Welcome to Travel Tuesday! We’re virtually state-hopping back to California today for a hike I did in February — the Kortrum Trail in Sonoma Coast State Park!
Kortrum Trail in Sonoma Coast State Park
Distance: 8.9 miles (out + back)
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 931 ft
Trailhead Address: 38.40124, -123.09524
Fee: Free!
This trail is super well maintained and easy to follow throughout — incredibly gorgeous views all along the way (what’s not to like!?). Since it’s a coastal hike, it can get a little chillier so I’d recommend to dress in layers just to be safe!
There are plenty of areas on this trail where you can go off to the actual beach. (We did this for lunch!)
If you come here at the right time, you’ll get to see a lot of beautiful wildflowers as well. We came a bit too early for that (early February) but there were still some!
There weren’t a whole ton of people on this trail but if you’re looking for complete solitude, this definitely isn’t it.
You’ll be able to see Goat Rock as well (not pictured because I didn’t look like a creeper) — I saw climbers there so of course, my curiosity is piqued. If I get better at climbing in general, I may need to come back out here sometime to check it out!
We walked back along Shell Beach at the tail end of our trail and got to see a whale off in the distance! Definitely an unexpected treat! :]
Although the trail is ~9 miles long, it’s an easy one and pretty flat for the majority of it (with most, if not all, of the elevation gain at the end). Since the elevation part is at the end, it’s technically skippable if you don’t feel like/can’t do it, so not to worry!
- Do you like coastal hikes?
- Check out other hikes here!
16 comments
Skip to comment form
This trail is so beautiful! A coastal hike is my kind of hike!
Definitely one of my favorite types of hikes too! :]
What an awesome surprise to see a whale! Love your photos – I can almost feel the ocean breeze on my face as I scroll through them. I bet this is beautiful around sunset.
Ah, you’re making me wanna go back again! :P It’d definitely be awesome to get to explore the nearby town and to watch the sunset over there!
What a beautiful coastal trail. It looks like you had perfect weather – thank you for sharing. We have not explored much of California. No wonder so many people live there – gorgeous!
It was definitely the perfect day for a hike! I hope you get to come out to explore more sometime! :]
Farrah recently posted…Blue Oak Trail in Briones Regional Park
How cool that you saw a whale! I always look but have never been so lucky.
It was such a cool surprise! This is the first time I’ve ever been that lucky. *-*
Farrah recently posted…Blue Oak Trail in Briones Regional Park
I love coastal hikes! And Kortrum Trail looks gorgeous. Absolutely stunning! Need to hike this next time I’m in Cali!
Me too! This was definitely a beautiful one — I hope you get to check it out the next time you’re here! :]
Looks like a lovely hike! The views of the water are so stunning.
It was a gorgeous one for sure — I need to find more! :]
It looks a beautiful hike! Love coastal walks as the air and breeze always keeps you cool!
Agreed! I always pack a jacket just in case it gets too chilly — yay for layers, hehe. :]
This looks like such a gorgeous trail. I love how deep and green it is, plus great views the whole way!
Agreed! Loved the views all the way through — I need to find more like it! :D
Farrah recently posted…Ultimate Coffee Date: June 2022