Tomales Bay Near Inverness: Kayaking, Wildlife Closures and Boat-In Camping Rules

INVERNESS, Marin County — Tomales Bay is a popular place for kayaking and paddling, but its calm-looking shoreline can conceal strong winds, rapidly changing tides and habitat areas closed to protect wildlife.

The National Park Service describes Tomales Bay as a roughly 15-mile tidal waterway bordered by Point Reyes National Seashore. Its kayaking guide identifies several launch points and highlights the need to review weather, tides and legal access before venturing onto the water.

Some islands and shorelines remain closed year-round

To protect nesting and roosting birds, the National Park Service identifies Pelican Point, Duck Island and the east side of Hog Island as areas closed to public access all year. Recreational access is not a reason to land on closed habitat.

Two other waterways, Drakes Estero and Estero de Limantour, have seasonal restrictions: paddling is generally allowed from July 1 through February 28 but prohibited from March 1 through June 30 to protect harbor seals during pupping season. This rule applies specifically to those waters and should not be described as a complete spring closure of Tomales Bay.

Boat-in camping needs a permit

Staying overnight on authorized beaches along the bay is not ordinary first-come beach camping. The park’s boat-in camping guide requires advance permits through Recreation.gov and limits overnight use to designated beaches.

The NPS also bans pets and drones in boat-in camping areas and requires compliance with fire rules, animal-resistant food storage and waste disposal requirements. Campsites are primitive and should not be treated as ordinary developed campgrounds.

Practical advice before launching

Check marine wind and tide forecasts; bay conditions can change faster than expected.
Wear an appropriate personal flotation device and carry safety equipment.
Let another person know your route and expected return time.
Confirm the location and legality of every planned landing place.
Read the NPS boating safety page and current alerts before departure.

The Coast Guard can be contacted over marine VHF channel 16 in an emergency. This guide does not assert that the bay is safe to paddle on any particular day.

Featured photograph: David Klein / Unsplash. Tomales Bay illustrative night landscape; not a current marine safety photograph.

Sources: National Park Service Point Reyes National Seashore kayaking, Tomales Bay boat-in camping and boating safety guidance.

Help independent local news grow Your contribution helps us build and sustain community reporting.

Support Inverness News

Choose how to support Inverness News:

Credit / Debit Card via Stripe

Choose an amount from $1. One-time support through the publisher's LINKERNO Stripe account.

Continue with PayPal

Zelle323-677-7643Open Zelle through your bank. Verify the recipient before sending.

Optional reader support. When possible, add “Inverness News” to the payment note. Contributions are not advertised as tax-deductible. Support does not influence editorial decisions.

Inverness News — Your Community Newspaper

Have a correction, news tip, local announcement, or story to submit? Contact our editorial team. All submissions are reviewed before publication.