Inverness

Abbotts Lagoon Beach

Highlights: A 1.5- mile walk through shrub and then across a bridge and over a stream and sand dunes brings you to this beach and lagoon. The spot is home to peregrine falcons, the endangered snowy plover, migrating shorebirds in the fall and ducks in the winter. April and May are ideal for bird-watching and wildflower blooms. Binoculars are highly recommended. Swimming is discouraged due to cold temperatures, unpredictable currents and the obvious ”sharky” feel. The beach is popular and sometimes crowded, so arrive early.

Parking: Free parking lot on the left side of Pierce Point Road

Dogs: Not permitted

Facilities: None

Food: None

Directions: From Point Reyes National Seashore’s Bear Valley Visitor Center, head to Bear Valley Road and then take Sir Francis Drake Boulevard north along Tomales Bay. At the top of the ridge, turn right on Pierce Point Road. Follow the signs to the beach trail.

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Drakes Beach

Highlights: Ten to 13 million years ago, sands were deposited in a shallow sea, compacted and uplifted, creating the white sandstone cliffs that provide shelter from the wind at Drakes Beach. Elephant seals can be observed from Elephant Seal Overlook above the beach from December through March; make sure to check out the Point Reyes Historic Lighthouse nearby. Drakes also hosts an annual amateur sand castle competition; this year it’s September 2.

Parking: Free parking and drive-up access

Dogs: Not permitted

Facilities: Visitor center, washing stations, restrooms

Food: Drakes Beach Cafe

Directions: From Point Reyes National Seashore’s Bear Valley Visitor Center, head north to Bear Valley Road. Turn left and follow Bear Valley Road northwest to Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. Turn left and follow Sir Francis Drake Boulevard west to Drakes Beach Road. Turn left and follow Drakes Beach Road south to the Drakes Beach parking lot.

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Heart’s Desire Beach

Highlights: Part of Tomales Bay State Park, this sheltered cove with clean white sand, waveless waters and lack of wind is favored by families with small children. It’s a peaceful place to listen to the water lap against the shore and read on the warm sand; with convenient drive-up access and a safe, mellow environment, it’s also crowded with kids.

Parking: Parking lot, $8 fee

Dogs: No

Facilities: Picnic tables, restrooms, outdoor showers, barbecue pits, drinking fountains

Food: Close to Tomales Bay Oyster Farm and restaurants in Inverness

Directions: From the Bear Valley Visitor Center, head north to Bear Valley Road. Turn left and follow Bear Valley Road northwest to Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. Turn left and follow to Pierce Point Road. Turn right and follow Pierce Point Road north to the road on the right, leading into Tomales Bay State Park. Turn right and go about one mile east to the beach.

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Kehoe Beach

Highlights: Walk 0.6 mile along a marsh and over dunes to reach peaceful white-sand Kehoe Beach. This is a great spot for watching birds, viewing colorful spring wildflower blooms and playing in the giant sand dunes. Explore the stream that runs to the ocean and check out the sandstone and granite cliffs. Use caution when swimming; great white sharks are known to patrol the waters offshore.

Parking: Large pullouts along Pierce Point Road

Dogs: Permitted on a six-foot leash on the beach north of the trail; not permitted south of the trailhead

Facilities: Restrooms (wheelchair accessible) near trailhead

Food: None

Directions: From Point Reyes National Seashore’s Bear Valley Visitor Center, head to Bear Valley Road, then take Sir Francis Drake Boulevard north along Tomales Bay. At the top of the ridge, turn right on Pierce Road. Follow signs to the beach trail.

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Limantour Beach

Highlights: Between Drakes Bay and an estuary sits this soft and sandy beach, over two miles long with rolling sand dunes. It is a popular with hikers and bird-watchers for its bountiful wildlife, including seals and whales in late spring, shorebirds in fall and ducks in winter. Waves are calmer here with the south-facing location and shelter of the Point Reyes Peninsula — it’s a good spot for swimming.

Parking: Parking lot available at trailhead

Dogs: Permitted on a six-foot leash on the southeast end of the beach. Not permitted to the northwest

Facilities: Restrooms in parking area

Food: None

Directions: From Point Reyes National Seashore’s Bear Valley Visitor Center, head north to Bear Valley Road. Turn left and follow Bear Valley Road northwest to Limantour Road. Turn left and follow Limantour Road west to the parking lot at Limantour Beach.

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McClures Beach

Highlights: A half-mile steep downhill hike leads to McClures Beach, one of Marin’s most scenic. There’s a small cove, usually uncrowded cove, with tide pools at the south end that are perfect for low-tide exploring. Caution: the adjacent beach around the southern corner can only be accessed during the outgoing low tide, and swimming at this beach is not advised because of intense surf and an active shark population just offshore. Harbor seal pupping season is March through June.

Parking: Turn left on Pierce Point Road and descend the hill 100 yards to the west to the parking lot

Dogs: Not permitted

Facilities: Restrooms

Food: None

Directions: From Point Reyes National Seashore’s Bear Valley Visitor Center, head to Bear Valley Road, then take Sir Francis Drake Boulevard north along Tomales Bay. At the top of the ridge, turn right on Pierce Point Road. Follow signs to the beach trail.

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Tomales Bay State Park

Highlights: Adjacent to Point Reyes National Seashore, the 2,000-acre park features hiking trails, surf-free beaches, hills, meadows and marshes. Beaches include Heart’s Desire Beach; Indian Beach (accessed by a gentle nature trail half a mile north of Heart’s Desire, with two reconstructed Miwok bark shelters and restrooms); Pebble Beach (also accessible by trail from Heart’s Desire, with restrooms); and Shell Beach (a 4.1-mile trail walk from Heart’s Desire, or park at the end of Camino Del Mar and take half-mile path to beach). The first three beaches are only accessible by trails or boats. Beware of mountain lions and unstable cliff edges.

Parking: Parking lot on Pierce Point Road

Dogs: Not permitted

Facilities: None

Food: None

Directions: From Point Reyes National Seashore’s Bear Valley Visitor Center, head to Bear Valley Road, then take Sir Francis Drake Boulevard north along Tomales Bay. At the top of the ridge, turn right on Pierce Point Road. Follow signs to the beach trail.

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