Our Mission The mission of California State Parks is to provide for the health, inspiration and uman impact on Tomales Bay education of the people of California by helping H to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological State Park diversity, protecting its most valued natural and the land is dwarfed cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation. in comparison to the influences of nature, time, and the San Andreas Fault — which lies directly
California State Parks supports equal access. beneath the 12-mile Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who need assistance should contact the park at length of Tomales Bay. (415) 669-1140. If you need this publication in an alternate format, contact [email protected].
CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS P.O. Box 942896 Sacramento, CA 94296-0001 For information call: (800) 777-0369 (916) 653-6995, outside the U.S. 711, TTY relay service
www.parks.ca.gov
Tomales Bay State Park 1100 Pierce Point Rd., Inverness, CA 94937 (415) 669-1140 www.parks.ca.gov/ tomalesbay
© 2010 California State Parks (Rev. 2017) S ituated on the eastern edge of Mountains, more than 300 miles southeast. Point Reyes Peninsula, the blue waters Incredibly, movement of two inches per year and sheltered coves of Tomales Bay over ten million years is sufficient to have State Park are a popular destination caused the granite to travel that distance. for a day of picnicking, hiking, or water- In the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, the oriented activities. The beaches and greatest measured displacement along the east-facing slopes of this 2,000-acre entire fault was at Tomales Bay, where the park are especially attractive because area west of the fault moved more than 20 they are protected from the prevailing feet northward. winds by the high backbone of the Point Vista Point overlook Reyes Peninsula. The park is located 40 PLANT COMMUNITIES miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge, close beaches would be closed to public use, Trails take hikers through a lush wilderness to Inverness, Point Reyes Station, and the formed a committee to help secure the land of forests, beaches, fields, hills, meadows, Point Reyes National Seashore. The weather for park purposes. The Marin Conservation and marshes — each with its own plant life. varies greatly. Be prepared for cool, damp, League, various other conservation and Among the most prominent trees are bishop and windy weather. civic organizations, and the State purchased pines, madrones, California laurels, oaks, portions of the area. On November 8, 1952, red and white alders, willows, and buckeye. CULTURAL HISTORY Tomales Bay State Park was dedicated and One of the finest remaining virgin stands For more than 8,000 years, the Coast Miwok opened to the public. of bishop pine is preserved in the Jepson have lived in what is now Marin and Sonoma Memorial Grove. Bishop pines belong to a counties. The native people used the area’s NATURAL HISTORY group of “closed-cone” abundant resources — hunting game, catching Nature, time, and the San pines — a species that salmon and shellfish, and managing plants Andreas Fault — running has survived by adapting and grasses to assure plentiful harvests. directly beneath the 12-mile to the hard realities of In 1579 Sir Francis Drake laid claim to the length of Tomales Bay — wildfire. Closed-cone entire area for England, naming it Nova have had enormous impact pine seeds are dispersed Albion (New England). Nearly 25 years later, on the land. The fault, a only when the trees are Spanish explorer Don Sebastian Vizcaíno great rift in the earth’s crust, burned or their tightly named the area now called Point Reyes “La separates Point Reyes sealed, prickly cones are Punta de Los Tres Reyes,” after the day of Peninsula from the rest of opened by extreme heat. the Feast of the Three Kings. “Tomales” is the continent. Its granite Ferns grace the thought to be a Spanish inflection of the bedrock is unlike any wooded areas. Coast Miwok word for “bay.” Most of the nearby formations. The Wildflowers brighten Tomales Bay area lay untouched until the nearest granite on the east the countryside with late 1940s, when developers discovered its face of the fault matching splashes of vivid color beauty and began to purchase beachfront that of Point Reyes Peninsula during the spring. Bishop pine in the Jepson land. Local residents, fearing that the is in the Tehachapi Memorial Grove WILDLIFE area with barbecues, dressing rooms, and Wildlife thrives here. flush toilets. Less-developed Pebble, Shell, Foxes, raccoons, badgers, and Indian Beaches can be accessed by way weasels, bobcats, skunks, of easy trails. The shoreline has shallow areas wood rats, moles, and suitable for wading and water play with well- other animals inhabit marked swimming areas. Lifeguard services the area. Numerous are not available. species of land and sea There are no boat-launching facilities, but birds, including the rare hand-carried boats may be put in the water. spotted owl, attract Heart’s Desire Beach is used as a launch ornithologists and birdwatchers. location by individuals and local companies Several varieties of clams, offering organized kayaking excursions. Spotted owl jellyfish, crabs, and other Boaters are welcome to land at park beaches small sea animals live on or near the away from swim areas. beaches, and the bay is home to sharks, Hiking — Hiking trails connect the park’s rays, and many other kinds of fish. four beaches and wind through the Jepson Memorial Grove. Coast Miwok kotchas at Indian Beach RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES Interpretive feature — Indian Beach has two Water activities — Four gently sloping, reconstructed Miwok bark shelters called • All natural and cultural features are surf-free beaches on the shore of Tomales “kotchas” that stand upright, forming tall protected by law and must not be Bay offer many opportunities for picnicking, cones. A self-guided nature trail connects disturbed or removed. swimming, hiking, clamming, kayaking, and Indian Beach to Heart’s Desire Beach, about boating. Heart’s Desire Beach has a picnic one half-mile south. NEARBY STATE PARKS • Samuel P. Taylor State Park ACCESSIBLE FEATURES 8889 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. Heart’s Desire Beach, Vista Point, and Millerton Lagunitas 94938 (415) 488-9897 Point have accessible restrooms. Picnic • Olompali State Historic Park tables are accessible at Heart’s Desire Beach. 8901 Old Redwood Highway Novato 94945 (415) 898-4362 PLEASE REMEMBER • Mount Tamalpais State Park • Except for service animals, pets are not 801 Panoramic Highway permitted on beaches or trails. Mill Valley 94941 (415) 388-2070
This park receives support in part through a nonprofit organization. For information, contact: The peaceful, wind-protected beaches make this Marin State Parks Association, P.O. Box 285, Novato, CA 94948-0285 a popular water recreation area. Tomales Bay State Park Olompali SHP
Mount Tamalpais SP
San Francisco
© 2002 California State Parks (Rev. 2017)
AREA
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Shell Beach S a n A n d re a s
s D ci ra r ran ke Si F Chicken Ranch
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Blvd (Marin County Parks)
Major Road Accessible Feature Restrooms F a u tl Alan Sieroty Beach Paved Road Boat Launch: Hand Swimming Gate Vista Point Trail Nature Trail Trail: Accessible Parking Closed Area Picnic Area National Seashore Ranger Station