Chimney Rock Beach(Point Reyes National Seashore)

Located in the Point Reyes Headlands, Chimney Rock is a rocky blufftop area with multiple unnamed sandy beaches below it. Chimney Rock is a part of a national park known as Point Reyes National Seashore. The beaches below Chimney Rock have light brown sand. However, it is important to note that these beaches are inaccessible to the public as many of them are located below extremely steep and unstable bluffs with no access route. In addition, accessing the beaches below Chimney Rock is also prohibited by the National Park Service as it endangers the pristine biodiversity of the national park. 

Chimney Rock has restrooms and hiking trails, but it doesn't have any other amenities, so plan your trip accordingly.

Chimney Rock offers few activities including hiking, wildlife watching, and photography. While visitors are not allowed to access Chimney Rock's beaches, you can stay on the trails and look out from the blufftop areas above them which offer fantastic Instagram-worthy views of these beaches and the Pacific Ocean. In addition, there are many interesting offshore rock formations that you can view and photograph from Chimney Rock. There is an overlook at the northern part of Chimney Rock named the Elephant Seal Overlook. From December through March, visitors can see northern elephant seals from this overlook which congregate on the beach below to give birth and rear their young. While you can also view migrating whales from Chimney Rock throughout the year, the ideal time for whale watching is from March through May, when many migrating grey whales can be seen near Chimney Rock. The vibrant landscape of Chimney Rock offers a great hiking experience and beautiful wildflowers also bloom in Chimney Rock during the spring. However, be careful while walking or hiking near the edges of the bluff in Chimney Rock as the bluffs here are highly unstable and prone to collapse. Chimney Rock also has the Historic Lifeboat Station and the Historic United States Coast Guard Boathouse which were built in the early 20th century and offer interesting exhibits on the rich and unique cultural and natural history of Point Reyes Peninsula. Another major historical landmark near Chimney Rock is the Point Reyes lighthouse which was built during the 19th century and also has interesting exhibits around its premises.

Getting to Chimney Rock Beach can be difficult. If you are driving, Chimney Rock is easily accessible from Shoreline Highway/ Pacific Coast Highway via Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. From the end of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, turn left toward Chimney Rock Road which ends at the free parking lot for Chimney Rock – from the parking lot you can take multiple hiking trails for exploring Chimney Rock. However, please note that it takes a long and grueling drive to get to Chimney Rock and there are no nearby gas stations. We recommend that you refuel your vehicle well in advance before embarking on your drive to Chimney Rock. In addition, you can also visit the National Park Service's website to obtain more information regarding road conditions which can be useful if you plan to drive to Chimney Rock. It is important to note that between late December and mid-April, a portion of the access road to Chimney Rock is closed to the public during weekends and federal holidays from 9 am to 5:45 pm. Visitors planning to visit Chimney Rock need to take a shuttle bus operating from the nearby Drake’s Beach during this time. There is also a free parking lot near Drakes Beach where you can park your car before taking the shuttle bus to Chimney Rock.

There are many attractions near Chimney Rock within a 30-minute drive. Cypress Tree Tunnel is a beautiful tunnel composed of cypress trees. This tunnel offers some excellent Instagram-worthy photos. Jack Mason Museum of West Marin History has interesting exhibits on the rich history of Marin County and northern California. If you are looking for another attraction near Chimney Rock, Point Reyes Boat is a shipwrecked boat stranded along the coastline that is a famous spot for photography.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Chimney Rock within a 35-minute drive. Saltwater Oyster Depot is an upscale local restaurant that is famous for its oysters and oyster-based dishes. The restaurant also serves many other kinds of excellent seafood dishes including clam chowder, fish-and-chips, and seafood risotto. In addition, the restaurant has also been praised by the prestigious MICHELIN Guide. Tap Room offers delicious sandwiches, burgers, tacos, nachos, fries, salads, and barbecued oysters. In addition, this restaurant has also been praised by the Marin Independent Journal. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Chimney Rock, Inverness Park Market has a modestly priced delicatessen that offers delicious burgers, sandwiches, bagels, quesadillas, and burritos.

If you are looking for a hotel near Chimney Rock, there are many great nearby options within a 35-minute drive. Dancing Coyote Beach Cottages offers accommodation in rustic oceanfront cottages and offers many amenities including beautiful gardens and a private oceanfront area. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Tomales Bay Resort & Marina that offers many amenities including a pool, a beach club, a restaurant, a boat launch, a marina, and nearby hiking trails. In addition, the hotel also organizes many activities including kayaking sessions, biking tours, and massages. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Chimney Rock, the Abalone Inn offers many amenities including a garden patio, a hot tub, a lounge with a fireplace, complimentary breakfast, and massage treatments.