Doran Beach(Doran Regional Park Beach)

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 long 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.  

Doran Beach offers many fun activities including surfing, camping, picnicking, boogie boarding, bodysurfing, paddle boarding, sail boating, kayaking, canoeing, windsurfing, kite surfing, jet-skiing, surf skiing, fishing, sunbathing, beachcombing, and wildlife watching.  The water near Doran Beach is popular with boaters because this beach is one of the few beaches in and around Bodega Bay that have a boat launch.  During winters, Doran Beach becomes really windy, making it ideal for sailors, kite surfers, and windsurfers.  If you are planning to windsurf or swim near Doran Beach, we recommend being careful because the water here is known to have unpredictable rip currents and dangerous waves.  Depending on the time of the year, you can see many animals in the water near Doran Beach 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.  If you like taking pictures with Instagram-worthy views, Doran Beach offers an amazing view of a nearby headland named Bodega Head and the Bodega Harbor.  There are many walking trails near the beach that offer a unique way to explore the coastal landscape of Bodega Bay.  If you like bird watching, you can take the Bird Walk Coastal Access Trail and see a large variety of bird species  near the beach including grebes, loons, and gulls.    

Fishing is also another popular activity in Doran Beach - depending on the time of the year, you can catch a large array of fish here including rockfish, halibut, and steelhead.  The rocky jetty near the western end of the beach is especially an ideal fishing site.  In addition, the water around Doran Beach is also ideal for catching crabs.  If you are planning to fish near Doran Beach, please follow the local fishing regulations that can be found on the website of California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Getting to Doran Beach is easy - the entrance to the beach is located near 201 Doran Beach Road, and multiple paid parking lots are located nearby.

There are many attractions near Doran Beach.  Children’s Bell Tower is a monument erected in the memory of a seven year old Bodega Bay resident named Nicholas Green.  Green’s parents’ decision to donate his organs after his death in Italy played a crucial role in generating awareness about organ donation there.  In addition, the monument features bells donated by many Italian schools, ships, mines, and churches and the main bell in the monument was blessed by Pope John Paul II.   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 Hole in the Head” is a 70-feet deep pit that was dug in the 1960s for the construction of a nuclear power plant by the Pacific Gas & Electric Company, and was abandoned following massive protests.  The pit now houses an inland pond and is a favorite site for birdwatchers due to the large array of unique bird species found here.  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 are looking for another attraction near Doran Beach, 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. 

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Doran Beach.  Terrapin Creek is an upscale restaurant that serves delicious gourmet dishes with international culinary influences for lunch and dinner including seafood, pastas, poultry dishes, steaks, burgers, and salads.  The restaurant has been also praised in a variety of publications including the MICHELIN Guide and ZAGAT.  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.  Bluewater Bistro (also known as Bluewater Lounge) is a restaurant and bar that serves amazing tapas-style dishes.  If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Doran Beach, the modestly priced Diekmann’s Bay Store offers outstanding pizzas, sandwiches, corn-dogs, fries, and burritos.  The Boat House is another modestly priced restaurant that is known for serving a variety of delicious seafood dishes including barbecued oysters, fish and chips, and prawns.  In addition, it also serves excellent sandwiches and burgers.  

If you are looking for a hotel near Doran Beach, there are many great nearby options.  The 4-Star Sonoma Coast Villa 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.  Another upscale hotel is the 4-Star The Lodge at Bodega Bay that 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 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.   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.  If you are looking for another good and affordable accomodation option near Doran Beach, the modestly priced Doran Regional Park Campground offers many amenities including restrooms with electrical outlets, showers, and drinking water.  In addition, the campground accommodates trailers, tents, and RVs.  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)