It’s Whale Watch Time at Bodega Head!

Last weekend, we went out to Bodega Head for a hike. The weather was spectacularly sunny and warm and the parking lot was packed. At the far end, we were delighted to find a group of Whale Watch volunteers on hand to answer questions for visitors. Turns out they’re there every weekend 12:00-4:00 p.m. (weather permitting) January through mid-May.

I met Bea Brunn, head of Whale Watch for the Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods. Bea has coordinated this program since it's inception in 1986 and her dedicated weekend volunteers come from as far away as Concord and Sacramento.


She told us Bodega Head is a prime location for watching the annual gray whale migration. According to her website, “The whales begin their journey at their summer feeding grounds off Arctic waters of the Bering, Chukchi and Beaufort Seas. They travel down along the Pacific Coast to their winter calving lagoons off Baja California, Mexico. The whales return after breeding or with their young via the same route, usually closer to shore with the mothers on the outside and the calves closer inland for protection.”

Bea said they’d spotted at least half a dozen whales the day we were there. My husband was watching with a group that saw one spout but I missed it. We’ll go back again soon, with binoculars.


There are two main hiking trails at Bodega Head, one heads north toward Horseshoe Cove and the other goes south and loops around the peninsula. We decided to head south. Near the beginning of the trail there’s a fisherman’s memorial comprised of low cement blocks arranged in the shape of a ship pointing out to sea.


The views on this hike are breathtaking, but don’t take your eyes off the path in front of you. It seems dangerously close to the edge of steep cliffs, which drop straight down to crashing waves and rocks below. We were lucky to be there on such a calm sunny day. Sometimes it’s extremely windy up there and I’d be afraid of getting blown off a cliff in a big gust. Also, the bluffs can be unstable, another reason to keep away from the edge.


It was so beautiful! On the inland side, the surrounding grasslands were fresh and green, and wildflowers were just beginning to bloom. After we hiked along the dramatic cliffs above the ocean for a while, the trail curved around the head and we could see straight across the ocean to Pt. Reyes and Tomales Bay. Bodega Rock was out in the water below and occupied by sea lions barking their heads off.


Further around, we were treated to a striking view looking back into Bodega Bay, Doran Beach and the campgrounds, Bodega Harbor, and the homes on the hillsides. It was fascinating to see it all from this perspective.


Eventually the trail linked up with a dirt road which we followed back around to the main parking lot. What an adventure! That Bodega Head hike offers magnificent world-class views; just imagine how it would be to also see migrating whales along the way. But keep your eyes on the trail!