This Spud's For You!

Feeling crabby? You’re not the only one. Dungeness crab season is scheduled to open in Sonoma County. Combine some casual seafood dining with a gorgeous coastal hike. Work up your appetite on the trails at Bodega Head. This tiny outcropping offers mighty views of the Pacific thanks to its cliff-above-ocean setting, with excellent vantages for spotting gray whales.

Bodega Head Trail is 2 miles of mellow—a coastal loop path slinking along the side of hulking cliffs with the drama of spiky sea stacks immediately below and the placid luster of Bodega Harbor and Tomales Bay in opposite directions. There’s also a grand view of Tomales Point. Toward the hike’s end you’ll find a lone bench overlooking some of the best scenery.

Afterward, head to nearby Spud Point Crab Company (1860 Westshore Road) for their World Famous Clam Chowder and some tasty crab. This family business run by a retired firefighter, Tony, and his wife, Carol, is a local gem. Spud Point Crab Company commercially fishes from its namesake marina, and cooks up delicious seafood meals. The clam chowder here is so flavorful, you might find yourself ordering seconds. Spud Point Crab Company closes at 5 p.m. Grab a seat at a picnic table out front and get crabby with it!

From Hwy. 1 in Bodega Bay, take Eastshore Rd. Go half a mile and turn right on Westshore Rd. Go another 3.5 miles to Bodega Head’s west parking lot. The hike starts on the Bodega Head Trail, behind the restrooms on the south side of the parking area. No dogs at Bodega Head. Spud Point Crab Company is dog-friendly!