Bewitched, Bothered, Bewildered, and Bodega!

Hike-In-Picnic at Bodega Head

Whale watching, hiking along bluffs, and a picnic overlooking the Pacific with the one(s) you love: no, it’s not a Cialis commercial—it’s a great way to spend the day in a gorgeous setting. The tiny outcropping of Bodega Head on the north coast is a scenic standout, thanks to its cliff-above-ocean setting and excellent vantages for spying migrating gray whales in the winter and spring.

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 below and the placid luster of Bodega Harbor and Tomales Bay in the opposite directions. A few lone benches dot the landscape, and along the hike (at about a quarter of a mile on the trail) you’ll find a single picnic table overlooking the sea. Take a seat, uncork some wine, and pair it with a grand view of Tomales Point and the Pacific.

Late afternoons during winter can be beautiful here, with the low-slung sun bathing the sea in amber shades as tiny fishing boats return from a long day, and a beacon blinks out its guiding light. If the picnic table’s taken, keep walking: Towards the end of the hike, closer to Bodega Harbor and overlooking Doran Beach, you’ll find a clutch of picnic tables and a few more lone benches overlooking the scenery.

Post Hike Dine & Wine: 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! Or head to Gourmet au Bay down by the marina for tasty food and a fantastic wine selection! If the weather’s good, snag a seat on the spacious patio that overlooks Bodega Bay. Choose from any of three small-production wines (the menu changes, but the selections are always artisanal). There’s also beer on tap. The wood-fired oven churns out delicious flatbreads (fancy for “pizza”) to go with the wine. You may be inclined to go for “It’s a Date” flatbread—goat cheese, charred onions, dates, and balsamic drizzle. Sit back, relax, and savor the flavors. And the scenery! If your Valentine is four-legged and furry … you’re in luck; the patio is very dog-friendly, but your dog will have to pose for a  picture!

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! The patio at Gourmet au Bay is dog-friendly.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Taking the Stage: Tyler Ranch

    Hike the recently opened Tyler Ranch Staging Area in Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park, with 18 miles of new trails. This 6.5-mile loop up Sunol Peak is a challenge and rewards with exceptional views of seasonal iridescent hills.

    View
  2. A woman stands at Dante's View in Death Valley, looking out to Telescope Peak and Manly Lake, Badwater Basin below.

    Sunset Hike (and Manly Lake Vista!) at Dante's View

    It’s one of the world’s best places to watch a sunset. Dante’s View is a 5,476-foot vantage of the whole southern basin of Death Valley from the top of the Black Mountains. On clear days you get views of both the highest and lowest points in the contiguous U.S. 

    View
  3. Swing into Spring

    Swing into this 7.1-mile hike in the hills of Half Moon Bay! It’s got gorgeous views, fields of spring wildflowers, and a hidden rustic tree swing.

    View
  4. The Carson Show

    Carson Falls is ready for primetime. This three-tiered, 100-foot stunner is hidden back in a canyon outside of Fairfax and reached on a 3.25-mile (round-trip) hike.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Lava Lava

    Once a land of volcanic activity, Mojave National Preserve shares plenty about its past via a quick yet adventurous hike to the Lava Tube in the Cima Dome Volcanic Field.

    View
  2. Kelso Dunes

    The hike to the top of Kelso Dunes in the Mojave National Preserve is only 3 miles (out and back), but you’ll feel like you’ve hiked much farther by the time you’re done.

    View
  3. William Kenyon Overlook

    Some of the best vistas of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park are easily accessible via a short and sweet 1.25-mile (round-trip) hike just off the CA-78. Enter your next favorite desert viewpoint: the William Kenyon Overlook.

    View
  4. Beaudry Bountiful

    There are no cars allowed on Beaudry Loop, but this 6-mile hike takes you on a wild ride. You’ll be climbing 1,500 feet up the southern Verdugos along a chaparral-lined trail with gorgeous mountain and urban vistas every step of the way.

    View