Bird Walk Coastal Access Trail
- Picnic
- Accessible Restrooms
- Accessible Parking
Features
- Picnic
- Accessible Restrooms
- Accessible Parking
Information
- Website:
- Sonoma-county.org
- Address:
- 355 Highway One, Bodega Bay, CA, 94923
- Region:
- North Coast
- Phone:
- Info: (707) 565-2041
- Hours:
- Sunrise to sunset
- Dogs:
- On leash
Leash must be no longer than 6 feet - Last Visited:
- June 2010
- JoyReviewed: January 2022Mobility Device Used: Motorized wheelchair/ScooterPersonal Accessibility Rating: Excellent
ReviewsSign in to add a review or images
Bird Walk is a mile-long loop trail through a revitalized 14-acre saltwater marsh at the mouth of Cheney Creek, where it empties into Bodega Harbor. This is one of Sonoma County’s prime spots for birdwatching; here and in the neighboring dune ponds, mudflats, freshwater marshes, and grasslands, you may see snowy egrets, northern harriers, northern pintails, and marbled godwits, to name just a few. The trail runs atop a levee circling two dredge disposal ponds that were built in 1980 to hold silt from the dredging of Bodega Bay. The vegetation along the levee has been restored to improve bird and wildlife habitat. Bird Walk connects to Doran Marsh Trail in Doran Beach Regional Park for an additional .8-mile hike.
Trails and Pathways
- Trail:
- Bird Walk
- Trailhead Location:
- Parking lot off Highway One
- Trail Length:
- 1-2 total miles
- Typical Width:
- 4 ft. & above
- Typical Grade:
- Level
- Typical Terrain:
- Firm
Trail Overview: On a summer day mid-week, we mostly had this trail to ourselves. The coast was blanketed in a thick fog that muted the colors of the marsh and enhanced the colors of the birds, making them easier to spot. The brilliant white of the snowy egrets announced their presence amidst the orange pickleweed, and through an opening in some cypress trees we spotted a stately blue heron standing completely still, ready to pounce on any tasty bite that might appear within reach of its beak.
Two paths lead from the parking lot to the loop trail, which sits some 25 feet above the lot on top of a levee: the first is very steep; the second, a switchbacked asphalt ramp a few feet beyond, is the easier option. Arriving atop the levee, you are greeted by a massive, grass-covered rock rising from the marsh. If you choose to circle clockwise around the loop, you'll first pass a pumping station on your left—down a hill and set back from the trail, it's unobtrusive, and you'll likely be more focused on the vistas of Doran Park Marsh and Bodega Bay to the west. Within a few hundred feet you come to two spur trails; one travels down a gentle slope to a bridge that crosses Cheney Creek, where you can connect to the Doran Marsh Trail and extend your trip another .4 miles each way. The other, a hard-packed dirt trail that bisects the loop, is overgrown with grasses and quite bumpy, and doesn’t have the best views. Continue along the loop, stopping at strategically placed benches to enjoy the views and birdsong. For me, what started as a serene stroll quickly turned into a challenge to see how many different birds I could identify.
Two paths lead from the parking lot to the loop trail, which sits some 25 feet above the lot on top of a levee: the first is very steep; the second, a switchbacked asphalt ramp a few feet beyond, is the easier option. Arriving atop the levee, you are greeted by a massive, grass-covered rock rising from the marsh. If you choose to circle clockwise around the loop, you'll first pass a pumping station on your left—down a hill and set back from the trail, it's unobtrusive, and you'll likely be more focused on the vistas of Doran Park Marsh and Bodega Bay to the west. Within a few hundred feet you come to two spur trails; one travels down a gentle slope to a bridge that crosses Cheney Creek, where you can connect to the Doran Marsh Trail and extend your trip another .4 miles each way. The other, a hard-packed dirt trail that bisects the loop, is overgrown with grasses and quite bumpy, and doesn’t have the best views. Continue along the loop, stopping at strategically placed benches to enjoy the views and birdsong. For me, what started as a serene stroll quickly turned into a challenge to see how many different birds I could identify.
More Info: There are two gentle slopes: one from the parking lot to the trailhead and the other from the trail to Cheney Creek bridge.
Accessibility Features
The facilities listed below meet all of our access criteria unless otherwise noted.
- Accessible Parking:
- Yes – designated accessible parking, van accessible, firm, level or slope no greater than 2%;
Off Highway One
- Accessible Restroom:
- Yes – At parking lot
- Accessible Picnic Table:
- Yes – firm & stable path to tables, firm & stable surface, 27" or greater knee clearance
- JoyReviewed: January 2022Mobility Device Used: Motorized wheelchair/ScooterPersonal Accessibility Rating: Excellent
