I Do!

Coastal Hiking at Wedding Rock in Patrick's Point State Park

Even if you’re not getting married anytime soon, you’ve gotta visit Wedding Rock, the most dramatic spot in Patrick’s Point State Park. It’s called Wedding Rock because the park’s original caretaker got married there, and to this day people continue to exchange vows in the same spot. It’s not hard to see why.

The California coastline here ripples with turquoise coves as the deep blue sea sits in the distance, sending churlish waves dramatically ashore. You can drive to a nearby parking lot for quick and easy access to Wedding Rock, but we recommend making the most of this coastal state park by hiking for a couple of miles, starting from Agate Beach Campground. From the parking area here you can pick up the Rim Trail for an easy west-heading coastal bluff walk leading to the punchline—Wedding Rock!—within a mile.

After exploring the rock and taking all the obligatory selfies and regular pics, continue along the bluffs to find other viewpoints off the Rim Trail, including Patrick’s Point and Rocky Point. Return the way you came. View-hopping never was so fun, or so spectacular.

BEACH BONUS: Agate Beach Campground has a short hiking trail that leads down to Agate Beach, a long stretch of sand famous for its namesake agates, semi-precious translucent stones frequently thrust ashore by power-waves from the Pacific, making beachcombing here a favorite pastime.

TIP: During migration season Patrick's Point is a terrific place to spot gray whales out at sea.

Patrick's Point State Park is 29 miles north of Eureka on Hwy. 101. You can drive directly to a parking area that's only a 5-minute walk to Wedding Rock. Or to make a 3-mile hike, park at the Agate Campground at the day-use lot by campsite #99. Walk back up the road a few minutes. Find the Rim Trail (unsigned) on the right, next to the Agate Campground entrance sign. Follow the Rim Trail all the way to Wedding Rock and Abalone Campground. Note that you'll make a short jog towards Mussel Rocks to stay on the Rim Trail. Then turn around and return the way you came. No dogs on trails.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. All right, Almaden!

    Take a trip through time on this 5-mile loop in Almaden Quicksilver County Park. Explore the ruins of an old cinnabar mine and enjoy the first hints of wildflower season.

    View
  2. Waterfalls and Wine Pours

    Cooler temps, green hills, and the return of our magnificent waterfalls! This family-friendly 2-mile hike at Uvas Canyon County Park in Morgan Hill is a great way to get the most out of a short hike post-rain.

    View
  3. Woman hiker is climbing up the ladder in the Steep Ravine section of the Dipsea Loop Trail on Mount Tam

    Misty on Mount Tam

    Mount Tam’s 3.9-mile round-trip Steep Ravine and Dipsea Trail Loop weathers the wets and wilds with some confidence, sheltered in parts by redwoods, and wowing with a waterfall.

    View
  4. Mile-Long Cataract Club

    In winter after heavy rains, the north flank of Mount Tam glows with flows. The nearly mile-long series of waterfalls—Cataract Falls—transforms into a supercharged spectacle. Starting at Alpine Dam, a 1.6 mile (one-way) narrow trails threads through redwoods and ferns along Cataract Creek.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Peace Labyrinth

    Hidden in LA’s historic West Adams district, the Peace Awareness Labyrinth & Gardens is a welcome respite from the norms of urban noise.

    View
  2. Weekend Sherpa Podcast: Take It Outside

    Adventure for your earbuds. What's new in the world of the outdoors? Listen to Weekend Sherpa co-founders discuss local hikes, beaches, bike rides, camping spots and all kinds of travel and adventure in California and beyond!

    View
  3. Hikers sitting on a large rock slab next to Three Sisters Falls in Cleveland National Forest Southern California near Julian

    Three Sisters

    Good things come in threes at this hike to a lovely trio-tiered waterfall in Cleveland National Forest. The 4.25-mile out-and-back hike rambles among rolling hills, with rocky mountain views as switchbacks take you down to a lush canyon and the falls.

    View
  4. People gathered around a tree at an LA Park as part of the Tree Tour led by Stephanie Carrie

    LA's Tree Tour

    Los Angeles is famous for its iconic palm trees but did you know that LA is home to one of the most diverse urban forests in the world? With over 1,000 different tree species lining its streets, LA offers a unique urban canopy waiting to be explored. One of the best ways to discover it is by joining a Tree Tour

    View