Overnight Kayaking and Camping

Kayak Camping on Tomales Bay -
Enjoy the Sublime Natural World Just One Hour North of San Francisco!

Imagine camping on a beautiful beach in the Point Reyes National Seashore - one that can only be reached by water. Tomales Bay has a number of these remote beaches where camping is permitted and which are located within a short paddle from Blue Waters.

We offer a variety of services to help make your kayak camping adventure a success such as guide services, catered camping trips, motorboat support (where we motor your gear to your campsite), and also a do-it-yourself overnight or weekend rental. Sit-on-tops (the primary rental boats) do not carry much gear, so overnight kayak rentals are facilitated by motorboat support. This extremely reasonably priced option allows for bringing camping items usually associated with car camping, such as camp chairs, coolers, water jugs, tables, and firewood.

Please call the National Park Service at (415) 663-8054 (Mon.-Fri., 9-2) for a camping permit. Visit the Point Reyes National Seashore website for more information. Go to: www.nps.gov/pore/activ_kayak.htm.

Rent Kayaks and join one of our GROUP CAMPS! 
Tomales Bay Camping Permits extremely LIMITED, and are selling out early this season, especially for Saturday nights. Accordingly, Blue Waters now has a group camping program which groups of 6 or less (and sometimes larger groups) are invited to join. We set up a remote camp within easy paddling distance of our Marshall site, equipped with tables, camp chairs, camp stove, fresh water, and firewood, and staffed by one of our capable and friendly kayak guides. You simply rent kayaks with motorboat support, paddle over, and join the fun. Use our equipment and camp on our permit - ALL FOR JUST AN ADDITIONAL $5 per person! (regular rental and motorboat rates apply)

Guided Tours from Camp, Just $40! 
On all our group camps, (2011 dates listed below), your guide and camp host will lead guided tours from camp for the modest fee of $40 per person. On moonlit nights we'll paddle in the glow of glorious moonlight. On dark nights, we'll explore the shoreline and thrill to bioluminescent displays in the water column. Both are wonderful and exciting experiences! In both cases, you will sleep peacefully at the waters edge to the sounds of small waves lapping the shoreline.

Dates and Descriptions for August and September Camps, 2011 
The following summary describes Overnight Camps for the remainder of August and through September, 2011:

September 3 & 4 - Labor Day Weekend Camp
September 10 - Full Moon Camp
September 17 - Bioluminescence Camp
September 24 - Bioluminescence Camp
October 1 - Moonset and Bioluminescence

The next 6 weeks is the optimal time for camping on Tomales Bay. Don't miss this fabulous opportunity!

OUR MOTORBOAT SUPPORT POLICY: Motorboat support is available to transport camping gear and equipment from our MARSHALL site to your campsite at Marshall Beach or Tomales Beach and back. This service makes camping with sit-on-tops, which do not carry as much gear, more doable. It also makes it possible to set up a comfortable base camp with items which are not readily tranportable by kayak, such as tables, chairs, coolers, firewood etc. The fee for this round-trip service is $25 per person to Marshall or Tomales Beach, with a minimum charge of $150 per boatload. On weekends we can often group small parties together to offset the minimum per boatload charge. Please ask about that option when checking in at Marshall.

*NOTE: The above prices apply to Blue Waters kayak rental customers only. For others, a surcharge of $15 per person will apply.

**Note: For beach campsites north of Tomales Beach, a fuel and time surcharge will apply. (see below)
Drop-off locations and rates: * Marshall Beach, Tomales Beach: $150 per boat load (gear for approximately 6 people) * Pelican Point to Pita Beach (just north of White's Gulch), add $100 per round trip* Pita Beach to Avalis Beach, add additional $100 per round trip.

***NOTE: One motorboat load usually accomodates 6 campers. One load in volume is approximately 4'w x6.5'l x2.5'h, 65 cu ft, (about a small pickup truck load), and can be up to 600 lbs. in weight. BWK reserves the right to charge extra for loads exceeding these guidelines. A partial load is billed as a full load.

HAPPY CAMPING!

Because we are committed to protecting Tomales Bay and its shores, Blue Waters embraces the Leave No Trace Program.

We invite you to adopt the seven principles of this program during your stay on the Bay to protect our environment, each other and to ensure a great time for all.

  Principles of Leave No Trace