Point Reyes Shipwreck
DETAILS:
Location: You can access the shipwreck through the parking lot of the Inverness Store: 12784 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Inverness, CA 94937
Hours of Operation: There aren’t really any official hours for the shipwreck. So to play it safe, I’d treat the hours as sunrise to sunset.
Parking: Free street parking.
Cost: Free!
Time Commitment: 30 minutes.
The Point Reyes Peninsula is a veritable cornucopia of shipwrecks. From 1849 thru 1940 alone, there have been at least 70 documented shipwrecks along its jagged coast. So it’s only fitting that the S.S. Point Reyes would call this area its home. Also known as the Point Reyes Shipwreck, Tomales Bay Shipwreck, and the Inverness Shipwreck, this abandoned fishing boat can be found moored upon a sandbar in the Marin County town of Inverness. Not much is known about the boat, but multiple accounts seem to indicate that the boat was purposely beached along the shores of Tomales Bay by a former owner with intentions of repairing it, but they never got around to it and ultimately left the boat behind.
Today, the S.S. Point Reyes has become somewhat of a local legend which has attracted tourists and photography connoisseurs from all over. Situated off the main drag of “downtown” Inverness, the wreck is actually super easy to find and reach. It’s literally a two-minute walk through the parking lot of a local market. But the end destination is no less impressive. Depending on the season and/or tide, the path to the ship may be muddy or even semi-submerged in water. But luckily for us, we were afforded direct access on the day we visited. But even if you are able to get close, I suggest respecting the fragility of the boat and avoid direct contact to prevent further damage to it or yourself. (The boat caught fire in 2016 which was suspected to be caused by an overzealous photographer). While it won’t take very long to explore, memories of the S.S. Point Reyes will stay with you forever.
