A 3.5-mile-long white sand beach on Bolinas Bay, considered one of the finest beaches in the Bay Area. The beach faces south with views of the Bolinas headlands and the Farallon Islands. The surrounding town retains a low-key coastal village character with no commercial development on the beachfront.
Photography Guide
Best Time
golden hour
Crowds
Moderate
Shot Types
widelandscapeportrait
Best Seasons
summerfallspring
Practical Tips
The National Park Service lot fills early on warm weekends. Overflow parking is available along Highway 1. The north end of the beach is less crowded and offers views toward Bolinas.
Is it a good day to go?
7-day outlook
Mild, dry days with light winds are the most comfortable for a visit.
Forecast by Open-Meteo. Verdicts weigh the forecast against the conditions that suit this spot.
Gallery
A stilted beach house rises above the sand at the edge of Stinson Beach, with its elevated deck and stairway overlooking the shoreline. Waves roll in along the left side while a few other coastal homes and low hills line the distant beach. Photo: Frank Schulenburg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0An adult Heermann’s gull stands on rippled gray sand, its white head and bright red-orange beak sharply lit against the muted beach. The tight composition isolates the bird, with soft, out-of-focus sand filling the background. Photo: Frank Schulenburg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0An adult California gull stands on pale, rippled sand, its white body and gray wings sharply lit against the muted beach. The close, centered composition isolates the bird, with its yellow bill and legs clearly visible. Photo: Frank Schulenburg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0A cracked white sand dollar lies on coarse brown beach sand, topped with a pink barnacle shell and speckled with grains. Strong sunlight casts a sharp shadow, highlighting the shell’s rough texture and the sand’s tiny pebbles. Photo: Frank Schulenburg / Wikimedia Commons / CC0A long white-sand beach curves along Bolinas Bay, with foamy waves on the left and the low coastal hills of Stinson Beach rising on the right. The wide view includes a few tiny beachgoers, terraced sandy lots in the foreground, and a clear blue sky with thin clouds. Photo: MARELBU / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0Sweeping view of Stinson Beach curving along Bolinas Bay, with white surf rolling onto the wide sandy shore under a clear blue sky. Green hills and scattered coastal homes rise on the right, while the beach and ocean stretch into the hazy distance. Photo: Unknown / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0A curving stretch of California State Route 1 winds through Stinson Beach, lined with dense green trees, roadside vegetation, and a few low coastal houses tucked into the hillside. Bright midday light and a clear blue sky highlight the quiet village setting and the smooth bend in the road. Photo: advencap from San Francisco, USA / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0Sepia-toned view of Stinson Beach’s undeveloped coastal hills, with scattered houses and barns tucked along grassy slopes above a broad sandy valley. A few dirt roads and fences cut across the foreground, while rounded bluffs rise in the hazy background under bright daylight. Photo: this copy appeared in "History watch: Plan derailed," Marin Independent Journal, 6 September 2010, / Wikimedia Commons / Public domainWide white sand beach in Stinson Beach with a few low coastal houses and shrubs lining the dunes under a clear blue sky. The golden light is soft and even, with a long driftwood log and distant hills adding depth to the scene. Photo: Robert So / PexelsA simple beach safety sign stands in the sand between two leaning flagpoles, marking separate swim and surf zones above a quiet shoreline. Calm turquoise water fills the frame behind it, with a seagull near the surf and bright midday light on the pale beach. Photo: John Arciniegas / Pexels
