Who's Chicken?

Chicken Ranch Beach in Inverness on Point Reyes National Seashore

Chicken Ranch Beach in Point Reyes

Don’t let the name deceive you. Chicken Ranch Beach isn’t for the birds. It’s for folks who want to spend a mellow afternoon at a totally swimmable beach on the shore of Tomales Bay in Point Reyes. Most cars zip right by Chicken Ranch Beach en route to the lighthouse on the western side of the peninsula. There are no signs, but you’ll find its access point just north of Inverness (directions below).

This sweet spot doesn’t sprawl for miles, but there’s plenty of room to wander, spread a blanket, and play a little catch or fetch without ruffling any feathers. And the water? The Tomales Bay water is not only warmer than the Pacific, it’s calmer. The shore is shallow and gradual, making it ideal for a wade-in or a gentle swim. Paddle-boarders and kayakers float by, back-dropped by the vistas of West Marin’s rolling landscape.

FOOD & BEVERAGE BONUS: Saltwater Oyster Depot is just a few minutes south of Chicken Ranch Beach. Book ahead for a table on the patio looking at Tomales Bay or order take-out food and wine! You can’t go wrong with a full fresh menu featuring signature oysters raw or broiled, along with favorites like green curry ceviche and peach galette for dessert. Beer on tap or by the bottle includes tasty selections from North Coast Brewing Company’s Scrimshaw to Alaskan Amber Ale, with a Boonville Cider tossed in. The wine list is equally good.

In Point Reyes Station, go west on Sir Francis Drake Blvd. toward the lighthouse. Go through the town of Inverness. Just after Tomales Bay Resort and Blue Waters Kayak you’ll see a pullout on the right side of the road (across from Pine Hill Dr.). This is the parking for Chicken Ranch Beach. It fills up on warm weekends.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Picnic and a Pedal

    West Marin has all the right stuff for an afternoon getaway: bike paths, babbling brooks, canopy forests, and secluded picnic spots. Combine a picnic and a pedal at Samuel P. Taylor State Park by biking the easygoing Cross Marin Trail.

    View
  2. Hike the Oursan Trail alongside Briones Reservoir in the East Bay

    Opt for Oursan

    Hike the trail less traveled in the East Bay's Briones Regional Park. The Oursan Trail is pure serenity on a wide hiking path skirting the northern shores of Briones Reservoir.

    View
  3. Most Peaceful Hike of All

    Is this the most peaceful one-hour hike in the Bay Area? It's got our vote! Lake Lagunitas is the smallest lake in a series of five found on the north side of Mount Tam, so it’s got that tiny but mighty charm. Do a 1.5-mile loop around the lake's shore-hugging trail.

    View
  4. Sebastopol Food & Wine Roll

    One apple farm, three charming towns, multiple wineries, and infinite natural beauty. Savor a perfect autumn day in Sonoma County by biking the West County Regional Trail from Sebastopol to Forestville via Graton. It’s a 17-mile (round-trip) adventure. 

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Wine Down, Dine Out in Lake Chelan

    The fertile soil around Washington State's Lake Chelan is ripe for more than just the amazing apples. Vineyards here yield high quality grapes, and some of the country’s best less-discovered wineries. Locals know it, and you will too when you start choosing from the more than 30 wineries in the region.

    View
  2. Lace Up for Lacy

    Lacy Park in San Marino is a hidden gem that may very well be the most pristine green space in greater Los Angeles, and a concealed pair of nearby stairways makes it all the more appealing.

    View
  3. Hiker amid trees at Oak Glen Preserve in Yucaipa Southern California

    Apple of Your Eye

    That fall feeling is definitely in the air and on display at the Oak Glen Preserve. Apple orchards and colorful leaves are a bonus, as are the apple cider donuts and slushies you can enjoy post-hike.

    View
  4. Hike San Diego Volcan Mountain Wilderness

    Planet of the Oaks

    Let us count the number of oak tree species in the Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve near Julian: coast, scrub, canyon, black, and Engelmann. Five! The preserve’s Five Oaks Trail is a 3.2-mile hike that boasts all five.

    View