Tomales Bay is a fairly protected bay about an hour north of San Francisco. It is a beautiful place for kayaking, with several different areas to put in. Each area has its own challenges and rewards as far as accessibility, sights, and ease of journey. This is partly a result of topography and partly of wind and tides.
I will list the kayak put-ins, starting at the south end of Tomales Bay. As time permits, I will describe each put-in, and list what I like about it, and if I have any problems with it.
White House Pool. County park, primitive put in access. Excellent place to start a journey to see the 550 acres of newly restored wetland at the south end of the bay. Not a good place to tour most of the bay from.
The Giacomini Wetlands at the south end of Tomales Bay
Heading north on the west side of Tomales Bay is Heart's Desire Beach, part of the state park system. Restrooms, bbq's, picnic tables for the start of your journey to tour the bay. Good accessibility. You have to beach launch, but you must launch outside of the swimming buoys, which means it is a short walk with the kayak. Costs $5 or $7, can't remember which.
East shore of Tomales Bay, which means you wil be driving Highway 1, and launching within fifty feet of the road-
Marconi Cove. Easy launching area, dirt parking area. It can fill up with lots of vehicles. Launching is very easy. No toilets, no nothing, except parking and a short stretch of beach. This starts a person off farther south than I like if I will be doing a full bay tour.
From here up to Nick's Cove and the Miller Boat Launch, there are several dirt turnouts that can be used, but I wouldn't recommend most of them for one reason or another.
Miller Boat Launch. Paved boat launch, lots of parking, full facilities and a restaurant (somewhat overpriced) right next door. Easy access. Costs $5.
Mile and a half of open water to reach one of my favorite stretches for kayaking. Lots of wildlife, marine life and birds, paddling across the bay dumps you into the Point Reyes National Seashore.
One of many bobcats I've come across while kayaking Tomales Bay
I'll flesh out Tomales Bay a little more in a day or two.
Happy paddling (peddling)