Jenner

COASTAL CROSSROADS AT THE RIVER’S MOUTH

Jenner sits at one of the Russian River’s most dramatic turns—right where the river widens into an estuary and meets the Pacific Ocean beside Highway 1 on the Sonoma Coast. Long before it was a coastal crossroads, this area was home to Native peoples who lived with the rhythms of the river, ocean, and seasonal runs of fish. In the late 1800s, the lower river became tied to logging and coastal shipping, with nearby landings and river transport helping move redwood products and supplies through this rugged coastline. As the auto age arrived, Highway 1 turned Jenner into a scenic stop for travelers drawn to the river mouth, sweeping views, and the wild coast. Today Jenner remains a tiny, iconic place—known for the Russian River estuary, wildlife viewing, beach and bluff walks, kayaking and fishing, and its role as a gateway between the Russian River resort towns and the Sonoma Coast.