The hook
The dramatic mouth of the Russian River, where a colony of harbor seals hauls out on the sand between the river and the sea.
01Why it's worth it
Where the Russian River finally meets the Pacific at Jenner, a big sea stack anchors a beach split between fresh river and salt ocean, and on the sandy spit between them a colony of harbor seals hauls out to rest and, in spring, to pup. It's a wild, cinematic piece of coast: the river curling into the surf, the rock offshore, pelicans and seals, the Sonoma hills rolling north. You watch the seals from a respectful distance, the pupping rookery is roped off and volunteers keep watch. One hard rule: don't get in the water. Sneaker waves and rip currents here have killed people. This is a place to walk and look, the payoff at the end of the Russian River and one of the best seal-watching spots on the coast.
02How to experience it
It's at Goat Rock State Beach off Highway 1 at Jenner. Park and walk the beach toward the river mouth to see the seals, keeping well back, especially in spring pupping season. Do not swim; the currents are lethal. Pair it with the drive up the Sonoma coast to Fort Ross.