Point Reyes Station and Inverness in California

Getting to Know Point Reyes and InvernessMoving to Point ReyesMoving To InvernessMoving to Marin CountyBuying a home in Point ReyesBuying a home in Inverness

May 28

Written By Rachael Dressler - Sonoma and Marin County Realtor

The towns of Point Reyes Station and Inverness lie within the Point Reyes National Seashore - an expansive, protected area of coastline in the western part of Marin County. The beauty of this area is unmatched.

Point Reyes Station historical photograph. — 1. History

In 1849, people from around the world began to flood into the San Francisco Bay Area during the Gold Rush. Often more lucrative than panning for gold was providing goods and services to the influx of hopeful miners. Therefore, some people moved to the treeless plains of Point Reyes and Inverness to raise cattle for milk, cheese, and beef.
The Point Reyes Headlands lie 10 miles out into the Pacific Ocean and are regularly engulfed in a thick fog. The Point Reyes Lighthouse was built in 1870 to help sailors avoid the area. The iconic lighthouse is still standing today and it’s a popular tourist destination.

2. Schools

The West Marin-Inverness School has two campuses that serve grades TK-8th. The campus located in Inverness houses TK-1st grade students. The Point Reyes campus works with 2nd-8th grade students. Students living in Point Reyes and Inverness go to Tomales High School in the town of Tomales, which is 30 minutes north of Point Reyes.

3. The town of point reyes station

Point Reyes Station is a small town, located just south of the Tomales Bay in the western portion of Marin County. Point Reyes Station has a bustling downtown strip full of historic buildings, unique shops, restaurants, and a well-stocked grocery store. From downtown Point Reyes you can see the tree-lined Inverness ridge to the west and the rolling, grassy slopes of Black Mountain to the east.

4. The Town of Inverness

Inverness is an unincorporated town located along the western shore of Tomales Bay in West Marin. Inverness has a very small downtown with a post office, a few stores and restaurants, and a general store. Most of the houses are tucked into the Douglas fir and Bishop Pine tree forests that cover the steep slopes of the Inverness Ridge.

Inverness has a very small downtown with a post office, a few stores and restaurants, and a general store. — Tomales Bay in Inverness

5. Shopping, restaurants, and activities

There are some fantastic shops in downtown Point Reyes. Check out Toby’s Feed Barn, which includes a general store, coffee bar, yoga studio, art gallery, as well as a weekly farmer’s market. Point Reyes Books is a wonderful, locally-owned bookstore located right next door to The Bovine Bakery.

When you go to The Bovine Bakery, and you must go, you must eat a morning bun. This is not an option. They are too good! The Station House Cafe is the perfect place for brunch, lunch, or dinner. They have a great outdoor seating area.

The activities in Point Reyes are endless. Try swimming in Tomales Bay while soaking up the sun at Heart’s Desire Beach. Walk to the Point Reyes Lighthouse then take a stroll along the shore at Drake’s Beach. Rent a kayak from Blue Waters Kayaking and explore Tomales Bay from a unique perspective. Take a bike ride along the Bear Valley Trail to Arch Rock. Make sure to stop at Divide Meadow along the way. It is spectacular and the perfect place for a picnic.