Photograph Coleman Valley Road

Coleman Valley Road is a narrow country road that connects the town of Occidental to the Sonoma coast near Bodega bay. It is a gem of a road, winding through redwood forests, rolling farmlands, and along a ridge high up above the beautiful California coast.

As you leave Occidental and head West, the road begins by winding up through the forest until it flattens out a little and the trees give way to farmland. Look for pull-outs along the road even before you get in view of the ocean, as these pull offs often feature expansive views of the surrounding hills, and in parts you can even see Mt. Tamalpais way off in the distance.

As you continue along you will eventually find yourself high above the ocean, and there are numerous turnouts to take advantage of these views. There is one area in particular that you will see off to your right that has a lot of parking available. If you go in the afternoon on a weekend you will likely see multiple cars parked here.

Immediately following this large parking area the road begins to descend sharply. Be careful on this descent as the corners are rather tight and it is incredibly steep in parts. There are a few small pull offs on this section that you can stop at if you are feeling brave.

Be sure to watch out for cyclists as this is one of the most famous cycling roads in Sonoma County. If you are interested in cycling it yourself there are many great loop rides that leave from Occidental that feature Coleman Valley and other beautiful coastal routes. With a little research you will be able to come up with some absolutely spectacular rides.