Stinson Beach is a rare sheltered sandy beach on the Marin County coast, tucked behind Bolinas Lagoon and often sunny when San Francisco is socked in with fog. Cold water limits swimming season to summer months; low tide is ideal for walking the full length of this scenic three-mile beach.
Stinson is unusually sheltered and sunny for the Marin coast; the 4–5 ft Pacific tidal range means low tide gives the widest beach and the full three-mile walking length. Swimming in the lifeguarded zone is relatively warm (for Northern California) and safest at mid to high tide in summer; modest shore break exists for bodyboarders; shore fishing is done at low to mid tide; shelling and tide pools are minimal on the sandy beach. Local note: the parking lot fills by 10 am on sunny summer weekends — plan to arrive early or walk from the village; the Golden Gate National Recreation Area manages this beach (free entry); a small market and a few restaurants are in the village behind the lot.
Nearby Beaches