Lovely views, but super crowded! Beach had an outhouse which was locked, had to park waaay down the road as lot was full. Saw a lot of TP along the trail, then I cut my foot on broken glass in the sand!! This used to be a nice beach, not any more. Somebody should say something to the county about it. read more

Shell Beach - Beaches Near Me - Inverness, California

Parking is limited, so head over early or be prepared to park in the neighborhood and walk over. As with many hidden gems, this beach is more crowded than it used to be prior to 2020. Visited last week and there was one group of people playing football on half the beach, so there were few other places we could settle into. We did see some bones, which looked like a deer to me, but we didn't find the skull which would have confirmed the find for me. If you continue hiking, there is another beach that you can reach, but be prepared to wade through some water to get over to the other beach. If you're in the mood to continue hiking, there is more to see beyond the second beach, which will get you more privacy since many people stop at the first beach. FYI it can get cold here, even if it's sunny. I always bring a blanket along with a beach mat. The mat for sitting on, and the blanket for keeping warm. Nice place to unwind at the end of the day since the crowd dissipates as the sun goes down and the temperature cools. read more

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it doesn't live up to the hype- terrible parking, long trail in with poison oak, the bathroom is , the beach shrinks so much with the tides that you end up either loosing your apot or having people who lost their spot come try to squeeze in to yours. read more

Great beach with plenty of parking and a small walk . Does cost 8 dollars to park but worth it since it is easy access . Water is not deep so perfect for kids and plenty of kayak to rent or bring your own read more

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Once upon a time, I would write glowing 5-star Yelp reviews for all my favorite local's-only secret spots. 15 years later, those places are all crowded now. I blame the Internet, but also I blame the man in the mirror. So here's Aaron's 2-star review outlining all the reasons you might want to find an alternative beach. - NO DOGS ALLOWED (Rangers patrol regularly, violators get caught and *fined*) - It's almost a half-mile hike on a dirt trail from the parking lot to the beach, and it's uphill (with a couple of switchbacks) on the way back. - When I was younger this was a hidden gem, but the secret is out, it can get quite crowded, especially the parking situation: - The parking lot at the end of the road can be a nightmare. It's small, there's not a lot of room to turn around, and the road in is winding and narrow, with cars attempting to park on the shoulder. If it's crowded, there's no way to U-turn without getting all the way to the end. If you arrive on a warm-weather weekend, you can expect to find a long line of Teslas and SUVs waiting in line to get to the already-full parking lot before they can turn around. - There aren't any waves to surf at this beach, this is Tomales Bay, not the open ocean. - If you're accustomed to the beaches in SoCal, be prepared for a shock, the water here is much colder. (50-60ºF year-round) - Beware of wildlife: You'll find plentiful small Jellyfish in the water (fortunately, they're one of the few jelly species that doesn't sting). There might be sharks here too (see photos). Some years the seaweed can get pretty bad. The shellfish is not safe to eat. - If you're swimming, watch out for kayaks, this is a popular spot for boaters, and while the larger boats are roped off, kayakers and SUP paddle-boarders are allowed on the beach. - When the tide comes in, the beach gets smaller - there's not a lot of space for big groups. Also, if you lay out your towels in one of the coves, you may be surprised to find the tide comes in a good 10+ feet up the beach in between low tide and high tide. - Check the weather report -- It could be 100ºF in SF, and still be 70ºF and windy in Pt Reyes. - There is a pit toilet at the far end of the first beach. It is unbearably stinky -- Like haltingly shockingly foul-smelling. The door doesn't latch properly, but that's probably for the best. ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS: For an easier beach experience in Pt. Reyes, most folks go to Drake's Beach or Limantour beach, both are on Drake's Bay and have easy access to the beach, with large parking lots right next to the sand. If you've got your heart set on swimming in Tomales Bay, Hearts Desire beach is close and much easier to access than Shell Beach. For my fellow dog lovers, Limantour allows dogs on-leash, or you can drive a little further to Dillon Beach for off-leash play, as long as your dog is under voice control (there are lagoons of standing mucky water at Dillon beach that are unsafe). read more

An easy .3 of a mile down the hill to a great beach - check the tide table - bay is usually calm and great for 4-yr olds - usually a few jellyfish. A permanent raft is off shore. Check the parking lot but AM's are usually crowd free. read more

Nice beach but busy. Swim with the current. The parking can be busy, too. Many kayakers

It was close and easy to walk to. We brought our lunch and had a picnic. Nice sandy beach. Great place to swim and lots of people were. read more

Shell Beach - Beautiful sandy beach. Platform to swim to. - Beaches Near Me - Inverness, California

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It's a great beach to be getting fresh air from when you want to get away from all the frustrating you have to deal with and I love it and it's a great place to swim for any great, best, and secret swimmers read more

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This beach is pretty cool First you got the water, which laps upon the sand Then you got the nice airs all about It's a cool beach read more

It's no surprise that Shell Beach only has 5 reviews as it's a hidden gem in Point Reyes National Seashore. It's accessible, a short walk from the parking lot and is nicely protected from the breeze as it's an eastern facing beach. Last weekend, I visited this beach for the first time and the weather couldn't have been more perfect. There were only a few other people on the beach and many of them were swimming in Tomales Bay. Savages, I love it. Instead of swimming, I decided to take a cat nap on the southern part of the beach and listened to the soothing sounds of the little waves until I fell asleep. Glorious. You're not allowed to BBQ or bring pets to this beach and for good reason. Gotta keep the beauty in tact. It's a great day beach if you're in the area and want a little peace and quiet. read more

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Right on Tomales Bay, Shell Beach is one of those secluded spots of quiet you don't want to yelp about, but because I love and care about you so much, here I am telling you about it. Talk about a local spot -- the place makes Point Reyes seem like a thriving metropolis -- you can almost miss the road signs leading to it (the sign for Camino del Mar is in fact obstructed from one direction). But once you find the place and park, a short walking trail leads you into a very secluded stretch of beach, overlooking a gorgeous view of the water. Bring a picnic, swim, explore a bit, but mostly just relax. Repeat as necessary. read more

My favorite place for tide pools with my kids. We found so many Star Fish and Crabs. The view is breathtaking with waves crashing against the rocks. You have to keep a eye out if you have kids because the current is very strong. We had so much fun climbing on rocks and exploring. If your family likes finding sea creatures this is a place to go. read more

Went on Sunday, 5/17. It was 100 degrees in the east bay, and I come here and find 70 degrees with a strong breeze. This is not the kind of beach you go to to enjoy warm weather... It's a family oriented beach, and very secluded with bad parking. The hike down is a third of a mile, and while pleasant, not worth it when you get to the actual beach... Very small, full of seaweed. Not my scene. I suppose I should have gone to Baker beach! read more

NO DOGS ALLOWED on Shell Beach in Tomales Bay. The dog in the photo is at Shell Beach on the ocean in Sonoma County and should be removed from this site so newcomers stop bringing their dogs.. PLEASE do not bring any size dog to Tomales Bay's Shell Beach. It is a fragile ecosystem that needs protection. Not a place to bring 150 dot commers for a gathering either. Chicken Ranch beach less than a mile away is a dog beach. Heart's Desire a few miles beyond is good for large groups. read more

Nice beach great warm water . If you go on the weekdays not too crowded . The only thing is no dogs allowed

If you're looking for an idyllic sheltered lagoon, this is it! The path down to the beach (3/10ths of a mile) is surrounded by ferns and lush greenery. A marsh on the left side of the trail opens up to a small sandy beach. It resembles the wild trails we traveled in New Zealand. There are no signs posted in the parking lot, but once you arrive at the beach there's a prominent 'NO DOGS ON BEACH' sign. There are many trails connecting the little bay beaches on this side of Tomales Bay, and apparently dogs are allowed on them. We kept our pooch up on the trails when a ranger came by on boat. On the left hand side if you face the bay, you can walk around a sandy point or via a 2-min trail is to another small bay/beach. The beaches are frequented by Kayakers passing by, and the view of the town of Marshall and other side of Tomales is gorgeous. Mornings are calm, and the water is actually swimmable by Bay Area standards. Great for toddlers wadding. Afternoons the wind kicks up.There's a floating dock about 45 feet from the beach, a good goal for people who want to brave it. read more