California's Coveted Coastline Has Reopened To The Public For The First Time In 100 Years

After about a century of being privately owned land, a breathtaking stretch of California's Sonoma Coast is now available to everyone. The Estero Americano Coast Preserve is one of those rare and beautiful places in the world, where you have a mesmerizing meeting of grassy bluffs, tidal marshes, and the Pacific Ocean. The entire area spent decades as a ranch. With assistance from state and local partners, The Wildlands Conservancy acquired the 547-acre preserve in 2015, gradually developing the trails and getting the place ready for visitors before officially opening to the public in January.

Now, tourists, nature lovers, and photographers have the chance to explore the trails and ocean views. Indeed, this preserve is stepping up as an inviting place in California for visitors to enjoy amazing beach views, with a promise of five miles of trails winding through high ridges, a hidden beach, and the preserve's highest point offering panoramic views. On a clear day, you may be able to spot almost everything from the Farallon Islands to Point Reyes. You get to pass through many of the landscapes that have been inaccessible for more than a hundred years, including mudflats and coastal prairies, offering that pristine wildness of the Californian coastlines.

The Estero Americano Coast Preserve lies just three miles south of Bodega Bay. This makes the trip quite easy if you're coming from the Bay Area. You can simply drive up Highway 1 and park near the Shorttail Gulch Trailhead within Sonoma County Regional Park. From there, you can access the preserve on foot via the coastal trail. It's advisable to arrive early, though, as parking could be limited, especially if you're going on a weekend.

Gorgeous scenery abounds at the Estero Americano Coast Preserve, but that's not all there is. This place is also packed with wildlife. Through the tidal marshes and eelgrass beds, you'll find species like tidewater gobies, California red-legged frogs, and steelhead trout. If your interest lies in spotting birds, shorebirds, raptors, and whistling swans await you. Spring comes with wildflowers like purple irises and golden poppies all over the prairies. 

When you visit this preserve with a view to savoring that pristine coastal California getaway, it all begins at the Shorttail Gulch Trailhead, and entry is free throughout the week during daylight hours. Leashed dogs are allowed, but bikes and horses aren't. Drinking water and food aren't available; you've got to bring yours along. Get ready to relax, have a picnic, enjoy the beach, and even catch sight of whales off the coast.

And absolutely, don't forget to follow the Leave No Trace principles; take everything out that you bring in. Likewise, don't go about picking wildflowers, as that is frowned upon by the National Park Service. Stay on marked trails, and keep yourself protected. You'll leave feeling like you've experienced a rare slice of California that most people still don't know exists.