Gualala River Beach offers many fun activities including swimming, beachcombing, picnicking, fishing, hiking, paddleboarding, kayaking, canoeing, rafting, and boating. The Gualala River around the beach has generally calm water which is ideal for children, beginner swimmers, paddleboarders, and kayakers. Kayakers and canoeists can explore the vibrant and beautiful Gualala River banks present near Gualala River Beach. The best time to canoe, kayak, and paddleboard in the water near the beach is generally during May and June, as the Gualala River has ample water during this time which makes it great kayaking, canoeing, and paddling spot. In addition, if you are planning to kayak or canoe here, we recommend visiting this beach early in the morning as the area around this beach is known to be windier in the afternoon. If you need a canoe or a kayak, Adventure Rents offers kayaks and canoes on rent and also organizes interesting canoeing/ kayaking trips along the Gualala River. The area around the beach is also home to many animals including otters, frogs, toads, garter snakes (which are nonvenomous), bobcat, black bears, and mountain lions. If you like birdwatching, you can watch many interesting kinds of birds near Gualala River beach including bald eagles, ospreys, and kingfishers. In addition, if you explore the area under the nearby Gualala River Bridge via kayak during early spring you can see interesting cliff swallow nests on the bridge’s underside.
Another popular activity in Gualala River Beach is fishing - you can catch a large amount of steelhead in the river water near Gualala River Beach. However, if you are planning to fish here, keep in mind that fishing in the water near Gualala River Beach is only permitted during adequate river water flows between October 1 through April 30. We also recommend you to get prior confirmation from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife by calling their Low-Flow Hotline at (707) 944-5533 to determine if fishing in the Gualala River is indeed allowed during your visit. In addition, we also recommend that you also follow the local fishing regulations while fishing here. As an interesting fact, the area around this beach was once a crucial center of the regional lumber industry and many successive lumber mills were also present near this beach. If you like hiking, the Gualala Bluff Trail is present near the beach and offers a memorable way to explore the vibrant landscape near the Gualala River Mouth. The trail also provides Instagram-worthy views of the Northern California shoreline.