Duck Cove Beach(Point Reyes National Seashore)

Located along the coastline of Tomales Bay, Duck Cove Beach is a beach with light brown sand and sparse vegetation. The beach is a part of a national park known as Point Reyes National Seashore. There are a few residential homes behind this beach, which were built by a developer and are currently a property of the national park. Duck Cove Beach does not have lifeguards or any other amenities, so plan your trip accordingly. There are many nearby boat and kayak launches that you can use to travel to Duck Cove Beach including Lawson’s Landing which is in the nearby community of Dillon Beach that also offers boats on rent. Another great kayak and boat launching spot are Miller Boat Launch which is managed by Marin County and has a paid parking facility. In addition, you can also find boat launching facilities in the nearby town of Inverness. It is important to note that unlike some other beaches along the Tomales Bay shoreline, Duck Cove Beach is only open for day-use visits and overnight camping is prohibited here.   

Duck Cove Beach offers many fun activities including sunbathing, wildlife watching, swimming, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, and boating. Duck Cove Beach has usually calm and shallow water that is great for beginner swimmers, kayakers, and paddleboarders. However, the water here can also have occasionally strong currents during windy weather. You can launch your kayak from this beach and have a fun kayaking session in Tomales Bay. As an interesting fact, Tomales Bay is home to bioluminescent marine organisms, which often light up during the night and create a beautiful visual marvel by adding a blue glow to the water. This creates a memorable experience and makes Tomales Bay a popular spot for night kayaking sessions. The water near Duck Cove Beach is home to harbor seals and you can also watch many kinds of seabirds around the beach. Depending on the time of the year, you can catch many kinds of fish in the water near Duck Cove Beach including surfperch and halibut. We strongly recommend leaving no trash and waste on this beach after your visit in order to keep the beach in its pristine natural condition.

There are many attractions near Duck Cove Beach. Marconi Conference Center State Historic Park is a state park that was once the site of a radio receiving station that was used as a base of operations by the famous scientist Guglielmo Marconi. In addition, the state park has a diverse landscape consisting of various habitats including coastal scrub, pine forests, and grasslands that you can explore via walking trails. The park is also home to a variety of animals and birds making it a great wildlife-watching spot. 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 Duck Cove Beach, 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 restaurants near Duck Cove Beach. 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. Nick’s Cove Restaurant and Oyster Bar has a rustic ambiance and offers excellent seafood and sandwiches. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Duck Cove Beach, the modestly priced Inverness Store offers delicious light snacks.

If you are looking for a hotel near Duck Cove Beach, there are many great nearby options. 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 for a fee. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Duck Cove Beach, the Abalone Inn offers many amenities including a garden patio, a hot tub, a lounge with a fireplace, complimentary breakfast, and massage treatments (for a fee).