Things to Do at Salt Point State Park

Whether you're seeking a day of exploration or a peaceful night under the stars, Salt Point State Park invites you to immerse yourself in the natural wonders of the California coast. Plan your visit today and discover the beauty of this coastal gem!

Picnicking:

• Fisk Mill Cove (CLOSED) - The day-use area with barbeque, running water, and WC facilities is currently closed. When visiting, make sure to take a short walk from the north lot to Sentinel Rock to see sweeping panoramic views of the Pacific which on a clear day paints the water a majestic royal blue.
• The sandy Stump Beach offers additional picnic tables near the parking lot and the convenience of a primitive toilet with no running water.
• South Gerstle Cove has some amazing views and offers plenty of picnic tables, and primitive toilet facilities.

Hiking and Horseback Riding:

Salt Point State Park offers over twenty miles of trails. Take the steep but short hike up to the park’s pygmy forest of cypress and pine trees or follow a bluff-top trail to explore the unspoiled natural environment. The possibilities and combinations of hiking trails are endless.

Marine Reserve:

Just below the visitor center in Salt Point State Park you will find the Gerstle Cove. Gerstle Cove is a State Marine Reserve (SMR) protected area within the Salt Point State Marine Conservation Area. No fishing is allowed in this area, but it does offer visitors a launching spot for small boats and divers a chance to explore the wonders of the undersea world. It is also a great spot to explore tide pools, but please be careful not to inflict damage on the living organisms of the rocky intertidal zone. BOAT LAUNCH IS CLOSED

Fishing:

Salt Point State Park offers some of the best fishing on-shore and off-shore fishing in Northern California. Lings, striped surfperch, cabezon and greenling varieties are abundant in these waters. Just use squid, shrimp, mussels, or smelt for bait. Don't hang in one spot for too long. There's a lot of territory to cover up there and those who cover some ground tend to find more fish. But be careful of weather conditions. Stay back from waves and slippery rock surfaces.

Fishing is permitted throughout the park with a valid California fishing license. Fishing at Gerstle Cove Marine Reserve and just north of the Fisk Mill Day Use parking is prohibited.

Camping:

Salt Point State Park offers two main campgrounds, each with its unique offerings and amenities.

Gerstle Cove Campground, perched atop coastal bluffs overlooking the ocean along Highway One, provides thirty family campsites complete with fire rings, picnic tables, and food lockers. While lacking showers, this site does offer drinking water and restrooms, excluding a dump station. On the east side of Highway One lies Woodside Campground, boasting 79 campsites spread across two loops, suitable for tents, trailers, and RVs, all furnished with fire rings, picnic tables, and food lockers. Like Gerstle Cove, Woodside also provides drinking water and restrooms without showers, with the added benefit of being adjacent to quality hiking trails.

Group Camping, accommodating up to forty people and ten cars, is available on the ocean side of Highway One. Additionally, Hiker/Biker sites, catering to campers without vehicles, offer ten sites located behind the ranger office at Woodside Campground. Overflow Camping, designated for self-contained vehicles only, is accessible via a day-use parking lot below Gerstle Campground, albeit with no tent camping or open fires permitted and no restroom facilities or drinking water available.