Please understand that when a reservation is made with Blue Waters Kayaking, it is a commitment on our part to hold seats in a kayak for you. Tomales Bay Expeditions offers guided kayaking tours of Tomales Bay, usually starting in the morning for the best paddling conditions. Visit our Your Safety While Boating page for information on preparing for and remaining safe while boating in the Point Reyes area. Tomales Bay has become well known recently as a great place to see planktonic bioluminescense at night. We will use our decades of experience in this area to make sure you have a safe, enlightening and . There are a various outfitters who will include rental and guides. MILLER COUNTY PARK (415) 499-6387Also known as Nicks Cove. Stand-up paddleboards: On-site rentals, $25 per hour, $75 all day. On Tomales Bay, there are vault toilets at Marshall Beach and Tomales Beach. With hundreds of marine dinoflagellates assembled in the bay, the collective effect can be magical. Hobie pedal-drive kayaks are available in single or double for 4 hours or all-day. Turn right (still Point Reyes Petaluma Road) and drive 3.1 miles to Highway 1. Restrooms and water available. Bioluminescence is a naturally occurring phenomenon and we cannot guarantee that you will see Bioluminescence. The National Park Service at Point Reyes is concerned about the effects of the growth in recreational use. Quebec Kayaking & Camping Trips with Sea Kayak Adventures (415) 798-2040. (One person per kayak must have taken the course call 415.669.2600 for availability). Follow the trail for roughly three miles. This 4 mile paddle is perfect for those with a little bit of prior paddling experience-- we'll bring all the necessary gear and a refresher on kayaking basics before getting started. In the event you choose to cancel you will receive a full refund minus the 5% handling fee. Here you will find the parks Ranger Station, Heart's Desire Beach, Vista Point Picnic Area, and hiking trails to Indian Beach, Pebble Beach, and Shell Beach. Overnight parking and camping is not allowed in the state park. Kayak Tomales Bay, Marshall, California - The Outbound There is a day-use and overnight fee charged. Ocean kayaking is potentially very dangerous. Winter Kayaking & Birding Tours with David Wimpfheimer: Sundays December 29, 2013 and January 19, 2014. . We pedaled to all the beach nearby. Use our quick contact form below and well get back to you a.s.a.p. Campers on Tomales Bay beaches must arrive by boat and may not hike, bike, or ride horses to the beaches. Please wait until you are in West Marin before purchasing fire wood. Plenty of car parking is available for guests. Hearts Desire Beach is on the west side of Tomales Bay off Pierce Point Road. If you observe drone use in Point Reyes National Seashore, please call park dispatch at 415-464-5170 or contact staff at the nearest Visitor Center as soon as possible. EMT on-shore with radio. You can even check out our instructional video on how to load a kayak on your car by clicking HERE. We recommend water shoes or strap sandals. As the evening fades into darkness, the sky is lit by stars above, followed by traces of bioluminescence glowing as its spills from your kayak paddle. Kayak Tomales Bay for amazing views of the Point Reyes National Seashore. Kayak camping is a unique way to extend your stay on the water and experience the natural beauty of Tomales Bay by night. Other temporary or seasonal closures may be in effect at different times due to breeding populations of marine mammals, shorebirds, or seabirds. This phenomenon occurs in many oceans around the world but is best viewed in a place like Tomales Bay where low ambient light makes the effect much brighter. Visitor use of national parklands must always be weighed against the responsibility to maintain natural and cultural resources for succeeding generations. Stand-up paddleboards: On-site rentals, $25 per hour . No camping, overnight parking, or beach fires. Even though white sharks visit the waters near the mouths of Tomales Bay and Drakes Estero, the chances of being attacked by a white shark is extremely small. Tomales Bay offers boat-in only campgrounds along the east side of the peninsula. Group First Aid Kit - Contents include wound care items and over the counter medications for minor injuries and illnesses. Please note: Pelican Point, Duck Island, and the east side of Hog Island are closed to the public year round to better protect nesting and roosting birds. Map of Estero closures (299 KB PDF). The road opens up as you pass Nicasio Reservoir (full right now) on the left. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff will make sure you are confident from beginning to end. Located in the historic village of Inverness, minutes from restaurants and Point Reyes National Seashore, youll enjoy exceptional privacy, tranquility and unmatched views of the bay. There is very little shade, so make sure to bring some sunscreen. Led by our highly experienced local guides, these 3 hour tours explore the wonders of Tomales Bay after dark. Other sections of the coast are kayaked, but they are not as sheltered from the prevailing wind and ocean swell, and are therefore much more dangerous. The inn and marina are located on the west side of the bay. Bioluminescence is mother nature at its spectacular best. This number will initially be answered by an automated attendant, from which one can opt to access a name directory, listen to recorded information about the park (i.e., directions to the park; visitor center hours of operation; fire danger information; wildlife updates; ranger-led programs; seasonal events; etc. No overnight use or beach fires. Loaded our kayak with our gear and fresh oyster we got on the way. Sea Trek Kayak & Stand Up Paddling Center, Sausalito, 415-332-8494. Tomales Bay, at 12 miles long, is the largest protected bay in Point Reyes National Seashore. The night can get cold, so dress in layers. Rent top gear from your local REI Co-op. They had a demo boat that took all of an hour to convince me. As the wind often increases throughout the day, launching in the morning is typically a safer decision when planning the logistics of your paddle. Clavey Paddlesports, Petaluma, 707-766-8070. Tomales Bay State Park is composed of 3 distinct use areas: Heart's Desire - Located at 1100 Pierce Point Road, in Inverness, Heart's Desire is the heart of Tomales Bay State Park. . The group of twelve doubled up into tandem kayaks and set out from Nick's Cove, across the bay, around Hog Island and Duck Island and back, a four hour trip. Reservations may be made online at Recreation.gov. (The venue for each class will be wind, weather, and tide dependent.) more information on current conditions Don't Move Firewood: Buy it where you burn it. Most canoe trippers plan a Noire River canoe route of 5 to 7 days to enjoy the river's best campsites, scenery and whitewater paddling, but shorter trips and day trips are also possible. more, oysters at station house cafe point reyes, horseback riding point reyes national seashore, living room with couch, table, fireplace and musical instruments, Point Reyes Station Inn Bed and Breakfast, Groom's Quarters Point Reyes Lodging Horse Stables. Off-site rentals, $75 all day on weekdays, $115 on weekends. It's home to harbor seals, bat rays, leopard sharks, and the majestic tule elk. Tomales Bay is a 15-mile long, 6780-acre tidal water body located in rural west Marin County, California. This place is known as the Ottawa Valley. Millerton Point is on the east side of Tomales Bay, three miles north of Point Reyes Station. The paddle, Part 1: At Inverness, on the west side of Tomales Bay, you are largely sheltered from the prevailing spring winds out of the northwest. Since the Titan comes with so much primary and secondary stability, I took the plunge last weekend. Tour length is normally 3 hours (longer tours available by request) and includes paddling instruction. Take that exit 0.3 of a mile to a stop sign, turn left on Lucas Valley Road and drive 10.4 miles to Nicasio Valley Road. This Marin County park has a public boat launch with a cement ramp into the water, in addition to a pier and restrooms. Tour length is normally 3 hours (longer tours available by request) and includes paddling instruction. As such, personal water craft (PWC) such as a Jetski or Waverunner are not permitted on Tomales Bay. It requires additional skills, experience, and equipment, and is not recommended for most kayakers. However, there are rare occasions where we have launched and weather patterns change suddenly at which time we must return to shore. No overnight parking for boat-in campers is allowed in Point Reyes National Seashore or Tomales Bay State Park. Watch especially for tides and currents in this area. No Problem! Medium rigor. Recreational use of Tomales Bay has grown in recent years especially for camping, boating, and wildlife watching. Water and restrooms are available at the beach. (, Load your boat or board on to a set of wheels and walk them 5 to 10 minutes to Lagunitas Creek, Available by Request w/ $800 minimum per day, We also rent closed deck kayaks if you have taken a recovery course with us or another kayak outfitter. At REI, we believe that a life outdoors is a life well lived. This area can get busy so reservations are strongly suggested. Turn right and drive 3.8 miles to Point Reyes Petaluma Road. A narrow inlet that's about 15 miles long, Tomales Bay separates Point Reyes and the Marin Coastline. Kayak Rentals Tomales Bay | Tomales Bay Expeditions There is a day-use fee and overnight parking requires purchasing a Lawson's Landing campsite. The park is more, A secluded Mediterranean-style bed and breakfast in a quiet pastoral setting looking out on the Inverness Ridge and West Marins beautiful rolling hills youll love the vineyard views, serene koi pond and wine tasting room. This beach is really easy to get to. Movements from a swimming fish, the stroke of a paddle to displaced water from the hull of your kayak can excite the organisms causing a shimmering burst of fluorescent green-blue light. Parking is limited in the Point Reyes area. Bioluminescence in Tomales Bay is virtually impossible to capture on film, most of the white-blue fluorescent photos seen here where not taken in Tomales Bay. Just follow Pierce Point Road until you see the sign to the beach. Blue Waters Kayaking is now offering Kayak & SUP Rentals from the shore of Hearts Desire Beach in the Tomales Bay State Park EVERY SATURDAY & SUNDAY! As part of the Point Reyes National Seashore, Tomales Bay is a bit secluded from the hustle and bustle of the city. The General Plan establishes the long-range vision for the park and recommends how to protect and improve the park's natural, cultural, and recreational values . These can include bioluminescent organisms, nocturnal predators such as owls, and, if the skies are clear, excellent star gazing! There is a boat launch fee plus a parking fee. (415) 798-2040. Millerton Point is on the east side of Tomales Bay, five kilometers (3 miles) north of Point Reyes Station. A vault toilet is available at the kayak launch site at the south end of the Drakes Estero Access Road. Even if you aren't camping, feel free to download our Tomales Bay Boat-in Camping Map (1,798 KB PDF), which shows the locations of some launch sites, beaches, and other useful landmarks to help you navigate around the bay. This restriction is necessary to reduce the amount of injurious trash in the park and for the protection of visitors who frequent these areas in bare feet. Tomales Bay State Park: Heart's Desire Beach. The most popular area for kayaking at Point Reyes National Seashore is on Tomales Bay. If you observe drone use in other National Park Service areas or if you find photographs or videos online or elsewhere that were illegally taken within National Park Service areas from drones, you can report the violation to the National Park Service tip line at 888-653-0009 or by email. Blue Waters Kayaking, Point Reyes California. NEW: Winter Birding with David Wimpfheimer, Gift Certificates, Auction You can easily unsubscribe at any time. THERE IS NO WATER FOR BOAT IN CAMPERS ON TOMALES BAY, BRING YOUR OWN.