Tomales Bay State Park

Featured hike
Mile:
0.0: Begin at the parking lot at the end of the park road. Either walk back along the road, or if you're parked in the lower section, look for a shortcut trail about mid-lot, leading to the upper lot (away from the beach paths). Start hiking on Jepson Trail.
0.9: Junction. Continue straight on Jepson Trail.
1.0: Trail crosses paved road.
1.1: End of Jepson Trail. Turn left onto Johnstone Trail.
1.3: Trail crosses paved road.
2.2: Junction with path to Pebble Beach. Turn right.
2.2: Pebble Beach. Retrace steps to previous junction, then bear right.
2.5: Johnstone Trail emerges in a clearing near the restrooms, back at the trailhead. Continue straight, following the sign for Heart's Desire Beach.
2.7: Heart's Desire Beach. Retrace steps back to the trailhead.
2.9: Back at the trailhead.

Getting there:
From US 101 in Marin County, exit Sir Francis Drake/San Anselmo. Drive west on Sir Francis Drake about 20 miles, to the junction with CA 1, turn right, drive 0.1 mile, and then turn left onto Bear Valley Road. After about 2 miles, Bear Valley Road ends at Sir Francis Drake; turn left. Continue on Sir Francis Drake about 5.5 miles, and turn right onto Pierce Point Road. Drive about 1.2 miles to the park entrance on the right side of the road. Drive down the park road about 0.7 mile, to the ranger station, stop and pay the fee (if staffed), then continue about 0.9 mile to the parking lot at the end of the road (not the Heart's Desire lot).

GPS coordinates* for trailhead:
Latitude 38° 7'53.18"N
Longitude 122°53'27.08"W
(* based on Google Earth data, shown as degrees, minutes, seconds)


Read about this hike in more detail and view photos at http://www.bahiker.com/northbayhikes/tomales.html


© 2002 Jane Huber/Bay Area Hiker