Beaches!

Waves & Wonder: Exploring the Beaches of Point Reyes

Tucked along the rugged coast of Northern California, where fog kisses the cliffs and elk roam freely in golden grasslands, you’ll find the wild and wonderful Point Reyes National Seashore. This windswept peninsula, just an hour north of San Francisco, is home to some of the most unspoiled, soul-soothing beaches in the state.

Whether you’re craving solitude, surf, or tide pools, Point Reyes has a stretch of sand for you.

1. Limantour Beach — Long Walks & Lazy Afternoons

If you only have time for one beach, Limantour should top your list. This crescent-shaped shoreline curves gently between Drakes Bay and the wetlands of the Limantour Estero. It's perfect for strolling barefoot, hunting for sand dollars, or just lying back with a book and the sound of waves in your ears.

The surf here is generally mellow, and on a calm day, it’s a peaceful spot for a chilly Pacific dip. Harbor seals often pop up offshore, and the birdwatching? Out of this world.

2. Drakes Beach — Cliffs, Creamy Sand, and Café Vibes

Named after Sir Francis Drake (who may or may not have landed here), Drakes Beach feels like a hidden corner of England, with its dramatic white sandstone cliffs and windswept beauty. The beach is broad and usually less foggy than the western side of the peninsula, making it ideal for picnics, photography, or just basking in the coastal glow.

There’s even a small visitor center and café nearby—because nothing says “perfect beach day” like a warm drink and a cookie after a bracing walk on the sand.

3. North and South Beach — The Wild Side

These are the wilder siblings of Point Reyes’ beach family. Open ocean, big waves, rip currents, and miles of uninterrupted sand define North and South Beaches. They’re breathtaking, dramatic, and humbling—more for beachcombing and meditating than swimming.

Come here to feel small in the best way, where the Pacific crashes hard and the wind whips your hair into sea-salt dreadlocks.

4. Sculptured Beach — Secret Tide Pools & Sandstone Magic

Accessible via the southern end of Limantour Beach (at low tide only), Sculptured Beach is a local secret worth discovering. As the tide recedes, it reveals whimsical rock formations, tide pools teeming with sea stars and anemones, and tiny caves carved by waves over millennia.

It’s part adventure, part daydream—just keep an eye on the tide chart so you don’t get stranded.

Photos by:

Rachel Payne

Sally King