Campfires (need permit) and dogs on leash are permitted south of the North Beach entrance. Point Reyes Beaches, North and South, also known as 10 mile Beach or The Great Beach is windy with surf so rough that swimming is not permitted. The dunes are nesting grounds for the endangered snowy plover whose nests are on the ground, so watch for them June through September. The dunes at this beach are reminiscent of the east Coast’s Cape Cod and you can walk out to the Great Beach. The 1.5 trail to the beach is level and passes a lovely small lagoon on the left and a large one to the right where many migratory birds gather. A good area for picnics in the dunes.Ībbotts Lagoon Beach parking lot and trail head is on the Pierce Point Rd. Dogs are allowed on leash to the north of the half-mile trail into the beach. Kehoe Beach trailhead is on the Pierce Point Rd. Take care at this beach as the intense surf makes it dangerous to be on the rocks except during the outgoing tide. McClures Beach, south of Tomales Point and west of the Pierce Point parking area, has great tidepooling and lots of wildlife including the giant sea anemones. Beaches on the west coast tend to be windswept and dramatic, surf rough and rip currents treacherous. Many beaches are easily accessible, others you can reach only by hiking. You’ll find places to go walking swimming, kayaking, tidepooling, birdwatching, and beachcombing. Point Reyes beaches are some of the most dramatic and beautiful in the country.

National seashore beaches