Explore this untamed stretch of California’s north coast at the edge of the continent, and glimpse what the wild shoreline was like long ago, as you listen to stories about its diverse wildlife, ancient and ingenious pioneers, amid wildflowers and endless surf. The tour starts above a wave-filled sandy beach near the Bodega Bay Trailhead. You’ll follow an established trail in a loop around the peninsula, go up to the highest point for a panoramic view, and end back at our starting point. As you walk, you’ll discover an incredible array of uniquely adapted coastal life, from fine feathered travelers to wildflowers that comb moisture from the mist. The tour reveals the area’s human history as well, from the Coast Miwok people to the grassroots battle that saved the headland from becoming a nuclear-powered ‘Atomic Park’ in the 1960s. This is one of my favorite coastal walks, with abundant blooms, animals and stunning, ever changing vistas. I’m a California naturalist and seasoned nature writer, and I’ve been exploring Bodega Head and researching and writing about the state’s vast natural wonders for many years, as part of my Finding California series. Along the way, you’ll have a chance to: • Discover how native Miwok people thrived in this fire-prone landscape for more than 8,000 years, and celebrate it today • See the San Andreas Fault that's driving Bodega Head • Learn the surprising link between today’s wildflower superblooms and prehistoric camels • Understand why the deep cold sea determines which plants survive on land here • Hear how Russian potatoes, a Yankee Sea Captain, and spawning salmon built the tiny village on the bay • Pass the water-filled Hole in the Head, the now abandoned nuclear reactor site that once sparked citizen activism • Discover the rich maritime heritage of the area and pay respects at a memorial to local sailors who never returned from the sea • Stand beneath the Pacific Flyway and witness one of nature’s great aerial arteries, where millions of birds migrate annually By the end of this 60-minute walking tour, you’ll understand how this protected peninsula reflects the entire California story in one remarkable place.