Overnight kayak expedition recommendations

I’ve been contemplating a kayak fishing expedition where I can take my tent, land on a deserted beach, camp for the night, and go back to the launch the following day. I don’t think it’s legal to camp on the beach though, but would love to get more advice.

I’ve seen people camping in Timber Cove, and would like to get some advice on that area. In that case I’d have to stay in a designated campground, which is not the ideal experience, but at least it would be legal. I’m ok driving 2-3 hours from home (Pacifica)

Thanks!

I’ve been contemplating a kayak fishing expedition where I can take my tent, land on a deserted beach, camp for the night, and go back to the launch the following day. I don’t think it’s legal to camp on the beach though, but would love to get more advice.

I’ve seen people camping in Timber Cove, and would like to get some advice on that area. In that case I’d have to stay in a designated campground, which is not the ideal experience, but at least it would be legal. I’m ok driving 2-3 hours from home (Pacifica)

Thanks!

TC has one of their campsites on the beach.  It is essentially setting your tent up on an active boat launch though,  so pretty far from  "deserted".

There are boat-in sites in Tomales.  I think you need a permit to camp there, and also not super deserted. 

Tomales bay boat in

I’ve been contemplating a kayak fishing expedition where I can take my tent, land on a deserted beach, camp for the night, and go back to the launch the following day. I don’t think it’s legal to camp on the beach though, but would love to get more advice.

I’ve seen people camping in Timber Cove, and would like to get some advice on that area. In that case I’d have to stay in a designated campground, which is not the ideal experience, but at least it would be legal. I’m ok driving 2-3 hours from home (Pacifica)

Thanks!
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And a toilet.


TC has one of their campsites on the beach.  It is essentially setting your tent up on an active boat launch though,  so pretty far from  "deserted".

There are boat-in sites in Tomales.  I think you need a permit to camp there, and also not super deserted.

Thanks for the references guys. At this rate I’d be staying at the Half Moon Bay Ritz Carlton 
Just kidding.. I did find however that there are boat only sites in Tomales Bay. Managed by the park. And other spots too. This is a good website:
https://www.californiabeaches.com/map/tomales-bay-kayaking-camping-beaches/

Cool topic I think you are stuck with the lost Coast BLM land you can camp almost anywhere. Just don't get caught without a Porta Potty. Some peeps have camped at one of the Esteros in Bodega Bay.   https://www.smallcarcamp.com/is-camping-on-the-beach-legal-in-california/

It really sucks Point Reyes doesn't allow beach Camping. I have camped here hiking I guess you could boat in and leave Kayaks on the beach, cool  camp. https://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/upload/map_cg_coast.pdf

Cool topic I think you are stuck with the lost Coast BLM land you can camp almost anywhere. Just don't get caught without a Porta Potty.

That not how we do it here. Dig a hole below high tide line, do your business, cover it up, let the ocean do the flushing. 

Thanks for the references guys. At this rate I’d be staying at the Half Moon Bay Ritz Carlton 
Just kidding.. I did find however that there are boat only sites in Tomales Bay. Managed by the park. And other spots too. This is a good website:
https://www.californiabeaches.com/map/tomales-bay-kayaking-camping-beaches/

Be careful with that map. It includes several beaches where the NPS doesn't actually permit boat-in camping. Check out the map below from the NPS.

This adventure is more like 4 to 5 hours north of you and would be a summertime excursion:  Bear Harbor in Sinkyone Wilderness State Park.  About a 10 mile paddle to the south from Shelter Cove.  Ideally the trip would include ground support - that would require backpacking in about 2.5 miles from parking at Needle Rock where the visitor's center is.  I've Wheeleezed a yak in from Needle Rock for an overnighter that Ron and I did in late 2017 - last year of abalone harvest.  It was pretty brutal.  Paddling down there wouldn't be bad - 10 miles of salmon trolling.  It's the coming back that could get hectic - currents and wind could make it a tough 10 miles.  The alternative would be to roll out to Needle Rock, but I'd rather paddle a hard 10 than to roll the yak out over those hills again.

This is a trip that I'd love to set up for a group of us.  I've been there many times and know the camp, the reef and the launch well.  I consider the campsites right near the mouth of Orchard Creek to be world class - no doubt about it.  Too bad that abaloneing isn't available any more because the place is incredible.  Ron pulled an eleven incher on our trip - I've pulled many 10's in the area.

You can search NCKA for "Bear Harbor" and see some pretty amazing past adventures there.

Good luck - I dig your quest.   

If you do Tomales watch out for poison oak.
It is tall, thick and brutal there.
BTDT

Good luck - I dig your quest.   

+1 This is something I've wanted to do for awhile too

I've thought of doing something similar, but obviously you would want two beaches, one with good access by land, and another within paddling distance that is more remote and difficult to access, for the deserted part of the equation. Unfortunately, there are a limited number of good places to launch and land in NorCal except when the ocean is very flat, especially with the 10 miles of Sea Ranch taking a big chunk out of play. I've looked up and down the coast with google maps and https://www.californiacoastline.org/, and have identified a few possibilities, but nothing that really stands out to me as a great option. If you found the right spots, it would be an awesome trip though. There was a guy who paddled the whole length of the California coast - imagine that as a fishing trip!

Good luck.

. There was a guy who paddled the whole length of the California coast - imagine that as a fishing trip!

Good luck.

he did it with only one leg too! Steph Sutton did BC to BC in 1993 I think.
I was fortunate to meet and chat with him a little when we stayed in one of the cabins he owns on the Trinity.
real OG dude.

I've always wanted to find some stealth way to do the fish/camp expedition-style overnight here in cencal, but other than a few of the options already mentioned here I've not been successful. Back in the days before permits I did do both Tomales and Drakes Estero, but that was back when Steph was paddling the west coast....probably get arrested for some of the stuff we did back then now.

you can usually just walk into the ranger station at Bear valley in Pt reyes and get an overnight permit.  Neighbor is constantly doing it.
Angel island is another spot