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    Tomales Bay State Park

    4.0 (55 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 7:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

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    The entrance
    John G.

    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

    Signage
    Shayla B.

    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.

    Hearts Desire Beach
    Jennifer N.

    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.

    Earlene C.

    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.

    View from Vista Point.
    Eric N.

    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.

    Erin L.

    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.

    The calm bay!!! Great for stand up paddle boarding and recreational kayaking.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Tomales Bay State Park

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    Review Highlights - Tomales Bay State Park

    Tomales Bay State Park and Heart's Desire beach are a must visit if you're looking for a relaxing time near the ocean.

    Mentioned in 15 reviews

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    4.7(405 reviews)
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    How fortunate we are to have Point Reyes National Seashore. The headquarters is fantastic- maps,…read morerecommendations, nice restrooms & plenty of free parking. Today we chose the Bear Valley hike trail. The path is wide and mostly flat and even includes a bathroom midway. As you walk you are able to hear the beautiful sounds of the babbling brook along the route. Being late Spring we were able to spot a good amount of wildflowers- buttercups, poppies, bleeding heart, foxglove and more. We encountered several equestrian's throughout our hike.

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    Kelham Beach

    Kelham Beach

    5.0(5 reviews)
    11.2 mi

    The perfect definition of a secluded beach. It's tranquil, it's peaceful, and best of all; it's…read morepretty much void of the general populations that frequent the park. This is because you'll have to hike at least 5 miles one way just to reach this beautiful beach. One of the most rewarding elements of making it here is being able to see the hidden waterfall right as you reach the bottom of the steps leading down the beach. There are probably a few different connector trails that you can take to get here. The quickest and less aggressive way would be to take the Bear Valley Trail to the Coastal Trail. This route is mostly flat and measures about 5 miles one way. It's also the popular trail within the park. If you're looking for more of an adventure and killer workout, take the Mount Wittenberg Trail to the Sky Trail which will also lead you to the Coastal Trail and down to the beach. Not only is this trail filled with tons of great inclines and ridges, but it's also insanely gorgeous! You'll be walking amongst the most beautiful trees and have stunning views of the coastline on your way there. This is the trail that I took to get there. It's about 7 miles one way, but you can also take the Bear Valley Trail back to make it a 12 mile loop instead of 14. Once you make it there, you'll be rewarded with calming waves and beautiful white water right beneath your feet. The sand is soft and there's plenty of flat driftwood to sit on. Use it to relax and have lunch while you take in the sights and sounds of Kelham. I think I saw about 2, maybe 3 people while I was there. I stayed at the beach for a little over an hour or so. Basically had it to myself for the majority of the time. If you're looking for a secluded beach to relax at during your trip to Point Reyes, this is the one. The trek may be long, but the sights and solidarity make it totally worth it.

    Kelham Beach was the destination for my boyfriend and I's Point Reyes hike. It is about 5 miles…read moreone way from the Bear Valley Visitor Center to get to this beach. Once you see the sign for the Kelham Beach Trail, go down the several steep steps to the beach. Once you reach the beach, you will be treated to a nice sandy beach with not too many people. When we were there, there might have been only a few other groups there. It feels very remote and secluded. It is defiantly a nice place for a romantic picnic. The beach also a small waterfall which was a nice surprise. If you have never been to Point Reyes before, hiking to Kelham Beach is a good starting point. The terrain wasn't too challenging and the beach was easy to find. I would defiantly recommend checking it out if you are able to.

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    Where fresh water meets the sea

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    A ship in the distance

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