Tomales Bay State Park

When to Go

Tomales Bay State Park is open daily from 8am to sunset. Parking is limited and can fill up quickly, especially during holiday and summer weekends. Try to get here by mid-morning, come late in the day, or arrive on a weekday. Heart’s Desire Beach is most popular for summer picnics and swimming, as the water is warmer on the bay than at oceanside beaches. During summer and fall, you might see—and hear—Tule Elk rutting and bugling.

Know Before You Go

• Mushroom collecting is prohibited at Tomales Bay, and bicycles are prohibited on all trails.
• Shell Beach is only accessible via a hiking trail from the parking lot.
• The Tule Elk Preserve is located north of park boundaries at the end of Pierce Point Road where you’ll find parking and a hiking trail along the peninsula.
• With the exception of service animals, dogs are not allowed on any of the beaches or trails in the park, but they can be leashed at the Vista Point picnic area.
• Pick up farm-fresh picnic supplies in the neighboring community of Inverness.