Limantour Beach

Perfect day! Dog friendly, too. Gorgeous blue water. Not too many people.

Limantour is beautiful in the sunshine, but I love it the most on overcast days. There's rarely more than a few people around, and the contrast between the light blue water and dark skies is really unique. I love photographing here – both my family and clients as well. We love to bring our dogs (they are allowed off-leash south/east of the trail) and our toddler loves all the driftwood and kelp that washes up on the beach. It's a magic spot!

What a gem this beach is. If you want to take a nice long walk surrounded by breakers, seabirds and beaches this is your place. If you time it right you may even be alone or see very few people. If you hike to the bay at the far end, you’ll be rewarded with a stunning array of seals and shorebirds in numbers like may have existed 1000 years ago.

Bathrooms are available on the path down to the beach. Beware of horse poop as mounted park rangers patrol the area. You will have to trek through a sandy hill to get to and from the beach so pack accordingly (carts with big wheels or sleds) and wear proper shoes. It's really windy there most of the day and high wind. Dogs are allowed on the left side of the beach only.

I love this beach!! I love that I can chat with people or wave while walking by. Awesome sunsets. Never too crowded. Lots to explore, ample parking, restrooms

A great beach to explore . With a permit you're allowed to have bonfires on the beach. It is a little bit of a walk from the parking Lots but they do have bathrooms

Phenomenal and historic beach. Natives have come out to this coast for thousands of years. Sir Francis Drake and his crew were the first English speakers to see experience the California coast. Besides all that the walk here is spectacular.

By far the coolest temperature compared to Stinson Beach and Bolinas. Very few people show up here. It’s a great place to go if you want to get away from the crowd.

Beautiful beach. Went on a Thursday and hardly saw another person for hours. The parking lot is located above the beach and a short walk down, past the very clean vault toilets. I tried walking down to Sculpture Beach from here but enjoyed taking my time along the way with my camera. Lovely beach, a real gem

I've been wanting to visit Limantour Beach for some time and finally had the chance to check it out today. What's unique about Limantour is that you don't have to drive too deep into Point Reyes National Seashore to get to it, unlike many of the popular beaches closer to the point. The turn off is a little over a mile from the Bear Valley Visitor center and from there you will drive up a winding park road for about 8 more miles before ending at the large parking lot. It takes about 20 minutes due to the curving roads but it's a pretty drive. To reach the beach, you'll take a short trail through some woods, cross a bridge over wetlands and go over a small sand dune. It takes maybe 10 minutes from the lot, depending on how quickly you move. The beach is pristine, and it seems you can walk for miles in either direction. It's dog friendly in some sections and it seemed some bonfires were going (I arrived in time for sunset.) It was busy but not overly crowded and very calm and peaceful compared to some other Point Reyes beaches. I got to enjoy a beautiful sunset and moonrise to close out my day in the park. I'd love to come back and do a long walk and see how the landscape changes along the coast. Highly recommend a detour to Limantour when visiting the seashore.

By far the coolest temperature compared to Stinson Beach and Bolinas. Very few people show up here. It's a great place to go if you want to get away from the crowd.

Even though you have to walk a ways to get to the beach, it is worth it. Parking is free, arrive early to get a spot. The beach is huge, you can walk north for miles. The kiddos will have fun too. There are pit toilets and a shower to wash off the sand. Keep your dog on a leash please! There are shore birds who live here and those are the rules for everyone.

Words cannot describe the beauty of this place. Located within Drakes Bay, Limantour Beach is an expansive beach with powerful waves and high winds. The views are tremendous. You can actually see the headlands of Point Reyes in the distance. We enjoyed spending time and eating our lunch on the beach. The walk from the parking lot is not far, but it's a workout since you'll be walking on sand. Dogs are only permitted along 2 miles of Limantour Beach, from the main parking lot toward the southeast until the beach starts to get rocky. We've seen a few horses on the beach, too. Just watch out for their... you know what. :)) Definitely would recommend to friends and family.

The beach is a special treat for me. I'm not able to go there much, I'm usually a ways away from a beach, so when I do, I make the most of it. And THE beach for me is Limantour. It takes a lot of driving to get there, and the journey is quite enjoyable: the pastoral scene of Highway 1 in West Marin, the change in flora when you cross the San Andreas Fault, the windy but fast road through the National Seashore, and then you're there: a huge beach with few people. The Point Reyes lighthouse has lots of rain, and so much wind that the trees grow sideways. The peninsula blocks most of that wind from Limantour, so you're not bothered as much by it. And if you put Stinson's crowd here, they could spread out so much that it still doesn't feel crowded. If you hike down for about two miles, you get to Sculptured Beach, named for the cliffs. Surprisingly, my best times at Limantour have been in the dead of winter. Like New Years Eve afternoon and mid-January. This is t-shirt weather time at Point Reyes, believe it or not. Summer, it's another story . . . I've wanted to take the family here for years, and in mid-February, I finally got the chance. They loved it. They did not love the weather. The wind had picked up, and although the temperature was not cold, it was too cold for the girl to go into the ocean. My wife saw Sculptured Beach in the distance, and we all tried to walk there. She got too cold half a mile before we got there, so we had to turn around. But she got some great photos, loved the birds flying and the dogs running off-leash. And on the drive there, that's the clearest I've ever seen the Farallon Islands. I love the beach, and I can't think of any way to improve on this one. (If it was closer to where I live, it would be overwhelmed by people, and that ain't good.) Limantour is it!

This is quite an enjoyable beach to visit. The parking is not super far. There is water to wash off after surfing. Bathrooms to use after a long walk on the beach. I enjoy the beach along this area as no more than 3-5 miles further south, it's got a bit different feel to the area. The crab moles under the sand are awesome to hear and see. If you see millions of tiny holes just between the crest of the water and the dry area of the beach, you'll know they are present. No lifeguards available and cell service is none existent. It's got its charm in that it can feel remote enough, but close enough to the bay to want to spend time for the day at the beach.

"SWF looking for love. Likes long walks on the beach..." Before OKCupid. Before Match. Before TINDR. There was once a thing called a "news weekly". It only came out in physical form and at the back of its newsprint pages were the personal ads, paid for by the word, of those seeking love. And within those personal ads, without exception, 98% of ad-placers declared "long walks on the beach" as something they adored. Assuming people haven't changed since then, and assuming people really do like long walks on the beach and those words weren't just chosen to make them sound like the kind of person that likes long walks on the beach, it's amazing that Limantour Beach isn't awash with couples strolling hand in hand or singles scouting the shoreline for other like-minded singles. But it is not. Limantour Beach sports the longest stretch of continuous beachfront one can imagine. The ample parking lot leads to a short trail through dunes which then leads to the beach. To the left is the stretch of beach (indicated by signs) where leashed dogs are allowed; to the right dogs are not permitted. And where dogs are permitted isn't just an afterthought (talking to you, Stinson Beach); you can walk more than 45 minutes in that direction before turning back. Both sides go on seemingly forever without a house in sight. Cliffs and dunes on one side of you and the vast, pounding Pacific on the other side. I don't know why nobody goes to Limantour Beach or why nobody swims there. Perhaps it's because there's no lifeguards, no food stands, no development, and it's often chilly and overcast. Still, doesn't a long stretch of vacant beachfront sound romantic? Especially if it requires you to throw on a fisherman's knit and lock arms with someone to keep warm? I think all those people claiming to like longs walks on the beach are liars. If not, this place would be packed. Note: Poor access for those with mobility issues due to sloped terrain of the parking area, the dunes access, and the size of the beach itself. Restrooms exist, at the top of the path leading to the beach.

When I moved up to the Bay Area for school (GO BEARS!), I instantly fell in love with Northern California. In my honest opinion, nothing beats the culture, weather, and even the diversity of food that's found around here. If Northern California is Steph Curry, then Southern California must be Jodie Meeks because virtually everything up here is better than down there. But if there was one thing that my fellow Southern California natives kept bragging about, it's the beaches. "Oh, you know the beaches in NorCal are too cold." "Oh, they're so dirty!" You know, for a time, I actually thought that my home back home had just one thing over my true home in the Bay (well maybe two since Pho down there is the bae). But once I actually ventured out to some of the beaches in the Bay Area (and I'm not talking about Santa Cruz or Ocean beach lol), I knew we had something special here in NorCal. And Limantour Beach is a perfect example of what's special. Limantour is located right along Point Reyes National Seashore. I discovered this hidden gem while planning a Sundate with my girlfriend. I've actually been to several beaches up in Marin County/Point Reyes prior to this (for other amazing beaches in the Bay that's equally if not better than the ones in SoCal, I suggest checking Muir Beach, Stinson Beach, and Drake's Beach). But there was something different about Limantour Beach. Limantour Beach, compared to more popular ones like Stinson, is essentially a private getaway. Especially if you come before 10am like we did, NO ONE was here. If you want a peaceful experience out near the water, I can find no better place than this beach. After discovering how empty this beach was (even around noon there were so many empty patches of sand), I couldn't help but remember back to my childhood and all those weekends spent trying to find a single, QUIET, spot at Huntington beach with my friends. Here at Limantour, the problem isn't scarcity but excess. Just make sure you avoid the bird nesting areas when finding a spot! At Limantour, the sand is pure, the water is clean, and the opportunities for mischievous activities is plentiful. Come on, where else would you have the space to draw whatever you want in the sand - however large you want it. And if you want to swim, the water isn't too cold at all later in the day. Just note that there's no lifeguards to protect you (woot adventure and risk!!). And getting here is also part of the magical adventure. Driving to Limantour from SF takes around 1.5 hours without traffic. This may seem long, but trust me, it's worth it. Generally, the roads into Point Reyes will be pretty empty in the morning and so you'll have an opportunity to gaze out and enjoy views of the water and the more rural farm life that exists outside the city. Plus don't forget the spotted moomoos! You don't see black and white cows just anywhere... they're hiding here. To get here, I recommend 1. setting up GPS before hand because there's no signal here and 2. pumping up gas before you drive up because there's only 1 big gas station in Point Reyes and it's HELLLA expensive. But once you get here, parking should be good (duh no one is here!) and it's smooth sailing. All in all, I have to say that Limantour Beach is definitely one of my favorite beaches in the Bay Area. There's just something so magical about being in a place that's completely yours to roam free around. In SoCal, it'd be impossible to find a beach that's empty. Here in Point Reyes, it'd be impossible to find a beach that's filled. I give this place an "omg, I'd travel 2 hours for this." Proof is in the pudding, and it pretty much took us that long to get here. And it's worth it. Have fun and prosper,

A couple of weeks ago I visited Limantour Beach for the first time with a friend who has a dog. The dog came along of course! Limantour Beach is not only absolutely stunning and beautiful, it is one of the few places at the Point Reyes National Seashore that allows dogs! So yes! Bring the dog - just make sure to follow signs and head to the left side of the beach (when looking at the ocean) where dogs are allowed. Like other areas of Point Reyes, there are environmentally sensitive sections which are often cordoned off, where rare plants and endangered animals are recovering. This is why they have such strict dog rules. This beach is spectacular. I can't say it enough. It has miles of white sand, blue green waters and the most gorgeous sunlight that glints off the hillsides and dunes. This is truly one of those special places at Point Reyes, along with so many others. You can take a long walk along the beach, and get in your steps for the day and great views in the quiet of nature to boot. You will certainly enjoy your time here for sure.

Way better than Stinson Beach! Almost no one is here! And the water is so blue! I'm not sure if this is a problem always or just when I visited, there was a lot of sand blowing constantly 0-3 inches above the ground, so laying on a towel was no ideal.

It is only fitting that this stretch of coastline be named after a man from Brittany, France! Limantour beach is very similar to the Brittany coastline; long stretches of beachfront, sand dunes in the background sprinkled with rugged coastline and majestic forests far behind. If you have come from the lighthouse, you can see how Point Reyes stretches out to the sea. The waves are fairly intense here, so if you're looking to have a rumble with the ocean, this is the place. If you want to sit and hear the pounding surf, throw a blanket down and relax. Dogs are allowed on the beach, so long as they are on leash. Take the leash! The ranger will call you out (I know). You can reach this beach either by driving down Limontour Road form Francis Drake Blvd. Orrrrr, you can reward yourself after a short 1.8 mile trek on Muddy Hollow Trail to end up at the sea. Catch Muddy Hollow at the junction of Point Reyes Hostel - turn right instead of left. I see this beach as a spot where the locals come to hang. With that said it was not crowded at all. So don't go telling all your friends...oh wait...shoot!

So much yes! This is only awesome if you like both dogs and horses. It is fan-tab-u-la-ri-ffic if you have either dogs or horses because they can come with you! Free parking a small hike from the beach. Given that we were able to park during Labor Day Weekend with no drama indicates that this is super chill any other time. Also, if you are looking for a way to unplug, this is the place. You will not have reception. :) Take photos with your phone all you want. Just wait until you get back into town if you actually want to post. There were quaint little towns with tons of places to get fresh oysters. Chow down. There are bed and breakfasts all over the place. Stay over and explore.

Beautiful beach, dog friendly to the left. Picnic tables at the top. Clean and prestine

Fantastic beach! Large beautiful expanse of clean sand with so few people. Was a wonderful place for a long stroll along the shore. Cannot recommend this beach enough (although part of me wants to keep it a secret). Another great part is it's 45 minutes from home (Novato) and a few minutes from Pt. Reyes Station which is a great small beach town to grab a meal and do some shopping. Makes a great day trip.

One of the best places to go during summertime in Sacramento. Any temperature or overcast is perfect and more than welcoming over the high temps in Sac. The scenery is amazing even when its a bit gloomy. The drive there itself is worth going. When you get there the parking situation is too bad, just a bit far if you're dad having to lug the cooler, umbrella, and dog on a leash with kids in tow without shoes on at the end of a long beach day. Crabbing with a snare is allowed with a fishing license and bonfires and allowed if you pay an additional fee. There are restrooms and portapotties and dogs are allowed. No glass bottles so plan accordingly if you want to bring beer or wine. My only complaint is that the beach is far from the parking lot and seals will bite your snare and try and take your bait if crabbing.

A little slice of heaven unfolds as you walk over the rolling dunes that lead to this beach. Rarely have I seen a beautiful beach in NorCal not crowded with humans. And free of trash and dog poop. The only sound is the infinite ocean gently crashing against the shore. The ocean is my secret love and sharing this beach with you means you're special. I love being hypnotized by the ocean without the crowds. You will love this beach if you are entranced by the ocean and love the simplicity of nature. Escape on a wondrous dream walk where the soft sandy shoreline looks infinite as it stretches below low cliffs. Or sprawl lazily on the sand as the ocean and blue sky melts your stress away. Come here to enjoy solitude, but leave no sign that you were here. Meaning, take your damn trash with you! OVERALL: No entrance fee, no parking fee, dog friendly, and far enough from the city to seem like a nice little get away. Whale watching in the spring and plenty of birds to watch year round.

This place was a quick trip from N Novato. We broke up the drive by stopping in the small town I believe is known as Dogtown. We chose this beach bc it was dog friendly and was made of sand. However, from a scientific point of view we found a lot of information and got to see first hand both living and expired jelly fish! They were enormous. We made the mistake of leaving boogie boards in the car but I was a bit shy as it stated that tide would be high and tip current strong. So, we played it safe The beach is kept upby those who use it. They offer a bag to each park patron to use for both their own trash and any pieces they see and can pick up. I never saw a cigarette butt, trash or anything outside the natural habitat except a dorito which my daughter quickly picked up. Since I speak from a disabled point of view: I found 2 handicap spots well below expectations and I would imagine city code. So if the walk (about 10 minutes for me and I take breaks) be certain to arrive early and get you disabled spot. As a single Mom had I gone another 5 ft with full hands I might as well have collapsed. Also, NO LIFEGUARDS! But super spot and we shall return.

I love the California coastline and this is no exception. Just another day on the beach hanging out with the a baby seal. No big deal. :)

Did you say you want a beach without beach blankets taking up every square inch in the summer with people carelessly throwing trash around and a beach that makes you say, "I am NOT 1 hour away from San Francisco, I must be 5 hours away?" You are looking at the right beach, Limantour Beach. The drive out to Limantour Beach is about an hour long. The road up to Limantour Beach appears to resemble Fairfax Bolinas Rd but Limatour Rd is actually not a roller coaster. The drive combines views of the ocean that make Point Reyes famous and Douglas Firs that put you into a deep forest. you hit the beach parking lot, there is a short walk there, keeping the beach more natural. Take the nearest trail out to Limantour Beach where the hidden beach awaits. If you wanted to look at other habitats besides the beach, the trail passes over a bridge through a salt marsh so the walk brings together two habitats of California's coast. There are always a few people on the beach but they are quiet local people probably looking for the same quiet experience you want. Looking around the beach, there is only one house nearby and it is up the hill a bit. This area barely escaped development and after people saved Limantour Beach, they forgot about it. The beach is slowly getting more crowded but it is still nowhere near Stinson's levels. People probably head for Stinson because it is closer to urban areas and it has hotels and restaurants. If that is what you are after, you can always head to Point Reyes Station, Inverness Park or Inverness after you visit Limantour. As for the layout of the beach itself, the sand lies between the wild dunes and the ocean. The beach is fine for swimming because unlike North and South Beaches, the surf here is gentle. The beach is almost as wide as Stinson. If it is crowded one hot fogless summer day, you can travel west down the spit where the dunes and water make you want to stay here until the fog messes up the scene for you as it returns in the night. Also, you can travel east where the layout changes to cliffs backing the beach instead of dunes. The only difference with Limantour Beach and an untouched beach somewhere else along the California coast was that the smell of the ocean was not strong. The bird population is not the largest around either but if you came not planning to observe birds, this will be a plus. Overall, remember this is the beach many Marinites and tourists never heard of so if you want a quiet day at the beach without driving up to northern Sonoma County, this is the beach for you.

I love this place and they allow dogs! First of all, the drive up to Limantour Beach is calming and beautiful, fyi though, the drive was pretty long, about 2 hours. The beach was gorgeous! This place has a short trail to the water which was spacious for all the groups of people walking to and from the beach. I liked that it had sand instead of pebbles and most people were very friendly, I saw people grab the complementary coffee bags provided to pickup trash from the beach to keep it clean. There was even a white horse, something you rarely see. The only down side about this place was the so called restrooms (porty potty style, no sink) smelled really awful. Great place to bring your kids and have a picnic! I will be visiting frequently with friends and family!

An absolutely beautiful place to spend a day at the beach. There's not too many people there and the beach is clean with pristine white sands. You may find yourself spotting some crabs that get washed up with the surf, too! There's a bit of a walk to get to the beach from the parking area, but it's well worth it once you reach the sand and realize that you're nicely removed from all the hustle and bustle of the world outside. It can definitely get windy here, so be prepared with some big umbrellas or find a nice big dune to set up camp by. If you visit the fire station before you go to the beach, you can obtain a fire permit which will allow you to have a fire on the beach. A rarity these days, and so fun to be able to have an oceanside campfire with your family and friends. If you visit, I really hope you enjoy yourself and be sure to leave the beaches as clean (or cleaner - if even possible) than when you arrived. This is one of the nicest beaches I've ever been to and I can't wait to go back!

Enjoyed a lovely Saturday soaking up the sun with my man, pup, and a picnic. I'm fairly positive this is the most tranquil beach there is. A few other people were there, but it's so expansive you felt like you were all alone. Wind can be a bit intense, but just head in to the dunes for some shelter. Cannot wait to share this special spot with visiting family this fall. I can only imagine what a sunset from this spot must be...

The beauty of this beach is remarkable. The farther away from the land you go the more stark and beautiful it becomes. Celebrated Thanksgiving 2009 with a bonfire picnic on this beach along with a pile of strangers and one person I knew...it was a magical time in a spectacular setting.

The plan was to hike one of the gorgeous Point Reyes trails. By the time we arrived at Bear Valley girl friend was feeling ill and 99% of PR trails are not dog friendly -- except for Limantour beach. I was pleasantly surprised by how empty (only a few locals), clean and beautiful Limantour beach was on an incredibly gorgeous Saturday afternoon. The drive to the beach once you get to Point Reyes is picturesque and comes with different shades of green. Ample amount of parking and basic beach amenities including an outdoor shower, rest rooms and picnic tables by the beach path. The beach was surprisingly wide with nice soft sand. The waves were nice and clean, while breaks too close to beach which makes if less ideal for surfing and better for bogey boarding. If you come with your dog, the left side of beach is dog-friendly. Horses are allowed on the trails too. Limantour is def going to be one of my fave NorCal beach spots. Def better than Stinson. Easier to get to than Sand Dollar beach. Not as windy as Julia Pfeiffer beach.

Over Thanksgiving week, my husband and I decided to take a mini-family vacation. We packed up our toddler and hopped in the Subaru, and we drove straight to Point Reyes. On our first full day, we wanted to find a hike that wouldn't be too difficult, as we'd be wearing our baby on our back. We came across Limantour Beach, and we thought we'd give it a try. The parking lot was large, and there were quite a few trailheads that start at this location. We were interested in the trail that ran parallel with the beach. We quickly found it, and proceeded to have the most enjoyable walk we've had in awhile. The air was crisp, it was quiet, beautiful birds surrounded us, everyone who passed greeted us with a smile... Our toddler loved it! There was so much for him to see. After walking for about 2 miles, we made a hard left and made our way back to the car along the beach. There were dogs everywhere, and it was just a great, easy day. My husband is convinced we saw Francis Ford Coppola, but even if we didn't, it was still a great place for an easy stroll. We can't wait to return!

This beach is so awesome and very family/kid friendly! It is a short walk from the parking area and the sand is not hard to walk in and the beach is nice and flat for playing in. There are many trailheads but the kids just wanted to hang and play. This was not a long drive from Sacramento area and the perfect family day trip.

So beautiful! Great way to explore and spent time with the family. It was truly a gorgeous day when we went.

A bit of a jaunt to hike to from the parking, but great for dogs! If you are a shell collector, there's not much here for you, but lots of spots to put down an umbrella and enjoy the day!

This beach is so nice with soft sand and it was so warm when we went (early September). There is a short walk to the beach but is very easy and only takes a couple minutes. There are a few bathrooms before you start the walk. No fee for parking or admission.

Beautiful beach. The drive from Sacramento is well worth it. This beach reminded me of some of the beaches in Hawaii. Minus the warm water.

Long long stretch of beach. if you are a beach lover and feel at all dissuaded by the long drive (relative to the other beaches nearer you) then persevere and you will be rewarded. The beach stretches out in a very wide way to the left, and this is what I remember the most... the "beachness" of it. You just want to walk and walk and walk it, soaking in the ocean on the right and the long walk in front of you... which seems finite but which stretches out and out as the dunes fall into the water. We ran into some extremely LAAARGE dogs here. There was a dog "meet up" for a particular breed of dogs that are as big as horses. Seriously, as tall as humans. All of the Yelp reviews that I read are from people who are thrilled that this beach has dogs... which then means more people bring more dogs. Don't get me wrong, I love dogs, but much of our experience of being on this beach was about dog interactions. Thank you to all of the dog owners who pick up poop. So, in conclusion, don't bring your cat.

This beach is fantastic and I think better than Stinson and other beaches going up to Bodega bay. What you need to have the best beach day there: 1. Plan for a all day, good relaxed time 2. Cooler with snacks and beverages 3. Trash collecting items (bag)-- this beach is SUPER clean-- lets keep it that way!! 4. Walking shoes/flip flops-- you have to park 5 minutes away from the beach 5. Dogs are allowed, on the left side of the beach-- but must be leashed. 6. beach chairs or a towel. No benches or other sitting. 7. they have a bathroom/rest area, but its pretty bare bones.

We visited Point Reyes with our three dogs and Limantour Beach was one of a few places we could bring our pups. We got there around 2pm on a Friday and there were a handful of cars in the lot. We leashed up our dogs, and headed down the trails (after stopping at the porta potties at the start of the trail) We kept our dogs leashed for the entire 1/4-1/2 trail leading to the beach and there are also signs noting that dogs should stay to the left of the beach only. When we got to the beach, we saw other pups off leash so we let ours loose and headed to the left. It's a stunning long stretch of beach and everyone we encountered was extremely friendly. We also saw a few seals pop their heads out to check out our boys who were chasing sticks in and out of the surf! We did about 5 miles total -- walking 2.5 miles down the beach and then back. When we got back to the start of the trail, we leashed our dogs up again to head back to the car. We didn't run into any Park Rangers or anyone who even gave us a second glance about having our dogs off leash on the beach. My guess is they're more concerned about the wildlife off the trail leading up to the beach (there were lots of signs about nesting) and as long as you leash your dog there and that your dog is well behaved on the beach and you pick up after them, you should be fine!

Limantour beach is great for running. It can get hard when the tide is high, then the sand becomes soft, but, hell, you burn twice as many calories this way. Run to the right or to the left. If the beach is too short of a distance, veer off to a trail that leads to Arch Rock. The options are endless. This beach is great for anything: picnics, family outings, walking dogs and kids, running, or just walking along the beautiful freezing-cold Pacific Ocean. My recent discovery is the lagoon with sting-rays if you walk to the left of the parking lot. There are also colonies of seals at the tip of the peninsula leading into Drakes Estero through Estero de Limantour. The dunes there are amazing, they make me feel like I am on the set of "Dune" except the sand is real. Four stars because of the stupid bridge they built and ruined the natural beauty of the swamps. Now it's a muddy mess, which made water fowl and herons and egrets abandon the place, leaving a sad scene. I guess, somebody had to spend the money... Some people just don't get it.

My favorite beach in Marin. When I was in high school (Back in the Dark Ages...When suits came with football player sized shoulder pads, Madonna was like a virgin, and MTV played videos 24/7) it was kind of a thing...The rich kids and the popular kids went to Stinson. The artsy kids, the geeks, and the...well, everyone else...went to Limantour. Perhaps all these years later, this sticks in my brain...but objectively, I really do prefer it. There is always room to spread out. I love watching the dogs play,(even though I don't have one of my own) and you can go on really,really long walks, because the beach itself seems to go on forever.

No one believes me that there's a better place to hang on a beach than Stinson. I guess that's OK since I come here to avoid the crowds. This is a beautiful beach with a loyal group of fans who are more into conservation than being part of a scene. There aren't any trucks with stereos blaring or BBQ pits or throngs of teenagers with brown paper bag beverages (can you be more obvious?).

This beach on a weekday, is one of the best things ever! Uncrowded, spacious, beautiful.

My favorite local beach! On one side you can even have walk your best 4 legged friend on a leash, of course, not all dogs are friendly. Great sand dunes, take a light nosh, climb up & watch the ocean come to you.

I love the beach. Sometimes I think there is no hurt the ocean cannot heal. Yesterday (9/3/12), our family (my husband, our two boys (10 and 12), and my sister-in-law) took a trip out to Limantour Beach to fulfill a promise I made to our kids when the summer began. The promise was that by the end of the summer we would make a campfire and make real s'mores. Our summer was really tough, and filled with a lot of setbacks. But I wanted to at least keep this promise, since it was so important to the kids. So, I looked at beaches and saw that in Pt Reyes you can set fires on any of the beaches (so long as you have a fire permit and keep within certain parameters). It also has to be a day when there is no fire danger inside in the park. So I packed a picnic, grabbed a lot of towels and blankets, packed firewood (only almond or pine is allowed to burn inside of Pt. Reyes), and packed the makings for s'mores. The drive out to Pt Reyes is not as windy as the drive out to Stinson (my usual beach haunt), and a little less pastoral, but I think that makes it a little less nerve-wracking. The traffic was relatively light all the way to the park. It was even less so once we got onto the road to Limantour. (Note: fire permits need to be obtained in the visitor's center) Beach was clean, and SO big. Seriously - one person on here said that all the Stinson crowd could fit on this beach and still have room to move. They were absolutely right. Now, the beach wasn't as remote or deserted as some of the reviews I've seen claim. The beach was pretty busy actually (probably because it was Labor Day). I didn't find it to be remote at all (considering there are some where you can only hike in). But, this beach WAS filled with families! Kids, and they were everywhere!! It was nice, because there were just about NO teenagers there to muck up the fun of the little kids. The marine layer rolled all the way out around 330/4, and then it was bright and sunny and warm. It started to roll back in at about 5/530. It was about this time that people started filtering out, and we started lighting our fire. By the time we got our fire going it was near sunset, and we stayed until we feared the light would go away completely and we wouldn't be able to find our car. But, by the time our fire was really going and we pulled out the marshmallows, we were the only five people left on the beach. It was magical.

Gorgeous! Wonderful LARGE dog friendly beach! Amazing ocean view and very clean beach! Easy beach access. Definitely one to see!

ooh Limantour! You gave me a great escape from reality for a day... Did some hiking, pictures with great views and bonding time with my best friend! Had a good hike a few miles down to the beach, and sat there in the 64° weather not as cold as I thought if be, since we did run down the trail half/half.. Best Sunday outdoors this year! I enjoyed the the cleanliness of the beach and trails, yes some piles of horse poop but its nature so it's only right! If your not an advanced hiker or don't know knowledge of point reyes, stop at the to get a map and speak with the rangers. Tell them you want to walk the coast of the beach or how long of a hike you'd want to do. They are very helpful and I'm thankful for them! We will be back ;-)

A gem! This place is really pretty. After growing up in southern California, I'm spoiled with pretty beaches, fine sand, and good sun. When we arrived at the beach, we found that it was surprisingly not crowded with no road noise at all (too far away). On top of that, the sand was soft and warm, the waves were crashing, and a light breeze let me overlook the fact that I was getting a massive fucking sunburn. I will be back here again, soon. Hopefully with a big group of friends and some good food and drink.

Beautiful easy hike for day after Thanksgiving. No crowds no traffic. So peaceful. And to see the harbor seals as curious about us as we were of them was sweet! Couple of them popped up half their bodies as if trying to entertain us!

Our new favorite beach! Nice drive in, not crowded at all, and absolutely beautiful 360 degree views. We love to beachcomb and my daughter found lots of small sand dollars.

Summary based on several visits: --good to great, depending on the weather and the tides --basic toilet --generally easy parking -l-o-n-g, but pleasant drive

Beautiful expansive beach. Little alcoves to explore and tide pools down at the south end. We loved this beach!

This is a great beach! The little town that you go through to get there is always fun and can be a nice stop to grab your snacks. It was windy, so everything got pretty sandy *note to self: bring umbrella or tent next time* yes- some people had tents. There is PLENTY of space on this beach so take a walk and pick your perfect spot. The grassy knolls are where the softest sand is. Great if you are looking to go to the beach without the hassle of finding parking and a spot to sit.

Enjoyed this beach for the first time on 4th of July! It was a little overcast when we arrived around noon, but slowly cleared up and the sun came out around 2PM. It wasn't too cold or windy. I thought it was a perfect spot to just hang out and relax and have a picnic by the water. It wasn't crowded at all and plenty of space to set up. The walk from the parking lot to the beach wasn't too far and the public restrooms were clean and accessible at the entrance of the walkway to the beach. Love this beach and will definitely be back more often!