Bolinas Surf and Travel Guide

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Bolinas

Bolinas is somewhat isolated. It's a fair drive from the 101 freeway and a long drive on Highway 1 from Bodega Bay. Either way, it's a bit of a windy drive. Most people get there from the Stinson Beach/Mill Valley exit from 101 and the traffic can suck on a sunny weekend. Mostly this is from people headed to Stinson.

The beach faces south and so it likes southish swells. Big west and even bigger northwest swells wrap in here nicely, but you want some size to them. Nothwest wind blow offshore here making it a nice place when springtime winds are blowing everything else to shreds. Avoid high tide.

There are two main areas to surf here, the Patch and the Jetty. Once you take the main path to the beach you can hang a right and go to the Patch. The Patch breaks over Duxbury Reef and has some slow rollers. This is definately a longboard break. Good place when your learning. If you take a left at the beach you head toward the lagoon. There are decent waves in front of the lagoon and on either side of both jetties.

Bolinas "The Patch"

Photo courtesy of Jesse Wagstaff

This is a crowded beach so weekends are to be avoided...not to mention the extra traffic you might deal with. The natural setting is something to see. It's not that most surfers would travel real far just to get here. It's a good place for Marin County surfers. Marin County in general has limited options and the spots are fairly seperated but Bolinas is what it is, a nice protected south facing spot. I've gone here mainly just to get some waves that weren't blown out, and for the scenery.

The town itself is hippy-stlyle. It's the kind of place a former member of the weather undergound would settle into....with enough money. The parking closest to the beach is limited, which make it another reason to only go on a weekday,in case I haven't make that clear by now. If the crowds are just too much you can take a chance and take a lenghty drive to the fickle waves of Drakes Beach.

Bolinas Map

Nearby Surf Shops

Bolinas Surf Shop, 52 Wharf Rd, Bolinas CA 94924 (415) 868-1935

2 Mile Surf Shop, 22 Brighton Ave, Bolinas CA 94924 (415) 868-0264

More Surf Shops

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What Other Visitors Have Said

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Never too old...
Ok, so I am a senior (55 at the time) systems analyst sort of "on the beach" in Sausalito -- read: laid-off. Sitting at a sushi place chatting with a dude ...

Mom Not rated yet
My son is going surfing tomorrow 6/10 at Bolinas. I am a nervous nelly. He is going with someone that knows how to surf. Should I worry?

Nick NOT Chris! Remember I said "senior" systems analyst... Not rated yet
Hi Folks,

I am totally embarrassed. In my last post I mentioned that the instructor's name was Chris. Actually, I new a guy in Los Gatos we simply referred ...

Once was a secret spot Not rated yet
I learned how to surf at Bolinas back in the early 80's. Besides the putrid smell of patchouli wafting from this quirky hippy town, I find this is a fun ...

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