Hearts Desire Beach at Tomales Bay State Park

Heart’s Desire Beach is a family-friendly spot in Tomales Bay State Park on Point Reyes Peninsula. It has a grass area with picnic tables and restrooms to make spending a day there easier. Hiking and kayaking are the main reasons to visit this beach.

Hearts Desire is the beach next to the main parking lot so it will be busy on weekends and sunny days. North and south there are short hiking trails that lead to Indian Beach and Pebble Beach respectively. A longer hike on the Johnstone Trail takes you to Shell Beach at the south end of the state park. Another trail leads to a virgin grove of bishop pine trees known as Jepson Memorial Grove (look for a map and signs).

Hearts Desire Beach is protected and safe for swimming when the weather cooperates. Note however that the weather there can change and become cool and windy so bring extra layers for the day. The Vista Point Group Picnic Area can be reserved for weddings and other large gatherings.

Kayaking on Tomales Bay is a bucket list item for many folks in Marin and the Bay Area. It’s easy to do at Hearts Desire Beach because Blue Waters Kayaking stages kayaks there and you can rent them for a 1 to 8 hour paddling day-trip or a 24-hour overnight camping trip on nearby boat-in only beaches. See their website for details on rentals and tours that depart from the beach.

To get to Hearts Desire Beach from Inverness, drive north on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard to Pierce Point Road and follow signs that point you into Tomales Bay State Park. You’ll have to pay an entrance fee for parking at this beach. If you want to go on a sunny weekend, then get there early because the gate is closed when the parking lot fills up and that can happen before noon on nice days. If it’s full, you can park for free at the Jepson Trailhead and hike 1.5 miles to Hearts Desire. There is no parking on the main road outside of the park.

Park hours are 8am to sunset every day. Note that camping, mountain biking, drones, and dogs are prohibited in the park.

Address

1208 Pierce Point Rd
Inverness, CA 94937

Park Name

Tomales Bay State Park

Owner

State Park

Pet Details

No dogs allowed on the beach or the trails

Fees

Fees for parking

Activities

Swimming, Boating, Kayaking, Hiking, Picnicking, Clam Digging, Birdwatching

Amenities

Restrooms, Picnic Tables, BBQs, Hand-Carry Boat Launch, Swimming Area, Trails, Bishop Pine Grove, Accessible Features

Links

Water Quality
Water Temps
Tide Chart