• Tips for Visitors
• Dogs

Stinson Beach is a three-mile-long sandbar completely free of rocks. It’s a place to walk for miles on white sand, take a dip, have a barbecue, jog, or play games. You can even borrow volleyball nets and balls from the main lifeguard tower in exchange for a driver’s license. Lifeguards are on duty from about Memorial Day to Labor Day. The average summer water temperature is a cold 58 degrees Fahrenheit.

A favorite of local folk for more than a century, Stinson’s white sand and oceanfront make it one of the best swimming beaches in northern California, not to mention a favorite surfing, picnicking, and volleyball spot. The Beach is also popular for board- and windsurfing, rafting, and boogie-boarding. For surfers, the best times of year are winter and spring, when storms give the beach a steeper face and more uneven bottom. For windsurfers, the prevailing north-westerly winds blow best in the afternoon. For rafters and boogie-board users, the summer surf is most suitable. The adjacent town of Stinson Beach offers several restaurants, a small grocery store, and a handful of shops. Stinson Beach has an extensive picnic area, complete with tables and barbecues.

What’s popularly called an undertow is really a rip current. Rip currents are caused by wave action pushing water up the beach and then rushing back down narrow channels between offshore sand bars. At Stinson Beach, rip currents occur year-round and can carry swimmers hundreds of yards from shore. Look for informational warning displays at the beach.


At the northern tip of Stinson Beach (which is under Marin County’s jurisdiction), canines are welcome on-leash in a sandy stretch called Upton Beach. Salty sea breezes and the friendly community of dogs and their people mean a good time and inspiring scenery for both dogs and their human companions. For those with an appetite, the town hosts several dog-friendly cafés.