Abbotts Lagoon
Inverness, CA
Abbotts Lagoon sits within Point Reyes National Seashore, a freshwater lagoon behind dunes where canoeing is allowed before a short walk continues out to the open beach. It's a two-for-one stop, lagoon paddling and an ocean beach, connected by one trail.
The combination of lagoon paddling and an ocean beach in one stop is genuinely versatile, though it takes more planning than a straightforward beach visit.
How we score beachesBring a canoe or kayak if you have one, paddling the lagoon before continuing to the beach is a genuinely different way to see this stretch of the park.
Free parking is available at the trailhead.
A path leads from the trailhead through dune habitat to the lagoon and beach.
Dogs are not permitted on the Abbotts Lagoon Trail or its beach.
Summer mornings run foggy before clearing, typical of the Point Reyes coast, with water staying cold year round.
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