Wrights Beach Campground Resource Guide

Wright Beach Campground is a small campground in the Sonoma Coast State Park that has 27 developed sites with 10 of the sites directly overlooking the Pacific Ocean. There's not a whole lot to do here, outside the beach area itself but is still a blast with amazing sights and sounds.

I put together this resource guide for Wrights Beach that touches on nearly everything you need to know when planning a trip here.

Campground:

Wrights Beach Campground consists of 27 sites, sites 1-10 being the closest proximity to the beach and sites 21-27 offering the most privacy. There are 2 sets of restrooms with hot water, but there are no showers on the premises. 

There is potable water on site with many "community spigots" located in many areas of the campsites. There is a camp host onsite, and you are able to purchase firewood bundles from them for $8 a bundle. 

Campground Map:

Campsites:

Of the 27 sites, sites 1-10 are considered "Premium" sites and cost $45 per night. These sites all have direct ocean access. All the rest of the locations are $35 per night.

Sites 11-18 are located in the same loop as 1-10 but are not directly on the beach. Sites 19-27 are located in the adjacent loop, and although they are not on the beach they are all pretty private with shrubbery dividing the campsites.

Handicap Sites:

There are 3 sites that are designated as ADA approved. They are site numbers 2, 26 and 27. I honestly couldn't find anything differentiating these specific campsites from the others. As all the sites have pavement pads, my guess is their proximity to the restrooms.

Overflow Sites:

The overflow sites for this campground are located before and after the guard entry gate and are on a first come first served basis. There is no tent camping allowed in the overflow area. Self-contained units and trailers are allowed. The overflow area does have fire pits, bbq capabilities and picnic tables available. 

Unique Sites:

In their own right, many of the sites at this campground are unique. The sites at 1-10 all are directly on the beach. Wrights beach has amazing sunsets that can be viewed directly from your chair while sitting next to your campfire.

Sites 20-25, although not directly on the beach, are a very short walk to the beach. These sites offer some excellent privacy as there are no spaces directly across from them. Plus with the bushes in between you can get some get windbreak when the wind picks up.

Campsite Features:

Wrights Beach Campground has the basic amenities that you would expect from any campground, with just the basics included, for the most part. All campsites have a large fire pit, picnic table and a dry food storage cabinet.

There are no hook-ups or dump stations for your RV at Wrights Beach, so be aware of that before planning your trip and prepare accordingly. On a side note, most people stop by Bodega Dunes for certain RV necessities, as it is set up to be a more RV accommodating campground.

Dogs:

Dogs are allowed at Wrights Beach Campground but like the other state parks they aren't really allowed in many of the areas around the campsite area. If you do bring your dog, they must be on a leash at all times and that leash cannot be longer than 6 feet and length. They also require that the dog be attended at all times, so this means you can't leave your dog alone in your campsite while you go out.

They are not allowed on the beach or on any of the trails surrounding the area, so really it is not the best idea to take your dog with you on the trip, especially if you want to explore.

Bathrooms/Showers:

There are 2 bathroom location, one is right between both loops and the other is located at the end of site 20. There are no showers here but you can use the showers 5.5 miles away at Bodega Dunes. These take tokens which can be purchased at the park ranger station. 

Vehicles:

One vehicle is included with your purchase of an overnight stay as well as a trailer if you are towing. Any additional vehicles may stay for an additional $8. Senior citizens get a slightly discounted rate of $7.

Wrights Beach Shoreline:

With the Sonoma Coast State Park system stretching 21 miles in total, Wrights Beach being the longest shoreline in all of the Sonoma Coast State Park system. This beach stretches approximately .6 of a mile from end to end and is a fantastic walk to take when visiting.

Day Use Area:

Wrights Beach does offer a day use area that is pretty large, compared to some other state parks. The day use area at Wrights Beach is a fee use park, which means it costs $8 per car ($7 for seniors). 

The day use area does have picnic tables and plenty of space to fly a kite or toss a ball around. 

There are no bathrooms available in day use, so you will need to access the bathrooms in the campground. There are no dogs or fires allowed on the beach, now you can use the provided fire rings for fires but no open fires on the beach.

Nearby Amenities:

Bodega Bay: The town of Bodega Bay is only 12 minutes or 6.3 miles away. What is lacks in amenities, it makes up for in fresh fish and crab. You can visit the wharf area where the boats bring in fresh catches of the day. This town has one gas station and they do not offer propane.

There is 1 laundromat if you need to wash your clothing. There is also one smaller grocery store when heading into town on the left, if you blink you may miss it. They have about a dozen restaurants, with many featuring the local fish and shellfish.

Sebastapol & Santa Rosa: Sebastapol offers propane, fuel and grocery stores. It is located 34 minutes away or 21.9 miles. But if you need more than just the basics or you want more options then head to Santa Rosa. It's only an additional 12 minutes and 7.5 miles further. They have a Trader Joes, multiple Safeway stores and a Food Maxx. 

Bodega (Historic): Although it does not have what I would call amenities, it does make up for it in local history. They do have a coffee shop and a couple of eateries but what brings in visitors is the Potter Schoolhouse circa 1856 and the Saint Teresa of Avela Church circa 1859. This town is the site of the Alfred Hitchcock movie The Birds.

Trails:

There weren't many trails at Wrights Beach that you could hike on, in fact there was only one trail within the vicinity, but it does start from the campground itself and there are three main stops along the way at different beaches, if you choose to walk the entire stretch.

Overall, this is a fairly easy walk and is a clearly marked trail that spans roughly 4.7 miles one way, if you were to walk the entire trail.

The Kortum Trail:

The Kortum Trail begins or ends at Wrights Beach Campground, depending on which way you start, but the beginning point is located toward the end of the loop of near campsites 20-25, adjacent to the bathroom. The trail is in total (approximately) 9.4 miles long (there and back) with multiple stopping points along the way. 

First Beach:

Once you leave the campground and head north, the next stop is approximately 1.8 miles to Shell Beach. Shell Beach and the parking lot for the Kortum Trail has vault toilets.

Second Beach:

The next stop is Blind Beach, and it is approximately another 1.8 miles or an additional 35 minutes down the trail. There are other restrooms located at Blind Beach, so another stopping point to take a bathroom break.

Third Beach:

The final leg is onward to Goat Rock Beach, this is about an additional 1.1 miles down the trail from Blind Beach. On days when the sea is rough, you will not be able to access Goat Rock State Park by vehicle, due to the nature of the parking lot area itself, but you are still allowed to walk in if you choose to do so.

All of the reviews on this trail stated that this is an easy to medium trail and fairly well trafficked. It can be pretty windy on the bluffs overlooking the beaches, so just bear that in mind.

Fishing:

Coming Soon!

Helpful Resources:

• CA State Parks Site
• Sonoma Coast Park Brochure
• Campground Rules (pdf)