Stump Beach Trail

The Stump Beach Trail descends through a pygmy forest of Bishop pine and Bolander pine to a sheltered sandy cove on the dramatic Sonoma coast, one of the most accessible and scenic beach destinations in Salt Point State Park. Along the way, the trail traverses the remarkable pygmy forest ecosystem, where severely nutrient-poor, hardpan soils have stunted normally large tree species into miniature forms growing barely a few feet tall after many decades of growth. This unusual botanical phenomenon creates an eerie, otherworldly landscape unlike anything else in California. The beach itself is a protected cove popular with abalone divers, who harvest red abalone from the rich kelp forest offshore during open seasons. Tidepooling along the rocky shoreline reveals an abundance of sea stars, hermit crabs, anemones, and other intertidal life. Harbor seals haul out on offshore rocks, and California sea otters are occasionally spotted floating in the kelp. The cove's sheltered aspect makes it a calmer alternative to the exposed headlands, though the Sonoma coast can be unpredictable. Bring layers and be prepared for sudden fog and wind even on otherwise sunny days.