Bowling Ball Beach in California 2025-2026

Huge spherical stones lining the beach make it unique and beautiful

Best time: all year round (low tide)

Schooner Gulch State Beach in Mendocino County is a scenic spot for sunsets and beach picnics. It is famous for its unique sandstone "bowling balls." Located about 5 km (3 mi) south of Point Arena along California Highway 1, Bowling Ball Beach is one of the most unusual beaches in the area. Its striking rock formations attract thousands of visitors each year.

Best Time to Visit

If you want to avoid getting your feet wet, visit Bowling Ball Beach during low tide. The beach is accessible during this time, providing ample space for visitors to walk between the famous stones. California enjoys a perfect year-round climate, so tourists can enjoy this beach anytime they want.

What to See

Mendocino County is home to Schooner Gulch State Beach. Visitors can head to the nearby Gualala town to reach the beach. Travelers can enjoy the stunning Pacific coastline by driving north on Highway 1 or taking a car ride on routes 28 and 46 to reach the beach easily. At the far north end of Bowling Ball Beach, there’s a surfing area known as Whiskey Shoals (near the mouth of Ross Creek), which is more accessible for surfers from the Moat Creek Public Access.

Parking

Visitors to Bowling Ball Beach can park in the designated area along Highway 1 across from Schooner Gulch Road. Alternatively, Gualala Point Regional Park offers parking, restroom facilities, picnic tables, and a visitor center. From either location, a short hike leads to the beach, where visitors can enjoy its unique scenery.

Origins

Schooner Gulch, named after a stranded schooner according to local legend, is home to Bowling Ball Beach, one of California's most photographed coastal spots. The perfectly round sandstone formations, often mistaken for alien or dinosaur relics, are actually the result of a geological process called concretion. Over millions of years, sand, water, and wind-shaped these stones, with cement and sand grains forming a hard shell that eroded into their unique spherical shapes. The best time to view them is during low tide, as high tide submerges the beach and the stones beneath the water.