Waterfronts
19 places · Sea stacks, coves & tidal shores
Muir Beach, CA
Muir Beach
A small crescent-shaped beach at the mouth of Redwood Creek, surrounded by steep coastal hills. The beach was restored in 2010 as part of a major wetland restoration project, and the creek now supports coho salmon habitat. The beach faces southwest, creating excellent conditions for sunset photography with rocky outcrops as foreground.
Stinson Beach, CA
Stinson Beach
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.
Emeryville, CA
Emeryville Marina
A small marina and shoreline park offering direct views across the Bay to the San Francisco skyline and Bay Bridge. The adjacent Shorebird Park includes a nature center and restored wetlands. The unobstructed western exposure makes it an excellent sunset location.
Richmond, CA
Point Isabel Regional Shoreline
A 23-acre shoreline park at the edge of Richmond offering views of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco skyline, and Angel Island. It is one of the largest off-leash dog parks in the nation. The mudflats and shoreline attract shorebirds and provide foreground interest for Bay photography.
Oakland, CA
Middle Harbor Shoreline Park
A 38-acre park built on a former shipping terminal in the Port of Oakland, offering close views of container cranes, the Bay Bridge, and the San Francisco skyline. An amphitheater and restored shoreline habitat provide varied foreground elements. Large container ships regularly pass nearby en route to the port.
Alameda, CA
Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach
A 2.5-mile sandy beach on the southern shore of Alameda Island with direct views across the estuary to the Oakland skyline. The beach faces south and west, providing warm light during afternoon and sunset. A restored marsh and Crab Cove visitor center are located at the eastern end.
Mountain View, CA
Shoreline Lake and Park
A 750-acre park featuring a 50-acre artificial lake surrounded by salt marsh and bay wetlands. The park attracts diverse birdlife including egrets, herons, and pelicans against a backdrop of the South Bay hills. Mountain View's tech skyline is visible across the marshlands.
Half Moon Bay, CA
Pillar Point Harbor
A working fishing harbor nestled behind a breakwater with views of the Pillar Point bluffs and the open Pacific. Commercial fishing boats, crab traps, and harbor seals provide varied subject matter throughout the year. The harbor's calm inner waters create reflections of the moored vessels.
Palo Alto, CA
Baylands Nature Preserve
The largest tract of undeveloped marshland remaining in the San Francisco Bay covers 1,940 acres along the bay shore. The preserve's extensive boardwalk and levee trails provide access to salt marshes, mud flats, and seasonal wetlands. The Emily Renzel Wetlands section attracts large concentrations of egrets, herons, and avocets.
Sausalito, CA
Rodeo Beach
A dark pebble and sand beach situated in a cove between dramatic headland cliffs in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The beach features multicolored semi-precious stones including jasper, agate, and carnelian. Rodeo Lagoon sits directly behind the beach, offering mirror-like reflections on calm days.
Oakland, CA
Lake Merritt
A tidal lagoon in the heart of Oakland surrounded by a 3.4-mile walking path, historic buildings, and a necklace of lights. It was designated as the first official wildlife refuge in North America in 1870. The lake reflects the downtown Oakland skyline and is home to a variety of migratory bird species.
Santa Cruz, CA
Natural Bridges State Beach
This state beach features a prominent natural rock arch extending into the ocean, one of the last remaining from an original series of three. The beach hosts the largest monarch butterfly overwintering site in the United States from October through February. Tide pools along the rocky shore reveal diverse marine life at low tide.
Sausalito, CA
Sausalito Waterfront
The Sausalito waterfront along Bridgeway Boulevard features a Mediterranean-style harbor with colorful houseboats, marinas, and views across Richardson Bay to the San Francisco skyline. The floating homes community at Waldo Point is one of the last major houseboat communities in the Bay Area. The calm waters of the harbor create excellent reflection opportunities.
Point Reyes Station, CA
Drakes Estero
A large tidal estuary within Point Reyes National Seashore, Drakes Estero is one of the most pristine estuaries on the California coast. The estuary's fingerlike inlets extend into the surrounding pastoral hills. Harbor seals haul out on the sandbars, and the calm waters create mirror-like reflections of the surrounding ridgelines.
Bolinas, CA
Bolinas Lagoon
A 1,100-acre tidal lagoon along Highway 1 between Stinson Beach and Bolinas, designated a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. Great blue herons, great egrets, and harbor seals are commonly visible from the highway pullouts. The lagoon drains almost completely at low tide, revealing extensive mudflats and eelgrass beds.
Oakland, CA
Jack London Square
A waterfront commercial district on the Oakland Estuary named after author Jack London, who frequented the area. Heinold's First and Last Chance Saloon, built in 1883, still stands and was a regular haunt of London's. The boardwalk offers views of the estuary, passing boats, and the Alameda shoreline.
Healdsburg, CA
Healdsburg Memorial Bridge over Russian River
The Memorial Bridge spans the Russian River at the southern edge of Healdsburg, offering views of the river winding through riparian forest. The area around the bridge and Healdsburg Veterans Memorial Beach provides access to calm river reflections and tree-lined banks. In winter, the river swells and fog often settles in the valley.
Napa, CA
Oxbow Public Market
Oxbow Public Market is an indoor marketplace on the bank of the Napa River in downtown Napa, housed in a contemporary open-beam structure. The market features local food vendors, artisan producers, and an organic garden, with the adjacent Oxbow Commons providing river access. The Napa River boardwalk adjacent to the market offers views of the river and downtown bridges.
Half Moon Bay, CA
Mavericks Beach
Mavericks is a world-renowned big-wave surfing location where winter swells can produce waves exceeding 60 feet. The rocky coastline and dramatic sea spray create powerful seascape compositions. The beach is accessed via a 1.5-mile trail from the Pillar Point parking area.