Located in Marin County, California, Abbotts Lagoon Beach is a beach. It lies in or next to Point Reyes National Seashore, so park hours, fees and rules apply. The nearest town is Inverness, about 9.1 km (5.7 mi) away (Abbotts Lagoon Beach lies WNW of town).
From the National Park Service
A 2.5-kilometer (1.5-mile) walk through coastal scrub, across a footbridge over a stream between two lagoons, and over sand dunes brings you to this ocean beach. The lagoons attract large numbers of migrating shorebirds in the fall, followed by the wintering ducks. Occasionally, peregrine falcons are seen selecting their meals amongst these tasty morsels. The sand dunes backing the beach are home to the threatened western snowy plover . The eggs and young of this ground-nesting bird are easily destroyed. Be especially careful in this area during their nesting season, March 1–September 30. Beach Safety Never turn your back to the ocean. Due to the frequently large surf, this is not a beach at which it is safe to play close to the water's edge, much less to go for a swim. The ocean water may be as low as 50°F (10°C). Hypothermia, sneaker waves, and rip currents are just a few beach hazards of which visitors should be aware while visiting Point Reyes Beaches. Please visit our Safety Issues Associated with Beaches page for more information. Park Regulations Glass : Glass containers are prohibited on all Point Reyes Beaches. Take only pictures; leave only footprints : Almost everything one finds at Point Reyes' beaches is protected by law, including shells, rocks, fossils, flowers, and artifacts. Wildlife : Do not chase or feed the gulls (or any other birds) and keep your distance from seals and sea lions. Avoid entering the dunes to the south of the westernmost lagoon during the plover nesting season. Kiteboarding and kite flying are not allowed at Abbotts Lagoon due to snowy plover nesting activity from March 1 to September 30 Drones : Launching, landing, or operating a drone from or on lands and waters within the boundaries of Point Reyes National Seashore is prohibited. Metal-detectors : Metal-detectors are prohibited throughout the National Seashore. Pets : Pets are not permitted on the Abbotts Lagoon Trail. Visit our Pets page for more information. Camping : Camping at Abbotts Lagoon is prohibited. Parking your vehicle overnight at the trailhead is prohibited. Visit our Backcountry Camping page for more information on camping at Point Reyes. Wood fires : A permit is required to have a wood fire at any beach in Point Reyes National Seashore. Visit our Beach Fires page for more information. Fishing : Fishing is permitted at Abbotts Lagoon Beach.
Text: National Park Service (public domain) — nps.gov.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Abbotts Lagoon Beach the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 301° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 75° in summer but only 28° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:16 AM | 90° E | 7:24 PM | 271° W | 52° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:50 AM | 59° ENE | 8:39 PM | 301° WNW | 75° | 14h 49m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:00 AM | 89° E | 7:10 PM | 271° W | 52° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:25 AM | 120° ESE | 4:56 PM | 241° WSW | 28° | 9h 31m |
Azimuth is measured clockwise from true north (90° = east, 270° = west). Computed for 2026; values change by less than a degree from year to year.
Golden hour & blue hour by month
Beaches facing east suit sunrise and west-facing beaches suit sunset; wet sand mirrors the sky color during golden hour.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:59 AM | 7:28 AM | 8:08 AM | 4:36 PM | 5:16 PM | 5:45 PM | 9h 49m |
| February | 6:36 AM | 7:03 AM | 7:40 AM | 5:14 PM | 5:51 PM | 6:18 PM | 10h 48m |
| March | 6:58 AM | 7:24 AM | 7:59 AM | 6:44 PM | 7:19 PM | 7:46 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:10 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:12 AM | 7:13 PM | 7:48 PM | 8:15 PM | 13h 11m |
| May | 5:32 AM | 6:02 AM | 6:40 AM | 7:39 PM | 8:16 PM | 8:46 PM | 14h 14m |
| June | 5:18 AM | 5:49 AM | 6:29 AM | 7:58 PM | 8:37 PM | 9:09 PM | 14h 48m |
| July | 5:31 AM | 6:02 AM | 6:40 AM | 7:57 PM | 8:35 PM | 9:06 PM | 14h 34m |
| August | 6:00 AM | 6:28 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:31 PM | 8:07 PM | 8:35 PM | 13h 39m |
| September | 6:28 AM | 6:54 AM | 7:29 AM | 6:47 PM | 7:21 PM | 7:48 PM | 12h 27m |
| October | 6:55 AM | 7:21 AM | 7:57 AM | 6:00 PM | 6:35 PM | 7:02 PM | 11h 14m |
| November | 6:26 AM | 6:54 AM | 7:32 AM | 4:22 PM | 5:01 PM | 5:29 PM | 10h 07m |
| December | 6:52 AM | 7:22 AM | 8:03 AM | 4:13 PM | 4:54 PM | 5:23 PM | 9h 32m |
Local time (America/Los Angeles), including daylight saving time. Golden hour runs from about −4° to +6° solar altitude, so the morning golden hour begins during blue hour, before sunrise.
Milky Way & night sky
From Abbotts Lagoon Beach, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 23° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 4 (rural / suburban transition), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -1° | — |
| February | 5:10 AM – 5:30 AM | 0.3 | 13° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:17 AM – 5:47 AM | 1.5 | 19° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:22 AM – 5:02 AM | 2.7 | 23° | SE → S |
| May | 12:21 AM – 4:11 AM | 3.8 | 23° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:33 PM – 3:53 AM | 5.3 | 23° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:26 PM – 2:26 AM | 4.0 | 23° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:45 PM – 12:25 AM | 2.7 | 23° | S → SW |
| September | 8:51 PM – 10:21 PM | 1.5 | 20° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:03 PM – 8:23 PM | 0.3 | 13° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 1° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -19° | — |
Window when the galactic core is at least 10° high during astronomical darkness on the 15th of each month. Pick nights within a few days of the new moon. Plan exact nights with the Milky Way planner.
Estimated sky darkness: 4 Bortle 4 — Rural / suburban transition. Light domes are visible in several directions; the Milky Way is clear but lacks detail near the horizon. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 20.78 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show July as the clearest month (about 19% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (57%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 73 | 75 | 76 | 87 | 100 | 106 | 109 | 107 | 112 | 103 | 87 | 71 |
| Low °F | 25 | 27 | 28 | 30 | 35 | 42 | 48 | 48 | 45 | 37 | 27 | 24 |
| Precip. (in) | 4.7 | 5.1 | 3.7 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.3 | 2.9 | 6.2 |
Monthly climatology for the surrounding 1° grid cell from NASA POWER (MERRA-2). Mountain sites can be colder and cloudier than the cell average.
Photography tips for this beach
- Slow shutter speeds (0.5–2 s) turn receding waves into streaks that lead toward the horizon.
- Watch for sneaker waves; never turn your back on the ocean on exposed coasts.
- Salt spray coats lenses quickly; wipe often and rinse gear afterward.
- Fog and marine layers can make minimalist images; don't give up on grey days.
- Time visits around low tide to reveal tide pools, sea stacks and reflective sand — check the tide widget below.
- Tell someone where you're going in remote areas and carry the ten essentials.
Season: Winter storms bring dramatic surf on Pacific coasts; summer and autumn sunsets are popular on Atlantic and Gulf beaches.
Suggested gear: Tripod, ND filters, Rain cover, Lens cloths. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Permits, drones & access
National Park Service rules. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones: Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Tides
The nearest NOAA tide prediction station is Reynolds, Tomales Bay, 7.1 km (4.4 mi) away. Low tide often reveals tide pools, wet-sand reflections and sea stacks.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Abbotts Lagoon Beach, closest first.
State Park
Natural Arch
Lighthouse
Scenic Viewpoint
Wilderness AreaNatural ArchNatural ArchNatural Arch
LakeCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Abbotts Lagoon Beach?
What time is golden hour at Abbotts Lagoon Beach?
Where does the sun rise and set at Abbotts Lagoon Beach?
Can you see the Milky Way from Abbotts Lagoon Beach?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Abbotts Lagoon Beach?
How far is Abbotts Lagoon Beach from Inverness?
Sources
Location data: National Park Service. Sun, moon and Milky Way times are computed by LWPhoto Atlas for 2026. Climate: NASA POWER. Sky darkness is a population-based estimate (Walker's law), not a measurement. See data sources & licenses.