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Park · Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County

Jenner Headlands Preserve picnic guide

Picnics welcomeNo alcoholFree entry

Can you picnic at Jenner Headlands Preserve?

Yes — Jenner Headlands Preserve has picnic areas open to the public. No reservation is needed for the picnic area. Fee: Free. Alcohol isn't allowed here.

Checked September 2026 from wildlandsconservancy.orgStated on the venue's own website

Aerial view of Jenner Headlands Preserve and its surroundings
From above: circled is where directions lead. USDA aerial imagery, public domain.

Picnic rules at a glance

Picnicking
Picnics welcome
Bring your own food
Allowed
Alcohol
Not allowed
Purchase required
No
Reservation
Not required
Fee
Free
Dogs
Dogs allowed on leash.
Hours
Daily 8am to sunset
Season
Open daily; trails can be muddy and some may close temporarily in the rainy season.
House rules
  • No alcohol or smoking, no fire of any kind and no charcoal barbecues; no bikes or e-bikes, drones or collecting; no overnight parking.
  • There is no potable water, so bring your own.

What the picnic area is like

A 5,630-acre conservancy preserve on the ocean side of Highway 1 just north of the Russian River mouth, with a picnic area, restrooms and parking at the trailhead, and trails climbing through coastal prairie, oak woodland and redwood-fir forest with Pacific views.

  • Restrooms
  • Parking
  • Hiking trails
  • Wheelchair accessible

Good for: Views · Quiet · Dogs · Budget-friendly

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About Jenner Headlands Preserve

Jenner Headlands is a free, privately run coastal preserve with a trailhead picnic area and restrooms, a good stop for lunch before or after a hike above the Sonoma Coast. Leave the wine and the grill at home: alcohol, smoking and fires are all prohibited, and there's no drinking water.

  • Free trailhead picnic area with restrooms
  • Big coastal views and redwood-to-prairie trails
  • Leashed dogs allowed
  • No alcohol, smoking or fires
  • No potable water

More dog-friendly spots in Sonoma CountyMore free spots in Sonoma CountyMore best views spots in Sonoma County

Make a day of it

Stock up at a deli nearby, then picnic close by — a short, easy loop.

  1. Piknik Town Market

    Deli & market · Guerneville & Monte Rio · about 10 mi away

  2. Jenner Headlands Preserve (this park)

    Park · Sonoma Coast

  3. Goat Rock Beach (Sonoma Coast State Park)

    Park · Sonoma Coast · about 1.4 mi away

Pick up picnic food nearby

More picnic spots nearby

Curving sandy Goat Rock Beach and headlands near the Russian River mouth in Sonoma Coast State Park
Park

Goat Rock Beach (Sonoma Coast State Park)

Sonoma Coast· 1 mi

Bring your own foodNo reservationWine allowedDogs OK

The dramatic, easy-to-reach beach at the mouth of the Russian River, just south of Jenner, with free parking, tables and restrooms. It's a natural stop for anyone driving River Road and Highway 116 out from the Russian River wineries: eat lunch watching the harbor seals, then walk the Kortum Trail bluffs south toward Shell Beach.

Goat Rock Beach (Sonoma Coast State Park)

Bring your own foodChecked Sep 2026
Own food
yes
Wine allowed
yes
Reservation
Not needed
Dogs
Outside
Fee
Free entry

Nearest picnic food: Piknik Town Market · 7.7 mi

Details: Goat Rock Beach (Sonoma Coast State Park)
Wide sandy beach, gentle surf and offshore rocks at Wright's Beach on the Sonoma Coast
Park

Wright's Beach (Sonoma Coast State Park)

Sonoma Coast· 5 mi

Bring your own foodNo reservationWine allowedDogs OK

A beachfront picnic spot between Bodega Bay and Jenner with tables, restrooms and a beach where leashed dogs are allowed. The Kortum Trail heads north along the bluffs from here if you want a walk after lunch.

Wright's Beach (Sonoma Coast State Park)

Bring your own foodChecked Sep 2026
Own food
yes
Wine allowed
yes
Reservation
Not needed
Dogs
Yes
Fee
$10/vehicle

Nearest picnic food: Spud Point Crab Co. · 5.2 mi

Details: Wright's Beach (Sonoma Coast State Park)
From above
Park

Scotty Creek Beach

Sonoma Coast· 5 mi

Bring your own foodNo reservationWine allowedDogs OK

A little-known county beach on the Sonoma Coast where a tidal creek meets the surf, popular for blanket picnics and wave watching. It's free and dog-friendly, but there are no facilities.

Scotty Creek Beach

Bring your own foodChecked Sep 2026
Own food
yes
Wine allowed
yes
Reservation
Not needed
Dogs
Yes
Fee
Free entry

Nearest picnic food: Spud Point Crab Co. · 4.5 mi

Details: Scotty Creek Beach
From above
Park

Monte Rio Beach

Guerneville & Monte Rio· 7 mi

Bring your own foodNo reservationNo alcoholDogs OK

Run by the local recreation and park district, Monte Rio Beach is the largest public beach on the lower Russian River and a classic small-town summer hangout, with paddle-craft rentals and a snack shack in season. It's a cheap, easy family picnic stop, but the district bans alcohol, so save the winery bottle for later.

Monte Rio Beach

Bring your own foodChecked Sep 2026
Own food
yes
Wine allowed
no
Reservation
Not needed
Dogs
Yes
Fee
No fee listed

Nearest picnic food: Piknik Town Market · 2.5 mi

Details: Monte Rio Beach

All picnic spots in Sonoma Coast →

Frequently asked questions

Can you picnic at Jenner Headlands Preserve?

Yes — Jenner Headlands Preserve has picnic areas open to the public. No reservation is needed for the picnic area. Fee: Free. Alcohol isn't allowed here.

Can you bring your own food to Jenner Headlands Preserve?

Yes. Outside food is allowed at Jenner Headlands Preserve.

Can you drink wine at Jenner Headlands Preserve?

No, alcohol isn't allowed at Jenner Headlands Preserve.

Do you need a reservation to picnic at Jenner Headlands Preserve?

No reservation is needed to use the picnic area.

Is there a fee to picnic at Jenner Headlands Preserve?

Free.

Are dogs allowed at Jenner Headlands Preserve?

Dogs allowed on leash.

Sources & accuracy

We last checked this listing in September 2026 (freshest source: Official preserve page live Sept 2026 (trail safety alert current)). Policies change — especially for groups and holidays — so confirm with Jenner Headlands Preserve before you go. How we verify.

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