Sunset Beach is located west of Drakes Head, just inside the mouth of Drakes Estero. This unique position at the convergence of estuary and ocean spans one of the richest intertidal zones in Point Reyes National Seashore. Sunset Beach is thin and rocky, but celebrated for its exceptional tide pooling and views of the inner bay, Limantour Spit, and surrounding bluffs. Visitors will enjoy a varied trek through rolling headlands to the beach, with excellent land and marine wildlife viewing opportunities throughout.

From the trailhead, the trail quickly descends through a pine tree stand

The trail passes through a maze-like estuary - 'estero' means estuary in Spanish

View of headlands from the Estero Trail

The approach to Sunset Beach

Free range cattle enjoying Sunset Beach on a foggy morning

Brilliant colored starfish cling to rock formations awaiting high tide

A crab scuttles across Sunset Beach to its hole in the sand

A large orange starfish resting over a packed bed of anemone. Starfish actually have two stomachs!

The tide pools at Sunset Beach play home to a diverse set of marine life

Despite their name, starfish are actually echinoderms, not fish

Large quantities of algae and seaweed give Sunset Beach a green glow

Starfish have microscopic eyes at the end of each arm enabling them to view movement and light

A deer running along Sunset Beach

Tidepools host dozens of species and play a crucial role in the marine ecosystem

Starfish are capable of regenerating lost arms

A park visitor checks out the tide pools at Sunset Beach

The little white protrusions on the undebelly of a starfish are 'tube feet' which are used to move around the ocean floor and to open up scallops or clams