Gleason Beach(Sonoma Coast State Park)

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.

The shoreline around the beach has exquisite and marvelous sea stacks. Gleason Beach does not have lifeguards or any other amenities, so prepare your visit accordingly. Emergency repairs and the ongoing Gleason Beach roadway realignment project may affect access and amenities as the area adapts to new coastal conditions.

Gleason Beach offers many fun activities including beachcombing, sunbathing, tide-pooling, and wildlife watching. The water near Gleason Beach is not safe for recreational aquatic activities including swimming and surfing as the water here is known for strong water currents, extremely cold temperatures, and dangerous waves. The water near the beach is also home to many animals including seals, sea lions, dolphins, and migrating whales (between December and April). Another popular activity in Gleason Beach is fishing - depending on the time of the year you can catch a large array of fish here including rockfish, salmon, bass, and steelhead. During low tide, you can walk along the coastline and explore the sea stacks present around the beach. We would recommend being careful while walking near the bluff sides along the beach as they are highly unstable. The bluff-top area above the beach offers a pleasant view of the Pacific Ocean. To the north of the beach is Rock Point, which is a great picnicking spot.

Getting to Gleason Beach is easy - the access trail to the beach is located near 6700 Pacific Coast Highway where there is also a free parking lot. However, we recommend being careful and wearing footwear while accessing the beach as the access trail to Gleason Beach is steep and partially eroded. In addition, we also recommend visiting the beach during low tide since at high tide a significant part of this beach can get submerged and inaccessible. The ongoing Gleason Beach roadway realignment project, including emergency repairs to address coastal erosion and improve public access, may also impact parking and access trails.

There are many attractions near Gleason Beach. The Mammoth Rocks is a prehistoric site that has blueschist rocks that bear interesting scratch marks from Colombian mammoths. If you like golfing, The Links at Bodega Harbor is a fun 18-hole golf course that was designed by the renowned golf architect Robert Trent Jones, Jr., and offers Instagram-worthy views of the Pacific Ocean. If you are looking for another attraction near Gleason Beach, The Children’s Bell Tower is a monument erected in memory of a seven-year-old Bodega Bay resident Nicholas Green whose 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. The ongoing Gleason Beach roadway realignment project, which includes the construction of an 850-foot long bridge span and a box culvert to span Scotty Creek, aims to protect these attractions and ensure they remain accessible in the face of coastal erosion and sea level rise.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Gleason Beach. Drakes Sonoma Coast is an upscale restaurant that offers a range of delicious gourmet dishes and was also awarded Tripadvisor’s Travellers Choice award in 2020. The Tides Wharf & Restaurant offers excellent steaks and seafood. Additionally, the restaurant offers a pleasant waterfront dining experience and was also featured in the 1963 Alfred Hitchcock movie The Birds. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Gleason Beach, the modestly priced The Dog House offers a delectable variety of hot dogs.

If you are looking for a hotel near Gleason Beach, there are many great options. The 4-Star Bodega Bay Lodge offers many amenities including a restaurant, complimentary coffee and evening wine tasting sessions, a lounge with a fire pit, a fitness center, a spa, a pool, a hot tub, and a sauna. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star The Inn at The Tides which offers many amenities including two restaurants, complimentary breakfast, complimentary wine on reception, a pool, a hot tub, a sauna, and an exercise room. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Gleason Beach, the modestly priced 2-Star Bodega Harbor Inn offers many amenities including a lawn with ocean views, picnic tables, barbecue area, lounge chairs, and seasonal complimentary continental breakfast.