near the water in Carmet Beach because the water here is known for powerful and unpredictable sneaker waves.  Carmet Beach is popular with fishermen - depending on the time of the year, you can catch a large array of fish here including steelhead, halibut, and salmon.   If you are planning to fish near Carment Beach, please follow the local fishing regulations that can be found on the website of California Department of Fish and Wildlife.      

The water near Carmet Beach is also home to many animals including seals, sea lions, dolphins, and migrating grey whales (between December and April).  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.   If you like taking pictures with amazing views, the bluff top area above Carmet Beach offers a pleasant view of the Pacific Ocean.    

Getting to Carmet Beach is easy - there are multiple access trails leading to Carmet Beach at 4790 North HIghway 1, where there is also a free parking lot.  We recommend visiting this beach during low tide because at high tide the significant parts of the beach are submerged and inaccessible.  It is also advisable to be careful while accessing the beach because the access trails to Carmet Beach can be steep and slippery.

There are many attractions near Carmet Beach.  Kortum Trail is a hiking trail that offers amazing views of the rugged Sonoma County shoreline and the Pacific Ocean.  The trail also leads to two beaches including Wright’s Beach and Blind Beach.   If you like wines, Sonoma Coast Vineyards organizes memorable wine tasting sessions and it also has a picnic site on a knoll – this picnic site offers spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and Bodega Bay.  Pomo Canyon Red Hill Trail is a hiking trail that passes through a variety of local habitats including forests and grasslands – you can see many interesting varieties of wildflowers while hiking on this trail.  In addition, visitors can also use this trail to explore the rocky Sonoma County landscape.  If you are looking for another attraction near Carmet Beach, 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.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Carmet Beach.  The Tides Wharf & Restaurant is an upscale restaurant that offers excellent steaks and seafood.   In addition, the restaurant offers a pleasant waterfront dining experience and was also featured in the 1963 Alfred Hitchcock movie The Birds.  Bluewater Bistro (also known as Bluewater Lounge) is a restaurant and bar that serves amazing tapas-style dishes.  Pelican Plaza Grocery & Deli offers excellent sandwiches, salads, coffee, soups, and burritos.   If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Carmet Beach, the modestly priced The Dog House offers a variety of delicious hot dogs. 

If you are looking for a hotel near Carmet Beach, there are many great nearby options.  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.  A more affordable and interesting option is the Chanslor Ranch that is set in a 381-acre nature preserve that offers spectacular views of rugged northern California.  The ranch also offers accommodation in tents (showers and restrooms are available at the ranch) and cabin.  In addition, the ranch also organizes many fun activities including horse riding, kayaking, and fishing and guests can also explore an interesting barn located within the ranch premises.  Another moderatley priced hotel is the 3-Star Bodega Bay Inn that offers many amenities including a living room (with a DVD library, board games, books, magazines, and complimentary popcorn and coffee), a sculpture garden, a water fountain, picnic tables, lounge chairs, and a fire pit.  If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Carmet Beach, the modestly priced Bodega Harbor Inn offers many amenities including a lawn with ocean views, picnic tables, barbecue area, lounge chairs, a garden, and seasonal complimentary continental breakfast.