Salt Point State Park, State park along Pacific Ocean in Sonoma County, US.

Salt Point State Park covers 6,000 acres of Sonoma County coast, with over 6 miles of rough rocky shoreline where tilted sedimentary sandstone meets the Pacific. The rock is shaped by constant wave impact, and tafoni — small honeycomb-like cavities — form where salt crystals harden and soften the sandstone. Above the shore, marine terraces rise in steps from brush and grassland to Douglas fir forest, with a pygmy forest of Mendocino cypress and bishop pine on acidic soil at about 550 feet.

The area was home to the Kashaya Pomo people for centuries before stone quarrying began in the 1800s to supply building materials for San Francisco. This extraction period left visible marks on the coastline that remain today.

The park's name comes from salt crystals that form in cracks and crevices of the sandstone shoreline. The Kashaya Pomo collected this salt for generations, scraping it off the rocks with abalone chisels. Visitors can still see the honeycomb-like tafoni where the crystals gather.

The park offers hiking trails of varying difficulty that wind through the coastal bluffs and inland forests, suitable for different activity levels. Wear sturdy footwear and check weather conditions, as the coast can be windy and cool even on warm days.

Beneath the water, sandstone formations contain unusual deep pockets carved out by wave action and seawater over time. These underwater structures create distinctive habitats for sea creatures that divers and snorkelers can explore.