Arch Rock Beach(Point Reyes National Seashore)

Located in Point Reyes National Seashore, Arch Rock Beach is a remote beach with light brown sand. This beach is situated below steep and unstable oceanfront bluffs. A natural rock arch is also present near the beach. The Coast Creek flows through the beach into the Pacific Ocean. In order to access Arch Rock Beach, you first need to get to another separate nearby beach named Kelham Beach.

Arch Rock Beach does not have lifeguards or any other amenities, so plan your trip accordingly. Dogs are not allowed on the beach.

Arch Rock Beach offers many fun activities including hiking, sunbathing, beachcombing, and wildlife watching. The water near this beach is unsafe for recreational aquatic activities including surfing and swimming as the water here has dangerous currents. Depending on the time of the year, you can see many kinds of animals in the water near this beach including seals and migrating whales. You can also explore the interesting rocky archway present around Arch Rock Beach. However, we recommend being careful while walking near the bluff sides at Arch Rock Beach as the bluff sides here are extremely unstable and prone to collapse. In addition, a portion of the bluffs here had also previously collapsed in 2015 leading to the death of a visitor. However, despite the dangerous conditions, the blufftop area above Arch Rock Beach offers an amazing hiking and biking experience along with Instagram-worthy views of the Pacific Ocean and the Northern California shoreline.   

To reach Kelham Beach, drive to the Bear Valley Visitor Center, which is easily accessible from Shoreline Highway / Pacific Coast Highway through Bear Valley Road. Once you reach the visitor center, park your car at the free parking lot available here. After parking, you need to hike along a trail named Bear Valley Trail. Bear Valley Trail will lead you to another hiking trail named the Coast Trail, which in turn offers access to Kelham Beach. It is important to note that the total distance required for hiking from Bear Valley Visitor Center to Kelham Beach is over five miles. Once you reach Kelham Beach, you need to walk an additional half a mile south along the shoreline in order to reach Arch Rock Beach. We recommend visiting this beach during low tide as during high tide Arch Rock Beach is inaccessible from Kelham Beach.

There are many attractions near Arch Rock Beach. Kule Loklo (meaning "Bear Valley") is a recreated Native American Coast Miwok village that offers an interesting insight into the pre-Columbian history of North California. Guided tours of this historical site are available from the nearby Bear Valley Visitor Center every Sunday from Memorial Day to Labour Day.  You can call the Bear Valley Visitor Center on 415 464-5100 for more information regarding these tours. This site also hosts the annual Big Time Festival in July which sees Native American cultural performances and exhibitions displaying unique Native American art and handicrafts being organized on its premises. Bolinas Museum is 20 minutes away by car and has interesting exhibits that highlight the vibrant and unique history of northern California and Marin County. If you are looking for another attraction near Arch Rock Beach, Samuel P. Taylor State Park offers interesting hiking, biking and equestrian trails set amongst the beautiful redwood groves along the Lagunitas Creek. In addition, the park also has picnic areas and a campsite. 

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Arch Rock Beach. Sir and Star at The Olema is an upscale restaurant that has a charming vintage ambiance and offers delicious coastal Californian cuisine. In addition, the restaurant has been also praised by the MICHELIN Guide. Due West Tavern + Market offers some delicious locally influenced seafood dishes. In addition, the restaurant also has a market that offers baked goods and picnic essentials. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Arch Rock Beach, Bovine Bakery offers excellent pizzas, quiche, calzone, and soups. In addition, the restaurant is famous for offering delicious baked desserts including muffins, scones, pastries, and cookies.

If you are looking for a hotel near Arch Rock Beach, there are many great options nearby. If you are looking for an upscale hotel, the 4-Star Casa Madrona Hotel & Spa is an hour away by car. The hotel is set in a vintage 19th century mansion and offers numerous amenities including a spa, a restaurant, and a fitness center.  A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Olema House offers many amenities including a restaurant, a game room with a pool table, a deli, and a garden. As another moderately priced option, the Point Reyes Station Inn offers many amenities including a guest lounge with a fireplace, a garden with a gazebo, a hot tub, and complimentary breakfast. If you are looking for a good and affordable hotel near Arch Rock Beach, the modestly priced 2-Star Smiley’s Schooner Saloon, Hotel & Kitchen is an adults-only accommodation that features a saloon-style bar with a pool table, live music, and karaoke nights.