Situated on the eastern edge of Point Reyes Peninsula, with the San Andreas Fault running directly beneath it, this park features sheltered coves, beaches, tidal marshes and a forest of bishop pines.

This day-use park features multiple gently sloping, surf-free beaches, protected from winds by Inverness Ridge, the backbone of the Point Reyes Peninsula. Tomales Bay State Park is composed of 3 distinct use areas:

• Heart's Desire - Located at 1100 Pierce Point Road, in Inverness, Heart's Desire is the heart of Tomales Bay State Park.  Here you will find the parks Ranger Station, Heart's Desire Beach, Vista Point Picnic Area, and hiking trails to Indian Beach, Pebble Beach, and Shell Beach.  Dogs are not permitted on any beaches or trails in this area.
• Shell Beach - Located at the end of Camino Del Mar in Inverness, Shell Beach offers two small beaches with access to the Johnstone trail which connects to Heart's Desire.  The beaches are only accessible by hiking trail from the parking lot and spaces in the lot are very limited.  Dogs are not permitted on any beaches or trails in this area.
• Millerton Point  Located at 15475 HWY 1, north of Point Reyes Station, Millerton Point sits on the inland side of the bay and features Alan Sieroty Beach along with a loop trail. Dogs are not permitted on the beach, but are allowed on the loop trail while on leash.

Tomales Bay State Park is popular! The park is experiencing extremely high visitation and our lots often fills up by mid-morning on weekends. We recommend carpooling while visiting, or visiting the park on weekdays, or on weekends, early or late in the day to minimize wait times. Have an alternate plan and destination in mind if parking is full at your time of arrival. When our Heart’s Desire lot is full, vehicles are slowly metered as other vehicles depart.

In addition to hiking, the park is a popular place for picnicking, swimming and boating. Overnight parking and camping are prohibited.  The Vista Point Group Picnic Area is the only reservable space within the park.  With beautiful views overlooking the bay, this is a lovely spot for a wedding, filming, or large gatherings.  

Please visit the above website link for details about dogs and important park rules.

The Park is open Daily, 8:00am - Sunset