North Salmon Creek Beach(Sonoma Coast State Park)

Located a few miles north of the town of Bodega Bay in Sonoma County, North Salmon Creek Beach is a large beach that is situated beneath steep coastal bluffs and is a part of a state park known as Sonoma Coast State Park. North Salmon Creek Beach has both rocky and sandy parts. The beach is located north of the point where Salmon Creek meets the Pacific Ocean. Salmon Creek Beach stretches north from Salmon Creek to Miwok Beach. The mouth of Salmon Creek is an important habitat, offering critical federal protection for threatened species like the western snowy plover.

North Salmon Creek Beach does not have lifeguards or any other amenities except restrooms.

North Salmon Creek Beach offers many fun activities including surfing, kayaking, canoeing, sunbathing, picnicking, beachcombing, tide pooling, fishing, wildlife watching, skimboarding, boating, and surf-skiing. The southern part of North Salmon Creek Beach is a famous surfing spot due to consistent and fun surfing waves, especially during summers. However, if you are planning to go into the water near North Salmon Creek Beach, we recommend being cautious. The water near the beach is known for extremely dangerous rip currents, very cold temperatures, and strong waves – and great white shark attacks have also been reported here. The water near North Salmon Creek Beach is home to many animals including seals, sea lions, dolphins, and migrating grey whales (between December and April). In addition, North Salmon Creek Beach is also a popular bird-watching spot; many migratory birds winter in and around the beach including sandpipers and tundra swans. Parts of the beach are also a nesting spot for the rare western snowy plover, which is listed as endangered under the 1973 federal Endangered Species Act. Another popular activity here is fishing - depending on the time of the year, you can catch a large array of fish here including halibut, lingcod, weakfish, rockfish, and north or south salmon.

Getting to North Salmon Creek Beach is easy - the access trail to the beach is located near 3095 Pacific Coast Highway, where there are also large free parking areas. However, we recommend visiting early especially during summers as these parking areas can fill up easily.

There are many attractions near North Salmon Creek Beach. Bodega Head is a rocky headland that has walking trails that offer an interesting insight into the topography and biodiversity of Bodega Bay and northern California. 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. If you are looking for another attraction near North Salmon Creek Beach, The Ren Brown Collection is an art gallery that displays mesmerizing Asian-Californian artworks and has a koi pond, a Japanese garden, tea house, a stone garden, and a bamboo grove occasionally open for public viewing.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near North Salmon Creek Beach. Lucas Wharf Restaurant & Bar is an upscale restaurant that offers a pleasant oceanfront dining experience and serves delicious seafood including grilled oysters, crab cakes, and seafood sandwiches. Spud Point Crab Company offers excellent seafood dishes and is famous for its crab sandwiches and clam chowder – and the restaurant was also awarded Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice award in 2020. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near North Salmon Creek Beach, the modestly priced Ginocchio’s Kitchen offers excellent lunch and breakfast dishes including burritos, brisket hash, sandwiches, eggs, and monkey bread.

If you are looking for a hotel near North Salmon Creek Beach, there are many great nearby 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 Bodega Coast Inn & Suites offers many amenities including complimentary breakfast and a hot tub. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near North Salmon Creek 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.