Sculptured Beach(Point Reyes National Seashore)

Located in the town of Point Reyes Station, Sculptured Beach is a very long, wide, and remote beach in the southern area of a park named Point Reyes National Seashore.  Sculptured Beach is situated on the south side of the point where Santa Maria Creek meets the North Pacific Ocean.  Sculptured Beach is surrounded by many trails and is a well-known destination for hiking and mountain biking. 

Sculptured Beach offers a couple of amenities including natural rock sculptures, tide pools, and trails.

There are many fun activities at Sculptured Beach including hiking, mountain biking, beachcombing, and beach walking. If you are looking for additional activities, you can walk 20 minutes north to Coast Campground where you can camp.

To access Sculptured Beach, drive down to 1 Bear Valley Road where you will free parking at the start of a trail called Bear Valley Trail. After parking, you will have to hike five miles west on the Bear Valley Trail and then the Coast Trail to get to the beach. Please note that Sculptured Beach is considered a clothing-optional beach by some visitors as it is not much crowded.

If you are looking for attractions near Sculptured Beach, you can drive 35 minutes to Muir Beach Overlook Trail which leads to Muir Beach Overlook, a cliffside park that was a U.S. Army coastal observation post during World War II. It offers incredible views of Pacific coastal cliffs and migrating blue whales between November and June. If you like hiking, there are other longer trails here as well – the new and multi-use Dias Ridge trail on a ridgeline offers incredible views of the Pacific Ocean, the trail on the east side leads to Coyote Ridge, and the trail on the south side leads to Point Bonita Lighthouse. Named after naturalist John Muir, Muir Woods National Monument is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and is home to 240 acres of redwood forests. Another great attraction near Sculptured Beach is Mooncow Bay, a historical landmark that features a great vista point to picnic or camp.

If you get hungry, you can drive 25 minutes to many restaurants near Sculptured Beach. The Italian Aurora Sausalito - Ristorante e Pizzeria serves excellent thin-crust pizzas, homemade pasta, seafood, and vegan items.  The Trident is an iconic 1960s-themed restaurant that is built over water featuring many international cuisines and a bar. Another good restaurant near Sculptured Beach is the beachfront vegetarian-friendly restaurant Barrel House Tavern that offers steaks, waffles, burgers, beverages, and desserts.

If you are looking for a hotel near Sculptured Beach, there are many hotels within a 35-minute drive. The 4-Star pet-friendly hotel Victorian-designed hotel Cavallo Point Lodge features a pool, bar, sauna, spa, restaurant, and gym.  Hotel Sausalito & Suites is a 3-Star, 14-bedroom, and two suites hotel overlooking Vina Del Mar Park. If you are looking for an affordable hotel near Sculptured Beach, the 2-Star Smiley’s Saloon, Hotel & Kitchen offers ocean view rooms.