McClures Beach
Inverness, CA
McClures Beach sits at the end of a trail from the historic Pierce Point Ranch, part of Point Reyes National Seashore and one of the more dramatic beaches in the park, framed by rocky outcrops that create tide pools at low tide. It's a genuine hike to get there, which keeps the crowd thinner than the park's more accessible beaches.
The dramatic rock formations and tide pools are genuinely worth the hike in, though the trail keeps this from being a quick, easy stop.
How we score beachesTime your visit to low tide if the tide pools and rock formations are part of the draw, they're a very different beach at high water.
Free parking is available at the Pierce Point Ranch trailhead.
A path leads from the Pierce Point Ranch trailhead down to the beach.
Dogs are not allowed on McClures Beach or its trail, which lies inside the Tule Elk Reserve.
Summer mornings run foggy before clearing, typical of the Point Reyes coast, with water staying cold year round.
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