Tomales Bay State Park
State Park · Inverness, California
Tomales Bay State Park is in Marin County on the sheltered west shore of Tomales Bay, near Inverness, inside the Point Reyes area, about an hour north of San Francisco on narrow, winding roads. The bay side is a different world from the wind-blasted open ocean beaches nearby: Heart's Desire Beach and Pebble Beach face calm, shallow water that is warmer than the Pacific - confirm on the day. Behind the shore stands a forest of bishop pine, and a short walk leads to Indian Beach, where a replica of a Coast Miwok village has stood - confirm its condition. Kayakers launch into the bay, and oyster farms operate along its shores - confirm which sell to the public. Point Reyes National Seashore is a separate place next door. The park is small, parking is limited and fills on sunny weekends, fog can sit over the bay in summer, and stinging rays and ticks are real. It suits families, birders and paddlers who arrive early and bring layers, and it is a poor choice for anyone expecting surf, big views or services.
1100 Pierce Point Rd, Inverness, California, 94937, United States
California State Parks has generally run this park as a day-use area from around morning until sunset, with a fee collected at a kiosk or self-serve box - confirm current opening and closing times, whether the gate is locked at night and whether a ranger is on duty the day you go. Day-use parking is the real limit, and the lot can fill by late morning on warm weekends from spring to early fall. Fog often burns off by midday in summer but can linger, and winter storms can close roads or bring down limbs in the pine forest. Fire danger can lead to closures in dry, windy weather. Tides matter for clamming, kayaking and the width of the beaches, so check a tide table. Check the State Parks page and local alerts before the winding drive out from the highway.
Tomales Bay State Park on Spottos · Explore more places on Spottos