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Our Mission TheThe missionmission ofof thethe CaliforniaCalifornia DepartmentDepartment ofof ParksParks andand Recreation isis toto provide for the Fremont Peak health,health, inspirationinspiration andand educationeducation ofof thethe peoplepeople ofof CaliforniaCalifornia byby helpinghelping toto preservepreserve TomalStatees Park Bay Human impact on thethe state’sstate’s extraordinaryextraordinary biologicalbiological diversity,diversity, the land is dwarfed in protectingprotecting itsits mostmost valuedvalued naturalnatural andand State Park culturalcultural resources,resources, andand creatingcreating opportunitiesopportunities comparison to the influences forfor high-qualityhigh-quality outdoor outdoor recreation. recreation. of nature, time and the ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER Governor San Andreas Fault, which lies MIKE CHRISMAN directly beneath the 12-mile Secretary for Resources RUTH COLEMAN length of Tomales Bay. Director, California State Parks California State Parks does not discriminate against individuals with disabilities. Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who need assistance should contact the park at the phone number below. To receive this publication in an alternate format, write to the Communications Office at the following address. CALIFORNIA For information call: STATE PARKS 800-777-0369 P.O. Box 942896 916-653-6995,outside the U.S. Sacramento, CA 888-877-5378,TTY 94296-0001 888-877-5379,without TTY www.parks.ca.gov Tomales Bay State Park Star Route Inverness, CA 94937 (415)669-1140 © 2002 California State Parks (Rev. 8/2004) Printed on Recycled Paper S ituated on the eastern edge of Point In 1579 Sir Francis Drake Reyes Peninsula, the blue waters and laid claim to the entire area for sheltered coves of Tomales Bay State Park England, naming it Nova are a popular destination for a day of Albion (New England). Nearly picnicking, hiking or water-oriented 25 years later, Spanish explorer activities. The beaches and east-facing Don Sebastian Vizcaino slopes of this 2,000-acre park are named the rocky headlands especially attractive because they are La Punta de Los Tres Reyes, protected from the prevailing winds by after the day of the Feast of the the high backbone of the Point Reyes Three Kings. Peninsula. The park is located 40 miles Most of the Tomales Bay north of the Golden Gate Bridge, close to area lay untouched until the Inverness and Point Reyes Station and the late 1940s, when developers Overlook view from picnic area Point Reyes National Seashore. The discovered its beauty and began to weather varies greatly. Dress in layers, purchase beachfront lands. Local Mountains, more than 300 miles and be prepared for wind and cool, damp residents, fearing that the beaches would southeast. Incredibly, movement of two weather. be closed to public use, formed a inches per year over ten million years is committee to help secure the land for park sufficient to have caused the granite to CULTURAL HISTORY purposes. The Marin Conservation League, travel that distance. In the 1906 San For more than 5,000 years, the Coast Miwok various conservation and civic organizations, Francisco earthquake, the greatest lived in what is now Marin and Sonoma and the State purchased portions of the measured displacement along the entire counties. Abundant food, a moderate area. On November 8, 1952, Tomales Bay fault was at Tomales Bay, when the area to climate and the closeness to the sea State Park was dedicated and opened to the west moved an amazing 20 feet. provided a comfortable life centered on the public. the tasks of gathering food, hunting, and PLANT COMMUNITIES catching salmon and shellfish. NATURAL HISTORY Trails take the hiker Nature, time and the San Andreas Fault— through a lush directly beneath the 12-mile length of wilderness of forests, Tomales Bay—have had enormous impact beaches, fields, hills, on the land. Point Reyes Peninsula is meadows and separated from the continent by this marshes, each great rift in the earth’s crust. Its granite with its own plant life. Among the most bedrock is unlike any of the nearby Live Oak formations. The nearest granite on the east prominent trees are face of the fault matching that of Point bishop pines, madrones, California Reyes Peninsula is in the Tehachapi laurels, oaks, red and white alders, willows and buckeye. Reconstructed Miwok bark houses One of the finest remaining virgin stands RECREATION AND EDUCATION of bishop pine is preserved in the Jepson Water Activities Memorial Grove. Belonging to a group of Four gently sloping, surf-free beaches “closed-cone” pines — a species that has on the shore of Tomales Bay offer many survived by adapting to the hard realities opportunities for picnicking, swimming, of wildfire — the tightly sealed, prickly cones hiking, clamming, kayaking and boating. retain their seeds until opened by heat. Heart’s Desire Beach has drinking water, a The seeds are dispersed only when the picnic area with fireplaces, dressing rooms pines are burned or the cones subjected and flush toilets. Less-developed Pebble, to extreme heat. Shell and Indian Beaches can be accessed Ferns line the beaches and grace the by way of gentle trails. The shoreline has Indian Beach wooded areas. Wildflowers brighten the shallow areas suitable for wading and water countryside with splashes of vivid play. There are no boat-launching facilities, color during the spring. but hand-carried boats may be put • Interpretive programs – Indian Beach, in the water. Boaters are welcome about one-half mile north of Heart’s WILDLIFE to land on the beaches Desire Beach at the end of the nature Wildlife thrives here. provided they stay clear of the trail, is the site of the park’s Foxes, raccoons, well-marked swimming areas. interpretive programs on the Miwok. badgers, weasels, Lifeguard services are not On the beach two reconstructed chipmunks, squirrels, available. Heart’s Desire Miwok bark shelters stand upright, rabbits, deer, Beach is used as a put-in forming tall cones. bobcats, skunks, and put-out location by both ACCESSIBLE FEATURES wood rats, field mice, individuals and local moles companies offering organized Heart’s Desire Beach is the most and other animals kayaking excursions. Dogs are accessible portion of the park, with a inhabit the area. not permitted on beaches, trails, or flat route from the parking lot to the Numerous species in the nature area of the park. restroom and picnic facilities. Call prior of land and sea birds, including to arrival for specific details. the rare spotted owl, attract ornithologists OTHER ACTIVITIES NEARBY PARKS and birdwatchers. Several varieties of • Hiking–Hiking trails connect the park’s clams, jellyfish, crabs and other small sea four beaches and go through the Jepson • Samuel P. Taylor State Park, 15 miles animals live on or near the beaches, and Memorial Grove. The trail between west of San Rafael (415)488-9897 the bay is home to sharks, rays and many Heart’s Desire and Indian Beaches has • Point Reyes National Seashore other kinds of fish. a self-guided nature tour. (415)464-5100 This park is supported in part through a nonprofit organization. For more information contact: Marin State Park Association (Tomales Bay State Park) Route 1, Box 244, San Rafael, CA 94901 .