Bouldering Bay
Bodega Bay to Jenner boasts a rocky cliff coastline North of San Francisco. Many travel to this seaside to experience its coastal wonders. From fresh seafood to incredible surf, the Sonoma County coast has you covered. The coast is not what a foreigner would consider a typical California beach. This area has a strong headwind, which accounts for cooler weather and stronger riptides. The sand ranges from tan to black, and most of the coast is protected by cliffs that you have to hike up and down for ocean access.
Goat Rock is widely known as the go-to beach just south of Jenner. It has an easy ocean access with parking and bathrooms for your convenience. The beach stretches for miles in its secluded nook and is covered with driftwood huts made by ghost artists. But before driving out to this scenic place, the adventurist can stop short at Kortum Trail and hike out to boulder on the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
The trail starts at Blind Beach and takes you into the flat lands. And just along the horizon, you can see a cluster of rocks ahead of you that scream “Climb me!” Beyond the rocks, you can see the ocean as the waves crash against the cliffs. When you arrive to the pile of stones you may feel quite small. They are jagged with sharp edges and seem intimidating. Once you settle in and start on a small traverse, you can jump in to the easy route on the south cliff face. This is called Pelican Arête. It is high and seems like a long fall, but if you have some experience and all the confidence, you can make it to the top.
The climb always gives me a sense of adrenaline, fear, and accomplishment. When I make it to the top I feel like I’ve just conquered the world. Then I take a moment to look out at the sea and bask in it’s grandiose beauty. The wonders of the ocean always make me pause as I think of its vastness and strength that could easily crush me, though it is the most stunning view in its calm. Bouldering is such a great outlet for anyone frustrated from today’s craziness.
The levels of difficulty range from V0-V10 (V Grade System, created by John “Verm” Sherman), B0-B10 (B Grade System), or 4-7B+ (The Fountainebleau System, created for the famed Fountainebleau forest located just outside of Paris that is named one of the best places to boulder). This is all climber jargon to mean you can find climbing for a seasoned beginner (meaning it isn’t your first time) to an experienced climber (though nothing compared to a V17 or 9A). For beginners try to Pelican Arête (V0), for intermediate try the Hard Up (V3), and for advanced the Hard Traverse (V10).
Always remember to bring a buddy and safety gear like a crash pad. There is no glory in free climbing when you could easily free fall without any help.
If you are interested in starting to climb for the first time, check out Vertex in Santa Rosa. It’s the only indoor climbing gym in Sonoma County and they offer classes.
Reference SuperTopo for more info.
