How do I get to Bowling Ball Beach?
To reach Bowling Ball Beach, continue to follow the Moat Creek Trail south along the bluff edge. After about a mile, the trail drops down to a beach at Ross Creek. At low tide, you can continue to walk south on the beach to reach the famous “bowling balls” of Schooner Gulch State Park.
Can you swim at Bowling Ball Beach?
Bowling Ball Beach in Point Arena, California This area of the state park is great for tidepooling and the rocky features are only exposed when the tide is low so consult tide charts before your trip.
How low is tide at Bowling Ball Beach?
Tide times for Bowling Ball Beach
| Day | Tide times for Bowling Ball Beach | |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Tide | 2nd Tide | |
| Mon 14 | 12:44am ▼ 2.95 ft | 6:42am ▲ 5.91 ft |
| Tue 15 | 1:19am ▼ 2.95 ft | 7:24am ▲ 6.23 ft |
| Wed 16 | 1:51am ▼ 2.62 ft | 7:59am ▲ 6.23 ft |
Why are the rocks round at Bowling Ball Beach?
The mysterious round rocks of Schooner Gulch. These boulders are the result of millions of years of concretion and erosion, exposing the hard spheres as the mudstone of the cliffs receded around them.
What made Bowling Ball Beach?
The “balls” are actually concretions, which are far more resilient than the mudstone that once surrounded them. Over millions of years, this has eroded away under the constant onslaught of the Pacific Ocean, forming the cliffs that line the shore behind the beach and leaving the tougher “bowling balls” behind.
How was Bowling Ball Beach formed?
Bowling Ball Beach, looking north from Highway 1. The bluff along Bowling Ball Beach is formed from steeply dipping beds of the Miocene Galloway Formation. These rocks are younger than the rocks at Sea Ranch, but were also deposited in the Gualala basin by turbidity currents, like the rocks at Sea Ranch.