Chicken Ranch Beach

Located on Tomales Bay, Chicken Ranch Beach is a puptastic destination for beach loving pups and their humans. This small beach offers fun in the sand and surf for dogs on leash. Pupular activities here include swimming, hiking, and picnicking. For the water sports enthusiasts, this is also a great spot for kayaking.

A bit hard to find, you'll need to pay attention to see the unmarked entrance off of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. Just past the Tomales Bay Resort, you'll see street parking for the beach and the entrance, right after the road bends.

The beach is a narrow stretch of open sand backed by small, grass-covered dunes. Pathways of dirt and pebbles lead down to the beach from the entrance through some low shrubbery and trees. This tidal area features water inlets that run through the dunes which fill at high tide. The beach can be quite muddy when the tide is out. Mostly comprised of sand mixed with broken shells, the beach also contains a lot of small rocks along the shoreline when the water level has receded, which can make walking uncomfortable for pups. Keep an eye on those delicate paws!

Dogs need to stay on a leash no longer than six feet at all times at Chicken Ranch Beach. Benches and a port-a-potty near the entrance to the main pathway to the beach are provided for you, but there are few amenitites for dogs. Be sure to bring enough water to share with your pup, as well as clean-up bags, and always stoop and scoop. Trash cans are on site for your convenience. With no shade, you may want to bring a beach umbrella as well. The weather here has been known to change quickly, so be sure to pack some extra layers.

For a pawrific beach adventure, check out the Chicken Ranch Beach with your pup!