There are a few peaks in the Bay Area that are worth summiting for their sweeping views and beautiful… Providing access to this unique body of water is Tomales Bay State Park, which covers a stretch of coastline on both sides of Tomales Bay. Why go: What you’ll see, first of all: the Pacific Ocean, Tomales Bay and Bodega Bay. Lots of Holsteins grazing on lush green grass with big boulders nestled among them. Parking at the trailhead is easy and free in a small lot. Distance: 3.2 km / 2 mi. You'll be treated to spectacular views of Tomales Bay from several points along the trail. On this hike you will pass by a couple ponds then rise over a small hill with views of the area before ending at the marshy shoreline (just over one mile each way). 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. Dad (40ish, fit) gave it three stars, with good views from the loop, but mostly a lot of less exciting landscape and no shade or spot to sit. Also, come for the tule elk. The Tomales Bay Trailhead is located off Highway 1 approximately one mile north of Point Reyes Station. The Millerton Point Trail is a 1.18 mile accessible loop trail located off Highway 1 about five miles north of Point Reyes Station. 12938 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. The trailhead is clearly marked, and there's plenty of off-street parking. The Tomales Bay Trail is a hiking route that provides access to the part of Tomales Bay where the salt water mixes with freshwater from Lagunitas Creek. There are a lot of cows (and manure). Drove out here to find a sign that says no dogs. Our path was the Tomales Point Trail, a 4.7-mile straight line north to the end of Point Reyes, where Boedga Bay transitions into Tomales Bay. Tomales bay Trailhead - great hike. Tomales Bay Trail offers glimpses into California’s tumultuous geologic history. Start at the Tomales Point Trailhead near the Historic Pierce Point Ranch. Tamalpais Summit. This trail is very well maintained and you are almost guaranteed to see tule elk along the way. Reyes region. Nice easy trail! Squeezed on three sides by water, the only sounds are wind, surf, and bird cries. Mom (40ish, 2x/week exerciser) gave it 4 stars, with a good variety of wildlife, if you’re looking hard enough; and easy enough for kids 5+ to do on their own steam. Email: info@tomalesbayresort.com Phone: (415) 669-1389 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. Carry binoculars and a field guide to birds as you walk … Starting from the Jepson trailhead in Tomales Bay State Park, meander for a mile on a gradually descending trail covered in pine needles. Tomales Bay is a narrow, 15-mile-long tidal estuary along the San Andreas Fault on the northeast side of Pt. It’s a trail with history and character. Go all the way to the Bay and it gets real marshy, especially in winter time. The bay is a submerged rift of the San Andreas Fault. There are no restrooms or drinking fountains here, so make sure you pack your own water and snacks. On a clear day, this makes for spectacular views. T he Tomales Point tule elk reserve is not only a great place to watch wildlife, it's one of the quietest trails on Point Reyes. It’s an excellent spot for bird-watching and has even been protected for shorebird habitat in Tomales Bay Ecological Reserve. Fun Fact: The trail is right on the San Andreas Fault. The Tomales Bay Trailhead is maintained by the National Park Service as part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area. There is no sandy beach here, but it is an interesting shoreline that few people see. The fault is the reason why the Tomales Bay exists and is the shape that it is. The hills are quite enchanting though, and I can't wait to see what it looks like with the wildflowers in spring! Really nice trail. We took our baby in the front pack, and the last 25% felt like we were being borderline bad parents. Over thousands of years a part of the fault filled with sea water creating the Tomales Bay in Northern California. The majority of park land as well as The park has a microclimate, and often has sunny days and pleasant temperatures when other neighboring coastal locales are damp and cold. As other reviewers stated, the seashore and the Tomales Bay views are stunning, and seeing dozens of elks … Not dog friendly. It’s located just outside the tiny town of Olema and just three […], Tomales is a beautiful town of approximately 200 residents who reside near the winding Shoreline Highway 1 that runs along the east side of Tomales Bay and overlooks Point Reyes National […], Copyright CaliforniaBeaches.com Inverness Ridge and Tomales Bay are to the west and Black Mountain is to the east. Pretty vistas of the bay and fields. Follow the trail for roughly three miles. Contact Us. From the trailhead off CA Highway 1, the Tomales Bay trail starts off on a mellow downhill through open coastal plains. The hills are quite enchanting and visitors can enjoy wildflowers in spring. Horses are also able to use this trail. After reaching Lower Pierce Point Ranch, the trail is not maintained and can be overgrown with bush lupine or other shrubs. The Tomales Bay trail is on the east side of the bay. If you go by yourself there are plenty of cows to keep you company! Inverness, CA 94937. The trail gently meanders over rolling hills for its entirety, with no shortage of views overlooking endless ocean, precipitous coastal cliffs, and what feels like a bird’s eye view over a uni… If you turned back once reaching the water, it would be a perfect after lunch leg stretch without any bushwhacking required. Super disappointed as it looked really nice. Saw some beautiful birds and lots of cute critters. The single trail drifts north away from the trailhead, eventually reaching Tomales Point, nearly 5 miles from the nearest road. From the trailhead off CA Highway 1, the Tomales Bay trail starts off on a mellow descent through open coastal plains. Marshall Beach in Inverness, California Marshall Beach is on Tomales Bay in the northern part of Point Reyes National Seashore. The hike to Tomales Point is one of the easier trails to follow. Lots of Holsteins grazing on lush green grass with big boulders nestled among them. The Tomales Point Trail traces the ridge of the Point Reyes Peninsula, a narrow strip of land dividing Tomales Bay from the Pacific Ocean. The Tomales Bay trail is on the east side of the bay. Most hikers and visitors overlook this vast tidal estuary. Privacy Policy | Terms of Use, Join our email list to get new information, events or other fun stuff, Tomales California Is The Restful Respite You Need. Reyes. I wondered why there weren’t any trail runners reviewing the trail.. Horse Trail, Sky Trail, Woodard Valley Trail [CLOSED], Valley, Woodward, Coast, Sky, Meadow Loop Trail [CLOSED], Bear Valley, Meadow and Old Pine Trail [CLOSED], Mount Wittenburg, Woodward Valley, Coast Trail, and Glen Camp, Bear Valley Loop Trail [CLOSED], Laguna, Coast Trail, Glen, Baldy, Sky Trail Loop [CLOSED], Inverness Ridge, Drakes View, Bayview Trail Loop, Sky, Woodward Valley, Coast, Laguna and Bayview Trail Loop [CLOSED], Bear Valley, Coast Trail, Greenpicker, Rift Trail [CLOSED], Inverness, Bucklin, Muddy, White Gate, Drakes Head, Estero, Glenbrook, Bayview, Horse, Sky, Old Pine, and Bear Valley Trail [CLOSED], Bear Valley, Mount Wittenberg and Wildcat Campground [CLOSED]. "Northern Califormia highlight of beauty, great biking & hiking and briny,..." Trail in Point Reyes Station, CA The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, running, nature trips, and horses and is accessible year-round. Parking is easy and you may even run into a cow or two on the trail :) Very easy hike. Tomales Point caps the northernmost tip of Point Reyes National Seashore where the Pacific Ocean meets Bodega Bay. This 1-mile accessible loop trail traverses coastal bluffs with spectacular views of Tomales Bay, Point Reyes, and surrounding coastal hills. Johnstone Trail leads bayside from Heart’s Desire Beach to Shell Beach. Watching the stars emerge from one end of the horizon to the other was breathtaking. The fault is the reason why the Tomales Bay exists and is the shape that it is. Trail Map | Photo Gallery My boyfriend and I left this hike absolutely covered in bites, I was bit through my leggings over 10 times. Beautiful trail, but pretty overgrown once you continue on past the water, where there is lots of poisonous oak growing into the trail. Length 2.5 miElevation gain 259 ftRoute type Loop It is situated between Bodega Bay in the north and Bolinas Lagoon in the south, to the east of Drake's Estero - all critical estuaries of the Pt. Pretty vistas of the bay and fields throguhout. Tomales Bay Trail is a 4.0 kilometer lightly trafficked loop trail located near Point Reyes Station, California that offers the chance to see wildlife and is good for all skill levels. The Tomales Point Trail travels along the ridgeline towards the northernmost tip of the peninsula offering amazing views of the Pacific coastline and down into Tomales Bay. If […], Bear Valley Visitor Center is a great place to start for any visit to Point Reyes National Seashore. Wear bug repellent! The Tomales Point Trail through the Tule Elk Reserve offers panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, Bodega Bay, and Tomales Bay as one potentially hikes 9.4 miles (15 km) round-trip to the northern end of the Peninsula. Go all the way to the Bay and it gets real marshy, especially in winter time. The Tomales Bay Trailhead is maintained by the National Park Service as part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Limantour Spit Trail. This is an easy scenic walk.. Lots of parking. Explore the west side of Tomales Bay on a 2.7-mile loop hike featuring beautiful shoreline and bay views. It's beautiful county side and we saw a fair amount of wildlife. In muddier times their hoofs have sunk into the trail and dried leaving pock marks thru out... easy to walk on but very difficult to run. The trail is right on the San Andreas Fault. September is our summer. The Tomales Point Trail runs along coastal bluffs, up the peninsula's spine, and through the Tule Elk Preserve en route to its climactic finish on the Seashore's wave-battered cusp. Pretty easy hike. We did this mistakenly as a warm up for the Tomales Point Trail which is located farther NW from here. Tomales Bay is a long, narrow inlet of the Pacific Ocean in Marin County in northern California in the United States.It is approximately 15 mi (24 km) long and averages nearly 1.0 mi (1.6 km) wide, effectively separating the Point Reyes Peninsula from the mainland of Marin County. The trail is primarily used for hiking, running, nature trips, and bird watching and is accessible year-round. Beautiful walk at sunset into the evening. A handful of trails traverse gently sloping wooded hillsides and access four beaches on Tomales Bay. Great short hike with gorgeous vast open views. The Tomales Point trail passes through the Tule Elk Reserve, and the 300-odd gray-brown grazers will gaze at hikers from various points along the trailsides. Over thousands of years a part of the fault filled with sea water creating the Tomales Bay in Northern California. Tomales Bay Trail is a 2.5 mile lightly trafficked loop trail located near Point Reyes Station, California that offers the chance to see wildlife and is good for all skill levels. Review of Tomales Bay State Park. Tomales Bay is a wonder of a water feature that is formed by the San Andreas Fault as it runs directly under the 12-mile long inlet that separates the Point Reyes Peninsula from the California mainland. Hikers walk atop … Next, the trail skirts two small ponds ringed by marsh grass and cattails. It is located approximately 30 mi (48 km) northwest of San Francisco. Part of the path at the Bay was underwater and real sloshy. This region is known for hikes and beaches on Point Reyes Peninsula and the shoreline of Tomales Bay. Both the 8.5 y/o and 3.5 y/o (suburban/city kids, active but not athletic) thought it was “long” and “not exciting”, but enjoyed taking pictures of plants they’re less than familiar with. Approach a group of large rocks and stick to the main trail, avoiding the narrower side trails. Easy to follow trail walking through cow pastures and long the upper ridge of the inlet. Bay Area walkers have a little secret: When fog smothers Point Reyes and San Francisco Bay, try heading for Tomales Bay State Park. From the parking lot at the Tomales Point Trailhead, walk to the left of the historic Pierce Point Ranch, which offers a glimpse into the early dairy ranching days on the Peninsula.. Continue straight, in a general northern direction, on the same trail for 7.6 km until the trail dead ends at Tomales Point. This trail got a mixed review from our family of four. Tomales Point is surrounded by water on three sides – the Pacific Ocean to the west, Tomales Bay to the east, and Bodega Bay to the north. The surface is compacted soil. Gotta stop a bunch of time to open and close gates but the views are nice and we got to see a lot of birds. Approach a group of large rocks and stick to the main trail, avoiding the narrower side trails. On our hike out to the point, we were completely socked in by the fog. To find the parking lot drive north from the town of Point Reyes Station on Highway 1 and look for the Tomales Bay Trailhead sign. This was a fun and pretty little trail. The trail is primarily used for hiking, running, nature trips, and bird watching and is accessible year-round. Tomales Point Trail is a 9.4 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Marshall, California that offers the chance to see wildlife and is rated as moderate. This is an easy scenic walk with plenty parking. Access to Marshall Beach is either by water or by trail. This is one of the best trails north of San Francisco. The wide former ranch road passes through scrub and grasses with only minor hills to climb. Visitors frequently boat-in to this beach because there is an outhouse toilet and space for camping. Surrounded by water on three sides for the length of the trail, it feels like walking nature’s plank—but in a good way. L ittle Tomales Bay State Park, with only 2,000 acres, is dwarfed by the surrounding parklands of Point Reyes National Seashore. Next the trail skirts two small ponds ringed by marsh grass and cattails. The history comes from the Pierce Point Ranch and all the other historic ranches scattered around the peninsula. You’re literally surrounded. See 25 photos and 2 tips from 144 visitors to Tomales Bay Trailhead. To find the parking lot drive north from the town of Point Reyes Station on Highway 1 and look for the Tomales Bay Trailhead sign.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'californiabeaches_com-large-billboard-2','ezslot_2',662,'0','0']));report this ad, The Point Reyes Shipwreck is an iconic wooden boat stuck on a sandbar in the town of Inverness on Tomales Bay in Marin County. About Us | Contact Pro photographers and tourists alike have […], Tomales Bay Oyster Company is the first of four oyster stops on the eastern shores of Tomales Bay that you come across when driving north from the Bay Area. Easy and pleasant morning hike with clear skies and beautiful views towards Tomales Bay. Otherwise it is beautiful. I was able to eek another 1/2 mile by repeating the bottom section along the water.. Tomales Bay Trail Point Reyes Station, California, United States ratings, photos, prices, expert advice, traveler reviews and tips, and more information from Condé Nast Traveler. An old levee that used to be a railroad right of way runs through this spot and evidence can still be seen. The wetlands have been restored in a project called the Giacomini Wetlands Restoration Project which was completed in 2008. Overall, a good outing made better by good sandwiches and cookies from Inverness Park Market (other side of Tomales Bay). Reviewed October 22, 2017 . 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