Anchor Bay Beach, officially “Fish Rock Beach,” viewed from the top of the trail to town. The farthest end is known locally as “Chicken Cove” and is where most of the boat launching of the smaller car tops and inflatables takes place. Learn about fishing Anchor Bay style. In the mid-to-late 1800s timber products from the surrounding forests were loaded onto closely moored schooners by means of a slide or apron chute. Our History Page has the story.
Sonoma & Mendocino County Line is the Gualala River. A bridge crosses over and Highway One enters the “Redwood Coast” at the town of Gualala. Anchor Bay is just 4 more miles north.
Chicken Cove is sheltered and is ideal for small boat launching, getting out of the wind, and tide pooling during low tide.
A Calypso Orchid begins to push up through the redwood duff early spring.
Big Rocks tower over your head on the winter beach, rocks that are buried by summer’s deep sand. Look for Jennie in the photo. The summer sand level is two feet above her head.
The Anchorage at Anchor Bay. One July night we saw 175 fishing boats anchored. Now that salmon are fewer, we see only a few commercial boats in a whole season.
Red Abalone This 3-inch shell was found inside a Cabazon in our fish cleaning house. Red abalone are one of this coast’s most precious resources.
Winter Sunset Because Anchor Bay Beach faces south the sun doesn’t set over the ocean except during the winter when the sun is at its furthest southern position.
Fish Rock Creek exits the gulch beside the campground’s sea wall and often forms a small pond or lagoon. This is a favorite place for the younger kids to play. The sea wall has four of our most popular sites.
Sunrise Over Quinliven Rock
Sand Out: Winter’s toughest storms will strip the sand down to bedrock. Find driftwood, shells, and that camera you lost last summer. Quinliven Rock is a 40-foot-high sea stack accessible at very low tides. It is an excellent tide pool area year round.
A Giant Rock Wave sculptured by chemical erosion is but one of the beautifully striking features on Fish Rock Island, approachable only by boat or kayak.
Sand In: Anchor Bay’s typical summer beach full of fluffy white sand. Anchor Bay Beach is a seasonal beach in that the sand shifts in or out according to the change in seasonal weather conditions.
Quinliven Tidal Area and a glance back toward the campground. Learn about tides and tidal zones.
Wintering Monarch Butterflies arrive in our area in the fall and will visit our blooming ivy vines at times in large numbers.
Rhododendrons are just a few of the plants seen at the campground. The R. fragrantisima is as big as it looks in this photo and the fragrance is as luscious.
