Local Guide - Coasting Home | Gualala CA Vacation Rentals

Events & Highlights

Local happenings and easy, repeatable favorites.

Gualala Farmers Market

9:30–12:30 Saturdays, downtown Gualala.

Park up Center St or in the lot behind the Gualala Hotel and walk over.

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Local arts & community events

Gallery openings, seasonal festivals, and pop-up markets.

The area has an active art community—keep an eye out for gallery openings and local shows while you’re in town.

Beaches — Access & Highlights

A curated list of beach access points and notes. Always check tides, conditions, and posted rules.

Sonoma County — Sea Ranch Area

Regional Park access may require fees

Most are public access requiring day use fees (Sonoma County Regional Park beaches). Gates are open from sunup to sundown. The beaches on the Sea Ranch (Walk-On, Shell, Stengel, Pebble, and Black Point) are open to the public, however, wandering off the trails is prohibited.

Black Point Beach (mile marker 50.85)
Trail ~0.3 miles.
Pebble Beach (52.29)
Trail ~0.3 miles.
The Hot Spot (Sea Ranch Guests Only)
This tucked away haven is located right on the south fork of the Gualala River and boasts a wide rocky beach, picnic areas, ample parking and portable restrooms. A pretty place surrounded by trees and much calmer than the ocean beaches, the wind doesn't blow as hard, but the sun is just as present - and so is the wildlife! Take your lunch, a blanket, and enjoy! Closed in winter. Cars without Sea Ranch pass will be ticketed.
Directions: Annapolis Rd east → Timber Ridge Rd (left) → River Beach Rd (right) → follow signs.
Stengel Beach
Just north of the White Barn, stables, and Olson Recreation Center.
Shell Beach (55.24)
Trail ~0.6 miles.
Walk-On Beach
Just north of mile marker 56.08.
Gualala Point Regional Park (58.19)
South side of the Gualala River bridge. Visitor center (west side of the highway) has displays, maps, information counter. Wonderful long, sandy beach that stretches into the Gualala River as well as many trails along the bluffs and meadows above. River and ocean beaches here.

Mendocino County — Gualala Area & North

Most have no restroom facilities.

Cook’s Beach (mile marker 3.14)
County Road 526. Trail + steps to a lovely wild beach (sand/rock varies by storms/tides).
Anchor Bay Beach (4.64)
Did you know it's really called Fish Rock Gulch Beach? Excellent walking beach; small fee for access.
Schooner Gulch & Bowling Beach (11.41)
Look for the “PARK FACING SOUTH” sign. Parking is on the north side of the concrete bridge. There are two trails here: one down through the gulch, and the other beginning a few feet up the highway, crossing the bluff, and descending onto a section of the beach just south of Bowling Ball Beach (a phenomenon not to be missed)!
Mote Creek (12.88)
Just north of Bowling Ball Beach with easy access to the same beach - a tide pooler's dream.
Point Arena Pier (near 14.85)
Turn west onto Iverson Avenue at the bottom of the hill in Point Arena. This 100 year old wharf replaced in 1990 now provides public fishing facilities (no fishing license required to fish off the pier). A popular spot for local surfers and some exploring. There is also a lot of parking, and eateries.
Manchester State Beach (21.48)
Drive a mile or so past the KOA to the parking area and walk across the dunes to the beach. This is the closes point to Hawaii in North America! And the site of AT&T's Hawaii One telephone cable. The five mile stretch of sandy beach is excellent for beachcombing, bird-watching, kite-flying, and surf-fishing. The Garcia River provides salmon and steelhead fishing during the winter. Garcia River supports salmon/steelhead fishing in winter.

Good to know

Some beaches require fees; trail use rules apply; and Sea Ranch pass restrictions are enforced. Check signage and local guidance before heading out.

Area Map

Beaches, towns, and key points of interest along the Mendonoma coast.

Tip: Use pinch-to-zoom on mobile or expand the map for easier navigation.

Area Information

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Then & Now

Gualala (locals say wa-LA-la) is a Native American word meaning “where the waters meet.” The Gualala River marks the county line dividing Sonoma and Mendonocino Counties, and the estuary and mouth form the southern border of the Gualala town area.

Gualala is a year-round working community of several hundred residents and serves the retail needs of the surrounding areas, known as Mendonoma.

To the south lie Fort Ross, Timber Cove, Salt Point, Stewarts Point, Annapolis, and The Sea Ranch. North you’ll find Anchor Bay, Point Arena, Manchester, Irish Beach, and Elk. Settled by the original coastal residents (the Pomo Indians), the redwood coast became a booming logging and fishing region in the late 1800s.

Today the local economy is based primarily on tourism and visitor support services; building trades; cottage industries; home-based enterprises utilizing telecommuting; forestry-related jobs; and real estate. Local schools are among the largest employers. The region has an active art community with gallery openings, shows, and cultural events.

Law enforcement is provided by Mendocino and Sonoma County Sheriffs Departments and the California Highway Patrol. Fire protection is by local volunteer departments and a California Department of Forestry crew. The coast has 9-1-1 service. Routine medical needs and emergency services are available through Redwood Coast Medical Service (RCMS) in Gualala, with ambulance and paramedic crews; emergency transport may be by helicopter to Santa Rosa.

Gualala & Sea Ranch

Our area encompasses Sea Ranch, Gualala and Anchor Bay. These miles of coastline are bordered by giant Redwoods and divided by the Gualala river, with fascinating beaches all along the way. The town of Gualala (next door to Sea Ranch) hosts a variety of shops which should be able to outfit you for whatever you require, or forget.

We have two markets, a video rental store, two gas stations (Union 76 and Chevron), two hardware stores, tackle and bait shops, and many specialty businesses. We also boast the acclaimed Gualala Art Center, restaurants and art galleries, a winery (in Annapolis), churches, several nearby easy beach access points, and proximity to the river and redwood forests and lovely coastal villages.

Recreation choices include golf at the Sea Ranch Golf Links (call 707-785-2468 for tee times), kayak rentals, trails for hiking and walking, bird watching, PLUS ocean and river fishing, nearby horse-back riding, wildlife preserve including zebra and giraffes, and whale watching and wildflowers in season.

Living the "small town life" for the amount of time you are here can mean changing your mindset a little. Most places here close around 8 pm and novelty shops and smaller restaurants may close earlier.

When it gets really stormy the power may go out and if it's a real whopper the power may be out for more than a day. In the case of emergencies, trust the crews and locals around you and have an alternate route home planned. Also, your rental agents will do their best to make sure you are comfortable and well cared for during your stay. Be sure to check for the latest road conditions before traveling during the stormy season.