Miwok Beach(Sonoma Coast State Park)

Located a few miles north of the town of Bodega Bay, Miwok Beach is a narrow and small beach that is a part of Sonoma Coast State Park. The beach has both rocky and sandy parts and is located below steep coastal bluffs. The water near the beach has strong waves and currents. The beach is littered with stones, driftwood, and seaweed so we recommend wearing appropriate footwear while visiting the beach. 

Miwok Beach does not have lifeguards or any other amenities, so prepare accordingly. 

Miwok Beach offers many fun activities including boating, jet-skiing, sunbathing, wildlife watching, fishing, beachcombing, and tide-pooling. We recommend foregoing aquatic recreational activities like swimming and surfing near Miwok Beach as the water here is known for rip currents, extremely cold temperatures, and strong waves. The water near the beach is home to a variety of animals including seals, sea lions, dolphins, and migrating grey whales between December and April. A popular activity in Miwok Beach is fishing - depending on the time of the year you can catch a large array of fish here including halibut, salmon, steelhead, and rockfish. If you are planning to fish in Miwok Beach, we recommend complying with the local fishing regulations. The rocks along the shoreline in Miwok Beach have a large array of mussels, which can be caught and collected at low tide. However, we recommend being careful as these rocks can be slippery and rough.

Getting to Miwok Beach is easy - the access trail to the beach is located around two and a half miles north of Bodega Bay on the western side of Pacific Coast Highway, where there is also a free parking lot. The access trail, which is easily identifiable via a signpost, goes down the bluff side, passes through a wooden bridge over a creek, and finally ends at Miwok Beach. 

As an interesting fact, Miwok Beach is named after the Native American Coast Miwok people who used to live in the area around the beach.

There are many attractions near Miwok Beach. Sonoma Coast Vineyards organizes memorable wine tasting sessions and also has a picnic spot on a knoll that offers spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and Bodega Bay. If you like golfing, The Links at Bodega Harbor offers a fun 18-hole golf course which was designed by the renowned golf architect Robert Trent Jones, Jr. and also offers incredible views of the Pacific Ocean. If you are looking for another attraction near Miwok Beach, Pacific Bay Gallery is an art gallery that has interesting artworks including carvings, sculptures, relic art, and paintings.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Miwok Beach. Terrapin Creek is an upscale restaurant that offers excellent seafood and steaks. The restaurant has been also mentioned in a variety of publications including the MICHELIN Guide and ZAGAT. Fishetarian Fish Market offers excellent seafood tacos, sandwiches, fish and chips, and clam chowder and was also awarded the Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice award in 2020. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Miwok 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 Miwok 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 Bay Inn which offers many amenities including a living room with a DVD library and complimentary popcorn, a sculpture garden, and a firepit. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Miwok Beach, the modestly priced Westside Regional Park Campground accommodates both RVs and tents and offers many amenities including a boat launch, drinking water, restrooms with electrical outlets, and showers. If you want to camp here, we recommend making reservations in advance ( you can make reservations online at Reserve.SonomaCountyCamping.org or via phone at (707) 565-2267 between 10 am to 3 pm Monday to Friday.)