Tomales Bay State Park

We decided to not be bums and sit on our lard asses today. We decided to drive out 2 hours to Tomales Bay State Park and go for a hike. Not just any hike, but a decidedly 2 hour hike. So we were on our way. We meandered the streets of Fairfax and San Rafael to finally arrive at Tomales Bay State Park. The map is kind of not clear, but we found our way. We decided to take the Indian Nature Trail first. A quick .8 mile kick start to our longer hike. It had a gigantic tree blocking the path that we had to duck waddle underneath. We saw lots of families travelling this path which is nice because there are placards of information for the kiddies to read.

We then did a loop (we didn't go to Shell Beach as that would've more than doubled our hiking). It was a nice little hike and well you need to be hiking one behind each other as the trail lends to only single row walking. There's a lot of brushery so long pants helps avoid scrapes.

I would be more of a fan had there not been a $8 parking fee, but that's ok. I know that there needs to be some kind of fee to ensure the upkeep of the park.

It was a nice little 4.2 mile hike for us (ended up being only 1.5 hours) and let us have time to meander to the lighthouse which is a definite site to catch when the sun is setting!

A hidden gem! Great park cycling, hiking and the views! It was great location for a cycling test stop.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.