Did a moderate 3 mile hike here in early fall. I've been around this body of water many times but mostly as drives around and maybe an occasional picnic on one of it's corners. You can probably drive around the whole bay from Inverness to Marshall in about 30 minutes. My hike because I went with the gps due to my first time, started in the northern corner of the bay just outside of Inverness, so the road is on top of the hills and you can wind on down to water level. Over by Marshall you will already be at water level. This corner also has a popular beach destination where people can swim, kayak, picnic etc called Heart's Desire Beach. From the highway one up top it'll take about 10 minutes on a windy road to reach the beach. My hike started up on top and worked its way down to the water, mostly on single track trail through heavily brushed forest in the hills. No crazy great views until you get nearer the water when you start to see deep blue hues. Once down at the water I took a break on another, but much smaller beach called Pebble Beach. Just sat on a log and absorbed the peacefulness while I rehydrated. There were no one on this beach but I could see decent activity from Heart's Desire Beach about a quarter mile away. Now that I know the general terrain here, next time I'm going to park at Heart's Desire parking lot and climb up, then descend on the way back. On this trip I went down first then had to climb 700 hundred feet or so, so all the sweating was on the tail end. I prefer the former, and that way when done I can just relax and have a picnic on the beach. Lesson learned. Still a solid 4* outing. read more

Tomales Bay State Park - Pano View when you finally hit water level. - Beaches Near Me - Inverness, California

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After a bit of a drive we found this SP to be disappointing. We were looking for hiking trails over beach access. Unfortunately, we couldn't even find the overgrown trails. Left after getting out of the car in two different areas trying to find a starting point. Save yourself the drive. No attendant to ask for assistance. read more

Tomales Bay State Park covers 2000 acres on the western side of the bay for which it is named; it's just north of the town of Inverness. It's main benefit is being well-sheltered from the prevailing winds off the ocean (though it can get foggy in its upper reaches). As for it's most popular attraction - that's Heart's Desire Beach, which offers a sandy, crescent-shaped cove on the water. Here there's a wide, brown-sand beach for sand play or sunning; a swimming area; and plenty of places for ocean kayaks to put in. Unfortunately this beach is VERY popular on nicer weekend days, so parking can be limited; and the beach can get kinda crowded (even loud, with beachgoers blasting music). Consequently I find it a good place to pass-through on my way to other locations in the park. Fortunately there are some stunning picnic areas away from the beach, as well as a fairly extensive set of (mostly empty) hiking trails throughout the park. So it actually offers a nice sampling of the kind of experiences the Point Reyes area has to offer. I visited twice this past summer: once to join friends for an all-afternoon oyster picnic at the Vista Point area, and another time with my wife, for a lovely sea-kayak on the bay (starting from HD beach). The more I visit, the fonder I become. So there's no doubt I will return again. read more

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Tomales Bay State Park sits on one side of the tectonic plates, and is on the eastern edge of the Pacific Plate rubbing and sliding against the North American Plate, creating the San Andreas Fault. This side of the fault is inching northward at an average of 1.3 to 1.5 inches per year, and it'll eventually reach Alaska; San Francisco and Los Angeles will become neighbors. Until then, we have some time to enjoy them separately. Located on the Northwest side of Pt. Reyes National Seashore and just north of Inverness, an unincorporated community in Marin County, it's a nice getaway place for the weekend or any day your heart's desire. Speaking of, there's a beach called 'Heart's Desire' inside the park. The original inhabitants were the Coast Miwok tribe, who populated most of of Marin County and the East Bay all the way to the Sierras. There's even a recreation of what a Miwok Village might have looked like by taking the Indian Nature Trail. The village is located on Indian Beach, which is north of Heart's Desire Beach. The other beach is located south called Pebble Beach. No, not the golf course because the beach has lots of pebbles. There are several trails you can take that are easy to moderate for beginners that are mostly under the shades of wonderful trees and greeneries. Aside from the aforementioned trail, there's also the Johnstone Trail and Jepson Trail, which connects on the southern part of the park and can make a loop trail. Get your cameras ready as there are some wonderful views along these trails. If you are into nature photography, this place is perfect with the surrounding areas and the moss that grows on the trees is just lovely to look at. If you're not into hiking but into picnicking, there are plenty of picnic tables at Heart's Desire Beach and Vista Point, which is a quick trek from the beach by taking the Johstone Trail. However, dogs are not allowed on the beach and they are only allowed on Vista Point, which we didn't mind since we found a hidden and lone picnic table along the trail. There were nice views of the bay on Vista Point, but we eventually relocated to this hidden spot since it was more secluded and felt like our own private space. The only thing it didn't have was a grill, but we didn't mind since we ate our oysters and clams that we brought with us raw. But fear not, there are plenty of grills on the beach picnic tables and Vista Point above. You can purchase oysters and clams from Tomales Bay Oyster Co., Hog Island or Drakes Bay and head over here to enjoy your bounty. There are restrooms on both picnic grounds and they were immaculately very clean. Kudos to the Park Rangers who keep 'em this way and it's very appreciated. There are two separate parking lots on the beach and the Vista Point so the trip to and from your vehicles is not that far. The entrance and parking fee is $8.00 and they only take cash. Cell phone service here is minimal to non-existent, unless you have a portable Wi-Fi hotspot with you, so this is not the place for you if you are addicted to your online devices. However, if you really wanna getaway, this place is heaven. My only wish is they would allow dogs on the trails and beaches, but it's understandable due to the ecological impact on wildlife. I'll take what we can get. #YelpChallenge2020 review No. 48 read more

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Back when I was a youngster, I remember always wanting to visit Tomales Bay. Mainly because I thought that it "sounded cool" but also because I was just straight up curious. Always heard about how insanely beautiful it was, but didn't actually end up making the trek there until recently. Honestly, it's not much of a "trek" at all. About less than 2 hours away from the Bay Area depending on what part that you're traveling from. And, that drive is just something else. The drive alone is quite the adventure. But the true reward is when you finally get there. Tomales Bay State Park is pretty expansive. It sits within Point Reyes National Seashore but has waaay less traffic. It's filled with pretty pocket beaches, picnic areas, hiking trails, and a really neat ranch among other things. I hiked roughly 10 miles here with my hiking group along the Tomales Point Trailhead to the Tomales Bluffs. Such a tiring yet invigorating hike with priceless views. This trail passes through many herds of Tule Elk and you'll get up close and personal with them. You'll find several different species of flowers in the park too. What's also really neat is the ranch that's located right before this hiking trail. This ranch is known as "Pierce Point Ranch" and was originally established back in the 1820's. The remains of the ranch now operate as a small self-guided museum that's free to the public for viewing. In other parts of the park, you can swim and picnic. There are also several other hiking trails to choose from. Tomales Bay State Park makes for a perfect day trip during the warmer months. I really enjoyed this park and I'm looking forward to hiking more trails during my next visit. read more

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Not to be confused with the Tomales Point Trail (where the elk can be seen and starts at the end of Pierce Point Road,) the Tomales Bay State Park is a lovely gem tucked away just past the small town of Inverness. This state park features several small beaches facing the bay with calm waters as well as some lovely woodland hiking trails. If you park at the main entrance there is a day use fee, but I used my California State Parks pass for entry. The primary attraction here seems to be Hearts Desire Beach which has a large parking lot (I've read, though, it gets full in the summer.) For my hike, I parked at this lot, the Saturday after Labor Day weekend and by that time, the summer crowds thinned out. The beach area is pleasant and well maintained with clean restrooms and picnic tables. My destination was the Johnstone Trail for a hike to Shell Beach. Facing the water, the trailhead is to the right where you'll climb a small set of stairs and then head in to a lush green and magical forest. It's an out and back hike of about 8 miles round trip if you go the whole distance but about 1.5 miles in you will see a junction for the Jepson trail which you can take back to Hearts Desire Beach for a shorter loop. The full trek to Shell Beach was worth it for me. For some hikers it may seem monotonous but I enjoyed the oak and pines and ferns along the way. After a hot, dry and brown summer in the East Bay this was a welcome change. The path is well signed but a bit overgrown in some areas (although still easy to follow.) I'd recommend long pants for sure. It's mostly flat with a few gentle ascents and extremely peaceful and quiet. For the whole trip, I only ran in to 5 other people. Along the way, you can also take a detour to Pebble Beach (it's less than a mile from Hearts Desire.) Arriving at Shell Beach, there was a single pit toilet to use before the turn around-not as clean as the bathrooms at the start of the trail but you're only option at that point. Moderate, long hike and a surprisingly diverse lesser known State Park, I'd highly recommend a visit here. You can take a short or long hike or simply relax on the calm bay and enjoy the views. read more

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Tomales Bay is so beautiful, I only wish it were closer! This was my first time visiting the area, and I'm so glad I did. My friend and I were on our way to Tomales Point, and I have to say, this park is by far one of the most beautiful coastal areas in California that I have ever seen. The long drive is worth it! Completely by circumstance, we found this park with a simple google search and had decided this would be the best location for our next day trip adventure! It's a great place to take the family as there are picnic areas, swimming, restrooms, and hiking. I can't wait to come back! read more

Soooo beautiful!!! I love all the scenery in Marin County, however some parts are just too cold, foggy, or windy (example: Limantour Beach, Point Reyes Lighthouse, and Chimney Rocks). Tomales Bay is just perfect weather-wise. Warm, sunny, balmy...with the cleanest blue water. I love all the little secluded beaches where you can get plenty of privacy with the one you love. I accidentally came across this place on the way to Bodega Bay and Sea Ranch. It looks like a giant lake but the water's salty and you can find lots of little shops that sell oysters in the area. Like the Eagles' lyrics in Hotel California: "Such a lovely place, such a lovely place." Bring a beach towel. read more

We just spent the entire day at this beautiful beach. Clean and secluded! But it is popular so come early to hold down a spot. We are all oyster lovers and had a friend do an oyster run. We BBQ'd, kayaked, hiked and soaked up the perfect sun - not too hot or cold. Quick tips: -Parking is $6 per day. -There is limited parking at Heart's Desire. Overflow parking is a .5 mile hike away. -No cell phone service. read more

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In the summer there are kids swimming at Heart's Desire beach. Plenty of grills to BBQ. Stop at the Inverness store nearby and get sandwiches and or oysters. There are approximately 4 to 5 miles a beautiful coastal trails with easy elevations. I strongly encourage visitors to take a hike. Many people don't go here in winter, and you can have the park and views to yourself. Take a short 1 mile hike to Indian beach and enjoy the teepees that represent how the Miwok Indians used to live. There's another short hike from Vista point to Shell Beach. You can kayak here from the other side of the bay. Heart's Desire beach gets crowded with families in the summer so just be aware. read more

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This is a great beach for kids. The water is shallow and still along a nice, wide stretch of beach. Unlike the beaches on the Pacific side of Marin, where you always have to be concerned about big waves and rip currents, the water here is gentle and even little kids can wade and play safely. Drive all the way through Inverness and turn right at the sign for Heart's Desire Beach. Google Maps tells you to go to the next driveway, but just follow the sign. The cost to park is $8. There's a machine that takes either cash or credit cards, but when we arrived it wasn't accepting cash, just cards. I'd bring both, to be safe. There's a good sized parking lot right down at the beach (no hiking required!) and an overflow lot a little further up the hill. There's no snack facility or restaurant at this beach. Bring your own food and water. There are public restrooms available. We arrived in the afternoon and were concerned the beach would be packed. Although there were a lot of people there, it wasn't so crowded as to be uncomfortable, and we were actually able to find a space to sit in the shade, at the back of the beach near the hill. Not bad! Spent a blissful few hours wading in the water, searching for shells and just relaxing. The beach appeared to be fairly clean, which was nice. While it doesn't have the rugged beauty of beaches on the Pacific side, it was very pleasant. While we were here, we saw groups of people having parties and picnics around the handful of picnic tables scattered at the entrance to the beach. There was a game of volleyball in progress. A few kayakers came and went with their kayaks. Good day. read more

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This little secluded Bay is such a great place for the family. We came here for the first time for our friends birthday party...We were definitely pleasantly surprised by this park. It took us 2 hours to get here and so worth the long drive. Please be prepared to leave early. We got here at 8:30 and the park started filling up by 9:30. There is no reception, and limited parking space. Plan accordingly because next parking lot is over a mile away. The park is equipped with bbq pits and tables. Garbage dumpster is close by so remember to bring garbage backs so you can haul your garbage at one shot. Very limited tables. First come, first serve. Caution to get there early. The tables are situated around the edges giving suave fie the middle area for playing football, frisbee, and even bocce ball. Beach is one of the calmest place I've been too. Wonderful for small children! Absolutely a great place for kayaking and stand up paddle boarding. It's very easy for anyone to learn at. My 8 years old daughter maneuvered a tandem kayak by herself. And she was able to do the stand up paddle board that is over 11 feet long but with a friend. There is a platform in the middle for you to swim and jump off. The hike is actually really nice. It goes through the woods that leads to Pebble beach. That's the easy hike for smaller kids. If you have time, you can hike to other locations. Our friend purchased oysters at the Oyster Farm. Plan to buy early and BBQ at the park. read more

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A best kept secret as evidenced by the lack of reviews. And here I am to spoil the fun. I love oysters, I love water, I love paddling, I love being outdoors and I love planning adventures. This all came together with a kayaking / camping trip up on Tomales Beach - which is a boat in camp site. I called the very helpful Bear Valley Visitors center to procure a camping permit ... and after renting some kayaks, a group of us spent a rainy night out on the beach. Lots of coastline to explore, birds and other wildlife to see and at night - the bioluminescence is amazing. If you have the time / energy - go past Duck and Hog Island, chill out on the random stretches of beach or just float in the middle of the Bay and soak in the beauty. It's a bit of a drive from the Bay Area - especially with 2 canoes strapped to your truck ... but absolutely worth every bit of effort. The experience here is unique and the different seasons always gives you something new to discover. read more

The oysters were all to die for...all worth the drive! And the oysters, you can eat fresh or grilled and soooo good. It was so satisfying that you would want more, hahaha! Besides the cell phone connection is very weak, I would highly suggest to print out the map if you haven't gone here before. The drive is pretty bumpy at times, but like I said, it's worth going, driving and having a lot of oysters! read more

Wow what a drive to make it to Tomales Bay. We took a good 2 hours or so to get here and there were no connections at certain places. But well worth it because my beau wanted to check out Point Reyes. The drive was curvy ...as expected. We went on the Tomales Trail ~4.7 miles. Pretty easy trail---we were able to make it with sandals. On the hike, you will see infinite caterpillars....alot which were dead since we (the hikers) were stomping on them along the path. There were plenty more though on the plants that we noticed later. Along the path, we could see/hear the elks. They were far enough so that we wouldn't disturb them. Best visualized 2 miles down the hike with the volunteers/rangers. They had set up telescopes for all of us hikers to get a closer glimpse of the elks. We saw 2 males and a whole batch of females. Also, along the path, we walked side by side to with the bay. BEAUTIFUL and breathtaking view! We didn't finish the entire hike because I'm lazy......but still well worth the trip! read more

What an absolutely idyllic place this is. I have been going here for over 30 years and it never losses its charm. Yes, it is $6 to get in, but I feel $1 an hour is a fabulous deal. We went Superbowl Sunday, and there were only a handful of people around. The weather was almost 70 in Feb! Crazy. The beach is clean, though a bit rocky. It is a cove, so the wind stays away. The water is warm for swimming since it is on the shallow side. There are flush toilets and showers. Somewhere off I hear a mandolin and recorder. Nice. Having a picnic on the beach, I look at the azure blue water, lush green hills on the other side of the Bay, a sailboat slowly going by, warm sun on my face and white sand before me. Can it get any better than this? Oh yes........... the oysters from Tomales Bay Oyster Farm rocked! A perfect way to spend a Sunday. read more

If you're looking for a hidden beach nicely tucked away in Tomales Bay look no further than Heart's Desire Beach. There's a lovely walking trail as well so you can check out the tepees which were quite cool. If you're looking for a relaxing spot, stop here. Our friends brought a barbeque so we made the best of our day, snapping scenic pictures and laughing over food. You can't really ask for anything more. I know there is a fee for parking so carpool ad bring all your friends in one car, unless they have a pass to the parks. Overall, I liked this beach a lot. read more

This is a do not miss! We started out in the Heart's Desire Beach parking lot. The signage for the actual hiking trail was pretty much non-existent but we figured it out. The beach and water were packed with 4th of July picnicers and there was almost no one on the trails (they were missing out). We took the Jepson and Johnstone Trails from Heart's Desire Beach to Shell Beach which is about 4 miles. The trail was beautiful, we picked and ate blackberries along the way. There are no difficult ups and downs, the grading and switchback made for a very easy trek. It was great wading in the shallow, warm and pretty clear water after the first 4 miles. Next time I will pack a blanket, swimsuit and food and make a day of it. read more

Nice out of the way beach. Be prepared for winding roads if you get car sick. Not too crowded and the water is pristine here. Easy parking. Clean restrooms. I think the State does a nice job with this location. I'm really speaking about Heart's Desire Beach. read more

I chose Heart's Desire as the locale for a recent birthday BBQ / oyster fest. After ruling out the stinky oyster farms, I was on the search for a nicer beach with full barbecue amenities. Why Heart's Desire turned out to be perfect: * On Tomales Bay, so the water is calmer than the ocean (and you can actually swim!), it's in a protected cove, so much less windy. * Plenty of tables and barbecues for use * Bathrooms and running water available * Proximity to the oyster farms and Point Reyes Station for easy pick up of supplies beforehand. Some pertinent info: * There are two areas to picnic in: a lookout point just above the beach, consisting of a shady area with about ten picnic tables (great for larger groups), barbecues, and a five minute trail down to the water; and directly on the beach there are six more tables with barbecues. * Parking is $6 per car, and they do enforce this. It's a long drive down to the beach, so you wouldn't really be able to park on the road and walk down. * There's a neat little dock on the water that you can swim out to and jump off of. Totally reminded me of summer on the lake in Tahoe. Fun! And the beach itself is great for kids too- that Saturday there were a ton of families out playing frisbee, building sand castles, etc. * The grills are somewhat small, so it might be nice to bring along a portable bbq as well, especially if you have a larger group. * When driving up from SF, your Garmin and Google Maps will direct you to drive straight up Highway 1 to Tomales Bay. If you're prone to carsickness at all (or if you just want a faster route), take Hwy 101 instead. read more

Why would someone want to pay $6 per car to enter the Tomales Bay State Park, which is right next to the free use of the Point Reyes National Seashore? Heart's Desire Beach, that's why. While beaches on the National Park required a hike down steep sandy trails, the State Park had a parking lot right at the beach. We found this to be a warm, sheltered, white sand beach with clean water. At 4 pm the parking lot was nearly full, and all the picnic tables were taken. About 100 children were playing in the cove, and there were three boys rocking a platform offshore. Looking north, we could see another beach with just one person on it, a short walk away on one of the nature trails. I noticed there was no lifeguard. The only improvements to the land appeared to be the nature trails, the parking lot, and the clean public restrooms with outdoor showers. If we were to spend the day here, it would be a good idea to bring our own food and beach umbrella. read more

Good place for families. Parking lot can fill up on busy days. There is no surf because it's s bay so it's safer for little kids. There are bathrooms, a picnic area, etc. Swimming area is large. No lifeguard. It's a little bit closer than going to the beaches at the National seashore. read more

Quaint little cozy beach, slightly warmer climate in Tomales Bay as opposed to Point Reyes. The water is still cold, so bring warm clothes, blankets, beach gear, etc. Bring a hearty lunch and relax on this beach. Great for families with little kids, nice trails. Besides the parking not being free, everything else is pleasant about this beach. read more

As mother to a three year old, this is what I would like in a beach: calm water, a relatively small beach so I can keep my eye on her, no wind, some (harmless) wildlife, restrooms, drinking fountains, picnic tables and a bbq. And I found all of that at a beach in Point Reyes aptly named Heart's Desire. Located over the Inverness Ridge on Tomales Bay, Heart's Desire is protected from the wind and the huge surf for which Point Reyes beaches are famous. Unlike many Northern California beaches, this little bayside cove is actually safe for swimming. The shallow water is warmer than one would expect, and the swimming area is bordered by buoys to keep larger boat traffic away. This is also a popular place to put in kayaks and canoes, which can be fun for the kids to watch. Older kids and adults might choose to swim out to the anchored raft. Because the water is warm(ish), there are often jellyfish floating at the water's edge. Not to worry-they are harmless. The area is also home to migrating shorebirds in the fall, peregrine falcons and the endangered snowy plover. Do be careful as the snowy plover is a ground-nesting bird; their nesting season is June 1st - September 15.) In addition, deer roam freely, and if you're lucky, you might spot a fox. To get there, drive past Inverness on Sir Francis Drake Blvd., then bear right onto Pierce Point Road. Continue on Pierce Point Road until you see the sign for Tomales Bay State Park, then make a right turn into the park. Unlike the rest of Point Reyes National Seashore, this is a State Park, so you'll have to pay a $6 vehicle entry fee at the ranger station. It's worth it, though. Pack some oysters for the bbq, some Goldfish crackers for the kids, a bunch of sand toys and some towels, and have a nice, warm, relaxing day at the beach! read more

Great beach for families with small children. Fairly calm, shallow swim area. That said, make sure to bring aqua socks/water shoes as sand is very coarse and the bay floor is very rocky. Make sure to bring in food, beverages, etc, as it is quite a ways away from the nearest store and there are no concessions available. read more

Fabulous for kids! My 3-year-old son eagerly explored the mixing fresh and salt water (there was a tiny stream after the rains), throwing rocks in the water and building sand castles with his 6-year-old sister. Not the best sand in my opinion but they had a blast and didn't seem to mind one bit. My daughter loved how calm it was (very little wind) and the fact she didn't keep getting sand stuck in her sunscreen. Fabulous for adults! We didn't have to schlep all their toys! It was so close- you literally just drive up into the parking lot and the beach is right there. Hell, I'd pay $20 at the end of a crazy day with them not to have to carry them, and all their stuff back to the car like we do at Limantour and other beaches. read more

This review is for Heart's Desire beach--not for the state park as a whole (we only went to the beach). The good--it's family friendly with plenty of room for kids, there are picnic tables and grills, there's a bathroom and parking right next to the beach (if you get there early enough to get a spot--at around 10:30 when we arrived on a Sunday, the lot was a little less than half full). The bad--the water is petty cold, so swimming in it seems more like a challenge than a relaxing activity. There are lots of rocks and seaweed in the water, so even when you go in, it seems a bit sketchy. Not a bad way to spend a Sunday on a hot day in the Bay Area, but a bit less impressive than I was expecting. read more

Lots of families were here today playing, kayaking, swimming, etc. You'll find the entrance to the beach before the entrance/payment for parking. There's a small little beach sign. It's the more beachier of the other beaches as Pebble and Indian beach were covered in gravel, shells, and rocks. It is small so don't expect anything extravagant. Also it's fairly cold, so don't think you can sun bathe here without wanting to pull blankets all over you. read more

Tomales Bay State Park and Heart's Desire beach are a must visit if you're looking for a relaxing time near the ocean. In case it's not obvious, this is on the Tomales Bay side, it does not get surf from the ocean and makes a great spot for swimming, especially for kids. The water is often as clear as a Hawaiian beach. Late summer and early fall it's warm and inviting. There are several hiking trails leading into and out of Heart's Desire which connect several of the area beaches (as well as heading through the coastal woods) ranging from 1 mile round trip ranging to around 8 miles. Pebble Beach, Shell Beach, and Indian Beach are all within reach depending on how much hiking you want to do. Pebble and Shell also have their own parking near by and are accessible by short hikes. Heart's Desire is the most sandy of the beaches. The others are more like pebbles and gravel. All are nice spots. Heart's Desire also has picnic tables at the beach. There is a reservable picnic area on a bluff between Heart's Desire and Pebble beaches. All of the beaches have a bathroom or bathrooms and Heart's Desire offers shower's as well. We've been coming here for several years. Our kids love it. We love it. read more

I received a message from Ezra from Yelp HQ that my review was taken down because he thought my review was meant for another listing. So nice of him to tell me where I had been, but he was wrong. We had a permit to camp at Tomales Beach in this park, not Point Reyes National Seashore. ---------------------------------------- Even though it rained heavily for about 75% of the time I was here, I still loved it. We paddled over from near the Marshall store, set up camp and just looked out at the loveliness. Then it started to pour by about 2pm. I stood in front of the fire. I must have been thinking that the heat of the fire would dry me faster than the rain could soak me. I was dead wrong. I passed out early and had to get up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night. It was gorgeous out. The sky was clear and the stars were huge and bright. If I wasn't afraid of the nocturnal animals we'd already had a few visits from, I might have stayed outside longer. There are clean toilets and trash cans for garbage and recycling. It's hard to beat camping on the beach, especially if you get some oysters and steak out of it. Just watch out for the cow patties and maybe dead animals. read more

We thought it was a hiking area but it really is just a beach. Walked around the side trails for maybe 30 minutes and decided to head off. Yeah self paid parking place. I saw signs that they dont allow dogs but I saw some unusual looking black excrement all around the trails. Could be a large racoon or something but its just all over the place... read more

When I think of "hearts desire" I think of...oh I don't know, a quiet beach with lots of dunes to cuddle up in with my honey. Holy screaming kids and groups of 10 or more! **not** romantic / relaxing / clean / easy to park above are all the reasons on why I go to the beach in the first place, so I wont be coming back here. I highly suggest Limantour Beach http://www.yelp.com/biz/limantour-beach-point-reyes-station Yes it's a long drive. but the parking is free, and 1 person for every 1,000sqft of beach an any given weekend. Dog friendly, kid friendly and cuddle in a dune in a blanket friendly. read more

Eight of us had a picnic there after stopping to buy some fresh oysters at one of the oyster farm on the other side of the bay. We first went to Millerton Point for a picnic, but didn't find any picnic tables and the area was very windy and cold. Our second option was Hearts Desire Beach. We were so very happy that we came here!! This picnic area is equipped with several picnic tables, BBQ grill, nice lawn, clean toilet, and the beautiful view. The entire area was very clean and quiet. We will definitely go back there for more picnic :-) read more

Stopped at Tomales Bay to eat lunch during a hike from Shell Beach. I really enjoyed the views of Tomales Bay. Start and end at Shell Beach for a nice hike. Along the way visit Heart's Desire and Pebble Beach. I would like to come back to eat oysters and kayak. What a life! read more

Nice clean hidden beach with a few trails leading other beaches that don't have driving access. read more

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This review is for Heart's Desire Beach. A terrific place to have a picnic and have young children wade safely in saltwater for the first time. The shallow waters are relatively warm during the summer (a rarity in NoCal) and there's no surf or rip tides. Do keep an eye out for jellyfish, which seem to like this bay. There are two outdoor showers by the restroom/dressing room building. The grounds are kept clean. It's fairly quiet on weekdays, though sometimes overrun with day camp kids during the summer. We also came here in December on a crisp sunny day, and had the beach practically to ourselves as we enjoyed lunch at a picnic table. It was positively magical. read more

Prime area, clean clean. Really nice views. Tip: bring water and light snacks. We strafed the water in a double kayak from across the bay. We rented from a store in Marshall. read more

So many people have told me what a great toddler beach this is.. It is on a very calm bay, but the beach is muddy and we found broken glass. My neighbors who have lived in Marin their entire lives told me that is a great place to find great whites, not exactly where I want my baby to play if you know what I mean. I probably won't be back to this beach. read more

I had a bbq lunch at Heart's Desire Beach. Sometimes hard to get tables but as long as you get here early in the morning, no problem. after eating I hiked 2 miles. including Pebble Beach. Trail is sometimes covered with trees but still very nice to hike. read more

Nobody wants to drive 2 hours to get out here. If you want to be secluded and hump like bunnies in the bushes this is the spot. The oyster farms are also within a 5 miles driving distance. You can pick them up and find a BBQ pit to grill them. I come for the food. read more