Horseshoe Cove Beach(Bodega Head State Marine Reserve)

Located near the town of Bodega Bay, Horseshoe Cove Beach is a beautiful semicircular beach with light brown sand and a rocky shoreline. This beach is located within a cove named Horseshoe Cove – Horseshoe Cove Beach is also a part of University of California’s Bodega Marine Reserve that is under the jurisdiction of University of California’s Natural Reserve System. The water near the beach is clear, and the beach has a rich coastal biodiversity. Parking is available near the parking lot and parking area adjacent to the reserve, facilitating easy access for authorized visitors.

If you are looking for another activity in the Coastal and Marine Sciences Institute, the Bodega Marine Laboratory offers informative docent-led tours to the public - information regarding the tours can be found online at Coastal and Marine Sciences Institute’s website. The tours display the laboratory’s interesting aquariums and exhibits which highlight the unique marine flora and fauna of Northern California – however, please note that these guided tours are currently closed. If you are looking for a beach that offers unrestricted public access, we recommend visiting the nearby Bodega Head Beach.

Unfortunately, access to the beach is only open to scholars and researchers for carrying out research within the reserve – the visits of these researchers must be approved by the Reserve Research Coordinator of University of California Davis’ Coastal and Marine Sciences Institute. If you are looking for access to the beach as an interested researcher, you can contact the Reserve Research Coordinator via e-mail at jlsones@ucdavis.edu. The reason behind the restriction on Horseshoe Cove Beach’s access is for the preservation of its biodiversity and landscape for research and conservation purposes. There is a designated parking lot and parking area for researchers near the entrance to the reserve.

There are many attractions near Horseshoe Cove Beach. 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. Saint Teresa of Avila Church was constructed in 1860 and is one of the oldest churches in Sonoma County that is still in use. The church was also the subject of the famous photographer Ansel Adams’ 1953 photograph “Church and Road.” In addition, Saint Teresa of Avila Church also featured in the 1963 Alfred Hitchcock movie The Birds and it is a local historical landmark - as an interesting fact, locals say that Hitchcock often attended church services in Saint Teresa of Avila Church while filming the movie.

Bodega Head is a nearby rocky coastal headland that has walking trails – these walking trails offer an interesting insight into this headland’s unique topography and biodiversity. 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 are looking for another attraction near Horseshoe Cove Beach, The Potter Schoolhouse is a former heritage schoolhouse that was built in 1873 – this beautiful schoolhouse was featured in the 1963 Alfred Hitchcock movie The Birds. Please note that this schoolhouse is now a private residence and we recommend avoiding disturbing the local residents here while exploring this unique heritage building.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Horseshoe Cove 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. Gourmet Au Bay is a waterfront restaurant that has a casual ambiance and it serves a variety of deliciious dishes including seafood, salads, and pizzas – the restaurant’s dishes are cooked in an exquisite wood-fired oven. The restaurant is also known for serving amazing wines.  Spud Point Crab Company is a popular restaurant that offers excellent seafood dishes and is famous for its crab sandwiches and clam chowder.  If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Horseshoe Cove Beach, the modestly priced The Dog House offers a variety of delicious hot dogs.

If you are looking for a hotel near Horseshoe Cove 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 moderately-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 Horseshoe Cove 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.