North Beach

Time: miles in each direction, east and west
Terrain: sandy beach, steep sandstone cliffs
Restroom? Yes, flush toilets; open 6am to midnight
Parking: large parking lot (free)
Kid friendly? Yes
Dogs on leash? Yes! On-leash dogs are allowed on North Beach.
Fishing? Yes
Favorite plants: seaside daisy
Favorite spots: 

  1. Overlooking the beach from the parking lot and watching for whales.

  2. Walking on the iceplant along the top of the dunes — easier than trudging through the deep sand

  3. Exploring the ravines filled with bleached wood

In summer, visitors flock from the scorching inland to the foggy coolness of North Beach. North Beach is part of the Point Reyes “Great Beach” that extends 11 miles from the Point Reyes Headlands at its south end to Kehoe Beach and Tomales Point at the north end.

Amenities

Restrooms with flush toilets! The parking lot overlooks the ocean making it a great place to enjoy the views without getting out of your car on a foul weather day. Outdoor shower and drinking water.

Beach Life

It's relaxing to watch the in and out lapping motion of the tide as you walk along the beach breathing the fresh sea air. On a clear day you can see miles down the great beach to South Beach and the headlands outer point on the left (south) and to Tomales Point on the right (north). The surf is rough at North Beach so keep your eyes on the water at all times and check the tides. While it’s tempting to walk on the harder packed sand at the shoreline, it’s safer to stay further up the beach. Read more about Beach Safety on the NPS website. This is a not a safe wading or swimming beach. Instead, go to a south-facing beach such as Drakes or Limantour.

Snowy Plover Nesting Season

From March 1 to September 30, pets, kites, and kiteboarders are prohibited north of the parking lot and parts of North Beach are closed on the weekends to protect the threatened Snowy Plovers during their nesting season. Typically, this includes the beach between North Beach and Abbotts Lagoon which is a nesting hotspot. Other closures are possible, but rest assured that plenty of space remains to roam on the beach. Volunteer docents are on hand on weekends from Memorial Day (last Monday in May) to Labor Day (first Monday in September) to answer questions about the plovers. Look for them in red vests.

Whale Watching

North Beach is a great place to watch humpback whales lunge feeding and swimming close to shore in the summer time. Gray whales migrate through during the annual winter (December–January) and spring (March–April) migrations. Bring binoculars and look for their misty spouts on the horizon.

Flowers and wildlife on the Beach

Collecting specimens of any kind such as shells, plants, drift wood is not allowed as this is a National Park.

Volunteer Opportunity: Marine Protected Area (MPA) Watch

“MPAs protect the diversity and abundance of marine life, the habitats they depend on, and the integrity of marine ecosystems. ”

Since August 2017, I have volunteered as with the Marin Marine Protected Area Watch (Marin MPA Watch) at Drakes Beach. Marine Protected Areas are important, vulnerable coastal waters that have been designated for protection under California State Law. Volunteers do a simple survey of activity on the beach and offshore (using binoculars). I've been surprised by how much illegal activity, especially commercial fishing, happens in the Drakes Beach MPA. Volunteers are vitally important to provide this survey information which informs MPA management and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Using iNaturalist to record the diversity of life I encounter on the beach, I tag it to the "MPA Watch Project". This provides a useful snapshot into what's being protected - at least onshore. The Marin MPA Watch is also interested in how people are using the beach -- surfing, tidepooling, strolling, collecting specimens (which is not allowed at Drakes Beach) and more. 

Volunteers provide crucial citizen science data while enjoying a stroll on the beach! It's relaxing, engaging, and it's given me a reason to learn about tides since beach access is limited during high tides. I've had interesting conversations with visitors during my walks, and my young son has brought friends to happily join us on numerous occasions. We always find something that attracts our attention along the way.

If you are interested in volunteering with the Marin MPA Watch, visit the Environmental Action Committee's MPA website.

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