Marshall Beach
Inverness, CA
Marshall Beach sits on the calmer Tomales Bay side of Point Reyes National Seashore, a genuine bay beach rather than the open ocean surf the park's outer coast is known for. It's a quieter, more sheltered option if the wind and waves on the ocean side feel like too much.
The calm bay water is a genuine draw when the outer coast turns rough, though it lacks the dramatic scenery of the park's ocean-facing beaches.
How we score beachesPick this over the ocean beaches nearby if wind is a concern, the bay side here stays noticeably calmer.
Free parking is available at the trailhead.
A path leads from the trailhead down to the beach.
Leashed dogs are allowed on Marshall Beach itself, but the hiking trail to reach it is closed to pets, so dog owners must arrive by boat or kayak.
Summer mornings run foggy before clearing, typical of the Point Reyes coast, with water staying cold year round.
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