Bolinas

Bolinas is an unincorporated town in Marin County, California. It has long been a counterculture enclave (a "free box" where people can leave and take items as needed is a local landmark) and has, in the past, been the home of several famous people such as musicians Grace Slick and Paul Kantner, and writer Richard Brautigan.

The locals are infamous for removing road signs pointing the way into town from nearby California State Highway 1, so finding the town may be tricky. Filling your tank before making the trip is advised, as the Bolinas gas station closed down several years ago.

If you'd prefer to take the bus, Marin Transit's West Marin Stagecoach route 61 offers somewhat inconvenient service from Marin City, where you can make connections from San Rafael and other parts of the Bay Area (but driving is sure to be a more convenient option).

The commercial sections of Bolinas are easily walkable on foot. A car is advised for getting to the residential and natural areas to the west.

Map of Bolinas

• 37.910089-122.6848651 Bolinas Museum, 48 Wharf Road, ☏ +1 415 868-0330, [email protected].  (updated Sep 2017)

• The beach – it's hard to miss it.
• 37.8974-122.7111 Duxbury Reef (park at Agate Beach Parking Lot and follow the sign; if the lot is full there's street parking in the area). Go tidepooling. At low tide, you can see all sorts of plants and creatures in the tidepools: colorful anemones, translucent nudibranchs, bright purple sea urchins, sea stars, fish, crabs, boring clams, scallops... Watch out for slippery rocks, and be careful not to disturb the animals.  (updated Mar 2026)

• 37.90994-122.6849431 Coast Cafe, 46 Wharf Road, ☏ +1 415 868-2298.  (updated Sep 2017)

• 37.910171-122.685121 Smiley's Saloon & Hotel, 41 Wharf Road, ☏ +1 415 868-1311, [email protected].  (updated Sep 2017)

Fort Bragg ← Point Reyes Station ←

N  S

→ Stinson Beach → San Francisco