Bowling Ball Beach is located approximately 30 miles south of
Mendocino on the northern California coastline. Just south of the Point Arena
Lighthouse is a stretch of beach that features prehistoric
boulders that have been finely ground down over the millennia,
into perfectly smooth spherical shapes. The display is especially
magnificent at low tide.
The geology of the area is unique,
and gives visitors the opportunity to view examples of
significant bluff erosion, earth strata, and fossils that
date back to the Miocene period, 5 to 7 million years old!
Bowling Ball Beach isn’t on any
maps, but you can get to it by driving on Highway 1 to mile marker 11.5,
just 3 miles south of Point Arena.
When you arrive, look for a sign that says “Park facing south only.”
Park, and hike the northern trail head past the sign that says “DANGER”
and “KEEP OUT,” down the man-made staircase and down the log & metal
rope ladder to the beach. You won’t be able to see the bowling balls
from the cliff — walk south along the beach around the corner, and
you’ll see them in the suft. Be sure to check tide tables so you arrive
at or near low tide. You’ll be disappointed if you go during high tide.
Bowling Ball Beach is totally worth the trip, and you should check it
out if you’re headed to Mendocino. Adventurous photographers should
bring a tripod and climb onto the rocks. You can easily put each leg of a
tripod on a boulder for creative, slow-exposure photos.
My favorite image of Bowling Ball Beach was shot by David Burdeny. Since he has a Flash page that is impossible to link to, I’ll instead link to a gallery site featuring his work.
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