Estero Americano Coast Preserve: Open for Exploration

At the place where Marin and Sonoma Counties meet, the Estero Americano Coast Preserve protects 547 acres of some of the North Coast’s most striking and ecologically important landscapes. Located just south of Bodega Bay, this remarkable property represents the power of partnership in conserving lands that define Sonoma County’s character and support both people and wildlife. 

Ag + Open Space partnered with Sonoma Land Trust, the Wildlands Conservancy, the California Coastal Conservancy and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation to help acquire this Sonoma Coast property. Through our contribution to the acquisition, Ag + Open Space holds a conservation easement that permanently protects the preserve’s rugged coastline, rolling grasslands, stunning vistas, and agricultural heritage, while also ensuring future public access. As the nonprofit owner, the Wildlands Conservancy continues to manage the land maintaining while promoting scientific research, public education and low-impact recreation via a marked trail system. 

The preserve’s ecological significance is exceptional. A one-mile stretch along the mouth of the Estero Americano Estuary, part of the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, includes tidal marshes, eelgrass beds, mudflats, and open waters. These habitats support sensitive species such as Central California Coast steelhead, tidewater goby and the California red-legged frog, all thriving within the estuary’s dynamic blend of saltwater and freshwater. 

The Estero Americano Coast Preserve is open daily from sunrise to sunset, free to the public and offers a chance to experience a beautiful stretch of Sonoma County’s coastline.