Drake’s Estero is one of California’s most
pristine estuaries and home to some of the
healthiest marine life in the area. The
spectacular scenery and solitude of the Drake
Estero is experienced by kayakers from all parts
of the country. It is considered the “crown
jewel” in one of the most unique places to
paddle on the Pacific coast of Northern
California.
Drakes Estero is an expansive estuary in the
Point Reyes National Seashore of Marin
County, located approximately 25-miles
northwest of San Francisco. Launching from
Johnson’s (Drake’s Bay) Oyster Farm, you
will paddle through amazing eelgrass and
kelp beds, where you’ll witness exquisite
panoramic vistas surrounding the protected
wildlife sanctuary known as Drake’s Estero.
The eelgrass beds provide shelter for the
countless invertebrates that form the basis
of the complex food chain that makes this
ecosystem so diverse. The mudflats create a
rich habitat of invertebrates, which are a
food source for fish, crabs, bat rays,
leopard sharks, and of course birds.
Surrounded by coastal farmland, you will
glide through the water as pelicans
gracefully fly over the water as they travel
to muddy feeding grounds and come to rest.
Like its ebbing and flowing tides, the
estuary is a constantly changing
environment.
If you haven’t visited Drakes Estero, treat
yourself to an awe-inspiring paddle
along
the majestic shores. You will walk away
feeling
a profound reverence for this
special place, and grateful that it is
protected as wilderness for current and
future generations.
