Sunset Beach

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · Views · Wildflowers

This is an easy descent, but it's sandy. There's an optional mudflat crossing at the end.

From the junction with the Estero Trail, head south through grassland and scrub on a wide easy trail. The gentle downhill passes a pond, skirts a hillside, and offers views Bull Point to the northeast across Drakes Estero. On park maps, the Sunset Beach Trail ends at the pond, but if conditions are not too muddy continue on the fading trail to the small rocky beach across from Limantour spit. Find the strangely shaped sandstone boulders on this beach. If the weather is clear you can see Chimney Rock in the distance across the water. Retrace your steps on this out-and-back.

Be sure to stay on the trail and not venture inland to avoid mud, poison oak is endemic here. Note: bikes are allowed on this trail.

Coyote brush, lupine, and late summer goldenrod. Douglas iris in April and May.