Our first camping trip in the 2015 camping season was at Salt Point State Park. Salt Point includes about six miles of the Sonoma Coast, ranging from sandy beach coves to steep bluffs and sandstone cliffs. The area offers a multitude of quiet beaches and coves that are perfect for a nice picnic or a dive for abalone!
Salt Point State Park – May 2015
Rating: 3 out of 5
Location: Located in Jenner off of Highway 1, between Bodega Bay and Sea Ranch.
Amenities: Flushing toilets.
Pets: Allowed for no additional charge.
Site: 36 (Woodside Campground – Lower Loop)
Pros: The campground is centrally located in the heart of the Sonoma Coast. There are many coastal areas to visit beginning from Bodega Bay all the way up to Gualala. There are miles of hiking trails and even a rhododendron reserve located within the park. A short drive or a two mile hike takes you to Gerstle Cove where you can spot seals sunbathing on the rocks below. If you’re lucky, you can also see whales swimming by! Also nearby is Fort Ross, which is usually free to visit, was once a thriving Russian-American Company settlement from 1812 to 1841. It was the southernmost settlement in the Russian colonization of the North American continent and was established as an agricultural base to supply Alaska.
Cons: Campsites are first come, first serve, which makes it difficult when multiple sites are needed. We stayed in the Lower Loop and according to internet reviews, offers more privacy than campsites on the Upper Loop. Campsites on the outer ring of the Lower Loop offer more privacy than the sites within the loop. In fact, it is recommended that you avoid the inner loop sites as these sites were smaller and much more open to the road. To purchase fire wood, you have to drive to the park entrance from the Lower Loop because it’s just too far to walk uphill with an armload of heavy wood! Although the bathrooms were very clean, there are no shower facilities so plan on a short weekend stay.