Every Trail Tells a Story
Alan Sieroty Beach & Millerton Point
Osprey conservation success you can watch in real time.
A near-secret slice of Tomales Bay with elbow room to spare.
History, oysters, and bay views—no crowds required.
Hikers can gain an intriguing, intimate look at Tomales Bay via short paths above Alan Sieroty Beach, a quiet, 180-acre unit of Tomales Bay State Park that many travelers speed past without a second glance. Their loss. The beach is named for the late Alan Sieroty, a longtime California state legislator and a remarkably effective advocate for conservation causes—an apt namesake for a place that quietly champions wildlife over crowds.
The park’s most visible conservation success story belongs to the endangered osprey. A short walk from the picnic area brings you to a specially constructed osprey nesting platform overlooking the bay. Years ago, the birds repeatedly chose PG&E power poles for their nests—occasionally knocking out electricity to Inverness in the process. The solution was refreshingly civilized: the utility installed an osprey-friendly platform nearby and gently encouraged relocation. The birds obliged, moved in, and have been raising chicks with million-dollar views ever since.
Often mistaken for eagles, ospreys are a familiar sight along Tomales Bay today, hovering with improbable stillness before plunging feet-first into the water for fish. A few decades ago, that sight was far less common. Widespread pesticide use—especially DDT—caused osprey populations to crash. Their strong rebound after DDT was banned in 1972 makes them a conservation success story, and their sensitivity to pollution still earns them close attention as a biological “early warning system.”
Even without an osprey sighting, Millerton Point delivers. Few visitors take the signed turnoff, so the wetlands, eucalyptus groves, and crescent of beach often feel like your own private annex of the bay. On weekends you may share it with picnickers; midweek, it can feel delightfully forgotten. A restroom doesn’t hurt either.
Tomales Bay’s long relationship with oysters began right here. In 1928, the Tomales Bay Oyster Company made its first experimental planting at Millerton Point. Today, oyster lovers still stop at TBOC (open Friday–Sunday), less than a mile north, then bring their bounty here or to Heart’s Desire Beach for a waterside feast. History, ecology, and lunch—nicely aligned.
From Point Reyes Station, drive north on Highway 1 for about 4.5 miles. Look for the signed entrance to Millerton Point / Alan Sieroty Beach on the west (left) side of the highway at 15475 Highway 1. Parking is available near the picnic area. No separate fee beyond standard state park access.
From the picnic area, follow the loop trail—an old farm road—that circles Millerton Point, named for early rancher James Millerton. The path traces the perimeter of the point through grassland and eucalyptus, with constant views across Tomales Bay.
Birdwatching is excellent. Scan the water for diving ospreys, the mudflats for shorebirds, and the skies for raptors riding bay breezes. Several spur trails lead down to the beach, where benches are positioned at prime lookout spots.
Across the water, you’ll see Heart’s Desire Beach and the clustered homes of Inverness. Millerton Point juts far enough into the bay that you may feel tempted to call out across the water to the town. Don’t bother. The people over there already know how good this place is—and are probably admiring how quiet it looks from your side.