Salt Point State Park
Salt Point State Park
4.5
About
Six miles along the Sonoma Coast, this recreational park includes hiking and horseback trails, plus an underwater reserve for divers.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.5
152 reviews
Excellent
100
Very good
45
Average
5
Poor
0
Terrible
2
Hitcher84
Eureka, CA1,347 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
The Sonoma coast is beautiful. It’s comparable to Big Sur without nearly as many people. Getting to this state park is definitely enjoyable, so I’d give yourself plenty of time and arrive during the daylight unless you are familiar with the area. There is lots of diverse hiking at this park, mostly through coastal forest and bluffs. Lots of wildlife, watch out for deer. Lots of marine birds and mammals. I forgot my binoculars, so don’t make that mistake. Lots of fog when we visited, resulting in lots of condensation on the tent overnight. Camped at Woodlands, which is ok for car camping. Kind of loud at night, at least half the sites were occupied by campers. Fire ring and picnic table, as well as restrooms. Lots of cool geology too. Stumps beach is a nice gravel/sand beach. Kelp forests.
Written August 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
alexvgau
Stanford, CA36 contributions
May 2022
I stayed for a night at a hike/bike campsite. There are ~5-10 sites around a central grassy area, ranging from exposed to very private. It's difficult for me to imagine all of them ever filing up. It's far away from the regular campground so it's very quiet.
It can get very windy so depending on the weather and your direction of travel the ride to/from the park could be very difficult.
It can get very windy so depending on the weather and your direction of travel the ride to/from the park could be very difficult.
Written June 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
jenLeCreate
Vista, CA372 contributions
Dec 2021
How to review this place - hmm...
As you can tell by the reviews, this place is so many different places to different people. There is camping, hiking, the ocean, places for a picnic, mushroom foraging (the only CA state park that allows it legally) and more. This last one is up to you to discover.
There are a couple of campgrounds and entrances where you pay for day use. There are other locations that don't require any payment. There is the beauty of hwy 1 and the california coastline. There are the woods and grassy fields.
Fill up your tank with gas, ride a bike, bring some food and water. Go alone or with friends/loved ones. Just get out there and enjoy. One more week and we are headed back.
As you can tell by the reviews, this place is so many different places to different people. There is camping, hiking, the ocean, places for a picnic, mushroom foraging (the only CA state park that allows it legally) and more. This last one is up to you to discover.
There are a couple of campgrounds and entrances where you pay for day use. There are other locations that don't require any payment. There is the beauty of hwy 1 and the california coastline. There are the woods and grassy fields.
Fill up your tank with gas, ride a bike, bring some food and water. Go alone or with friends/loved ones. Just get out there and enjoy. One more week and we are headed back.
Written February 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Steve H
331 contributions
Sep 2021
We walked the Salt Point to Stump Beach trail. It was a very nice walk along the coast. It was a foggy, drizzly day on our visit but the potential for some amazing views is there. Took some nice pics but they would have been so much better with a blue sky background.
Written November 17, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Cali Girl
Mill Valley, CA10 contributions
Jul 2022
Had a hard time finding trailheads or a visitor center, but went in through one of the campgrounds. There are miles and miles of trails along this rugged and beautiful location. Don't forget the sunscreen and be prepared for wind, even on a perfectly sunny day.
Written July 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
TravelingPseudonym
Berkeley, CA51 contributions
Jul 2020
You can walk along the flat ocean prairie, climb on the ocean rocks, relax on the beach, or hike uphill into the forest. No big sights to bring crowds. Convenient from Timber Cove and Ocean Cove. The Visitors Center was closed (it had seen better days). There's ample parking around the hill from the Visitors Center.
Written August 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Rudi Rudi
Washington DC, DC2,286 contributions
May 2022
The path is hidden! It is a beautiful, yet, typical beach.... unless you find the secret path (which isn't so secret).
Park. Walk. Down the stairs. Gaze at the wonderful cove. Then venture 30 yards to the right. A large log indicates the direction to travel. Survey the overgrown plant life to find a narrow path.
Walk to the top of the vista. Follow along the cliff about a 150 years and prepare to be amazed!.
This is a photographer's paradise. It is a dream come true for social media posts.
It must be on your to-do list. It must be on your top 3 things to do in California list.
I hope my pictures will inspire you to go. If you have hip, ankle, knees, or cardio issue, you may need to make the best decision for your health and body and just settle for pictures.
Park. Walk. Down the stairs. Gaze at the wonderful cove. Then venture 30 yards to the right. A large log indicates the direction to travel. Survey the overgrown plant life to find a narrow path.
Walk to the top of the vista. Follow along the cliff about a 150 years and prepare to be amazed!.
This is a photographer's paradise. It is a dream come true for social media posts.
It must be on your to-do list. It must be on your top 3 things to do in California list.
I hope my pictures will inspire you to go. If you have hip, ankle, knees, or cardio issue, you may need to make the best decision for your health and body and just settle for pictures.
Written June 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Anne689
Livermore, CA300 contributions
Mar 2020 • Friends
We hiked the through the Kruse rhododendron Reserve. Although the the rhododendrons were not in bloom it was a gorgeous trail with redwoods, other natural beauty and foot bridges. It’s an isolated area about a mile off route 1. There is a well marked map at the start of the trail.
Written March 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Naila A
Lisbon, Portugal150 contributions
Jul 2020 • Friends
Had a wonderful vacation hiking in this park . Breathtaking view from every corner . Easy access to the sea shore . Lot of camping options. Redwood forest was enchanting . Must visit . Easy access to SFO.
Written July 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
cutedisneygirly
Rancho Cordova, CA46 contributions
Jul 2012 • Couples
We camped for the first time at Salt Point State Park in the Gerstle Cove campground July 15-17. The sites did not provide as much privacy as in the Woodsite Campground, but the views of the ocean through the trees from many sites and road through the loop were worth the lack of privacy. The campground was clean, and the facilities were sufficient. There were no mirrors in the bathrooms, but a small, portable camp mirror was sufficient. Soap and paper towels were not provided, but this is common for the state park campgrounds due to the budget.
Originally we picked site #21 but ended up changing sites after our first day because it was much colder than the sites down the hill. The campground host told us as we were switching that sites 17-24 tend to be a lot colder than those in the rest of the campground. We moved to site #30 which was significantly warmer.
Although the Gerstle Cove loop is close to Highway 1, the traffic noise was greatly reduced at night. From the sites at the bottom of the hill, you can even hear the pounding of the waves.
The Fisk Mill and Stump Beach day use areas north of the campground were closed, but I could have spent hours upon hours in the Gerstle Cove day use taking photos of the sandstone cliffs and tafoni.
Our only complaints about this state park are the lengthy, windy drive up Highway 1 (with a dog who is prone to carsickness) and the tendency for dense, drizzly fog. The difference in weather between Sonoma Coast State Beach and Salt Point State Park was very noticeable on our drive up and back. Sonoma Coast was much warmer and less foggy.
Would I return to this State Park? As a day trip from Bodega Bay- most definitely. To camp- maybe if I had an RV.
Originally we picked site #21 but ended up changing sites after our first day because it was much colder than the sites down the hill. The campground host told us as we were switching that sites 17-24 tend to be a lot colder than those in the rest of the campground. We moved to site #30 which was significantly warmer.
Although the Gerstle Cove loop is close to Highway 1, the traffic noise was greatly reduced at night. From the sites at the bottom of the hill, you can even hear the pounding of the waves.
The Fisk Mill and Stump Beach day use areas north of the campground were closed, but I could have spent hours upon hours in the Gerstle Cove day use taking photos of the sandstone cliffs and tafoni.
Our only complaints about this state park are the lengthy, windy drive up Highway 1 (with a dog who is prone to carsickness) and the tendency for dense, drizzly fog. The difference in weather between Sonoma Coast State Beach and Salt Point State Park was very noticeable on our drive up and back. Sonoma Coast was much warmer and less foggy.
Would I return to this State Park? As a day trip from Bodega Bay- most definitely. To camp- maybe if I had an RV.
Written July 20, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
TracyM
Cincinnati, OH756 contributions
Hi! If I only have about an hour, can someone recommend a good activity for my family of 4? I'd say a hike less than an mile would be good, so we have time to see the ocean. We like tidepools, beautiful beaches, rocks. Right now I'm thinking about either parking at Visitor center and walking down or parking at Stump Point and walking to beach.
Joni B
2 contributions
I am wondering if this park is being effected by the Sonoma fire.
John S
San Francisco, CA13 contributions
Depends on when you are planing to go. Here is the official park page, they usually post vital info on their official site. Cant post a link here but if you search for the park in Google it will be a first result.
caymama
Houston232 contributions
How much time would be good to allow to hike 1 trail and poke along tide pools as we will be driving up to Mendocino and will stop along the way? Would two hours be good to allow? I realize you COULD spend all day!!
M5299TPjohnp
Vancouver, WA46 contributions
I think you could be very satisfied with 2 hours. We probably spent that or a little longer -- And yes you could spend most of a day --
cateska1
25 contributions
Coming to the area in September with my dog. Can he hike with me within the park?
piyushjain0509
Bengaluru, India6 contributions
How can i reserve a camp in Salt Point State Park ? I can see some campsites available on reserveamerica website but its not clear if they can be reserved or are only 1st come 1st served?
Your only option is to call the campground and ask a ranger. Good luck!
Tiredifkids
9 contributions
Does anyone know how long it takes on highway 1 to go between San Francisco and Salt point. Google and Apple maps w take me inland.
Eisa B
Nosara, Costa Rica200 contributions
I live in Mill Valley. From my home which is 20 minutes from SF Marina--over the Golden Gate. I go there regularly and it is about 1.5 hours. I go through Petaluma and then hit hwy 1. Lovely drive. Love it all!
Suggested lodging in this area
Charlene S
Atlanta, GA174 contributions
Stayed with family, sorry no recommendations!
Lodging available any lodging available
NewsStar
San Francisco, CA16 contributions
Camping or local hotels and coastal homes for rent.
We really enjoy staying at the Fort Ross Inn. Rustic, but clean, peaceful, and a great get-away!
Stop at a grocery store (such as in Jenner) and take up something to BBQ since every room has a porch and a BBQ.
Joan F
Danville, CA
What;s the shortest way to get to the Tafoni at Salt Point State Beach?
Joan F
Danville, CA
We have been to the tafoni before and I recollect a dirt path, maybe 1/2 mile long that you can take to get directly to the tafoni area of Salt Point. My guess is it's on CA-1. Do you have any idea how far north of Point Ross that might be? I don't think it's necessary to go to Jenner. Any advice would be helpful.
Thanks,
Joan
D M
Healdsburg, CA143 contributions
I think it's about 7 miles from camp ground to fort ross
Salt Point State Park (Jenner) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Salt Point State Park
- Hotels near Salt Point State Park:
- (4.31 mi) Fort Ross Lodge
- (3.45 mi) Timber Cove
- (1.37 mi) Ocean Cove Lodge Bar & Grill
- (9.67 mi) Sea Ranch Lodge
- (2.66 mi) Ratna Ling Retreat Center
- Attractions near Salt Point State Park:
- (6.41 mi) Fort Ross State Historic Park
- (9.71 mi) Unbeaten Path Tours & Yoga
- (2.08 mi) Stillwater Cove Regional Park
- (2.28 mi) Red Hill Trail
- (8.37 mi) Fort Ross Vineyard & Winery