Kehoe Beach(Point Reyes National Seashore)

Located in Point Reyes National Seashore, Kehoe Beach is a large and wide beach with light brown sand and sparse vegetation. The beach is situated below oceanfront bluffs and is a part of a large stretch of the oceanfront sandy area which is known as the "Great Beach.'' A creek flows through Kehoe Beach into the Pacific Ocean. 

While Kehoe Beach does not have lifeguards or any other amenities, the blufftop area above the beach has restrooms. Dogs are allowed on leash in the northern part of Kehoe Beach. This dog-friendly area is located to the north of the beach access trail. 

Kehoe Beach offers many fun activities including sunbathing, wildlife watching, tidepooling, hiking, and fishing. The water near this beach is unsafe for recreational aquatic activities including swimming and surfing as the water here is known to have dangerous waves and strong rip currents. In addition, we recommend being careful while walking or standing near the water on Kehoe Beach as sneaker waves can drag you offshore. The water near this beach is home to many animals including seals, sea lions, and migrating grey whales (usually between December and April). The southern part of the beach may be closed to public access from March through September as these areas are used as a nesting spot by the snowy plover, which is listed as an endangered species under the 1973 federal Endangered Species Act. If you are a geology enthusiast, you can explore the cliffs along the northern part of the beach that have interesting sandstone and granite geological formations from the Miocene and Cretaceous eras respectively, along with interesting sedimentary rocks. The blufftop area above the beach has beautiful blooming wildflowers during spring. You can also spot cows in the blufftop areas around the beach and also see many other interesting animals on rare occasions including bobcats, rabbits, and mountain lions.

Getting to Kehoe Beach is easy - the access trail to the beach is situated along Pierce Point Road, which is easily accessible from Shoreline Highway/Pacific Coast Highway via Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. There are small free parking spaces present along Pierce Point Road along this trailhead. From this trailhead, you need to walk on the access trail to Kehoe Beach, which is just over half a mile long. We recommend being careful while walking on this trail as the final part of this trail is full of sand and can be a bit hard to walk on. In addition, we recommend visiting this beach wearing appropriate layered clothing as the weather in this part of the Point Reyes Peninsula shoreline is known to change unpredictably. 

As an interesting fact, the beach is named after the Kehoe family who is a family of ranchers who has been operating on Point Reyes Peninsula since the 1920s. 

There are many attractions near Kehoe Beach. Pierce Point Ranch is a historic site that was a popular dairy ranch in the late 19th century and the early 20th century. The ranch offers a unique insight into the interesting history of Northern California. The site includes the main house, a blacksmith shop, barns, a dairy house, and a schoolhouse. Pierce Point Ranch is a part of the United States National Register of Historic Places and is one of the oldest surviving ranch houses in the Point Reyes Peninsula. Point Reyes Boat is a shipwrecked boat stranded along the coastline that is a famous spot for photography. If you are looking for another attraction near Kehoe Beach, White House Pool is a county park set along the wetlands around Lagunitas Creek. This park has a picnic table and offers many fun activities including hiking, kayaking, and paddleboarding. In addition, the park is a great spot for watching birds and is also known to be home to otters that live near the creek.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Kehoe 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. Side Street Cafe is 22 minutes away and offers delicious sandwiches, salads, and roast chicken. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Kehoe Beach, the modestly priced Inverness Store offers delicious light snacks.

If you are looking for a hotel near Kehoe Beach, there are many great options nearby. 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 Kehoe Beach, the 2-Star Marsh Cottage is set in the wetlands around Tomales Bay and offers many amenities including a fireplace, board games, and binoculars. This cottage is conveniently located close to some of the major landmarks in Marin County.