Off Limits

This section provides guidelines and information about areas around the San Francisco Bay and Point Reyes National Seashore that are either completely off-limits to kayakers or that have limited or seasonal access. For convenience, we have highlighted Special Closures and divided the Bay Area into four regions: San Francisco Bay, San Pablo Bay, South Bay/San Mateo Coast, and Gulf of the Farallones (which includes Point Reyes, Tomales Bay, and Bodega Bay).

Jurisdiction within this area varies to a bewildering degree. For example, there is military property (portions of Hunter's Point & Mare Island still fall under military jurisdiction), private property (such as the vast salt flats at the end of the South Bay and the Oil Industry terminals and facilities), port authorities and municipal/county jurisdictions, plus areas under the US Fish & Wildlife Service, the National Park Service (e.g. the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and the Point Reyes National Seashore), the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, California State Parks (including Tomales Bay State Park and Angel Island State Park), and the East Bay Regional Park District (including Brooks Island).

Special Closures

As of May 1, 2010, six marine protected area special closures important to kayakers are in effect along the California Coast from Half Moon Bay to Point Reyes. Special closures protect sensitive seabird colonies and are off limits to boaters. The special closures are listed here and described further down on this page.

• Devil’s Slide Rock Special Closure
• Double Point and Stormy Stack Special Closure, Point Reyes
• Point Resistance Rock Special Closure, Point Reyes
• Point Reyes Headlands Special Closure
• Southeast Farallon Island Special Closure
• North Farallon Islands Special Closure

Other marine protected areas restrict or prohibit fishing, but do not restrict boating. See more information and maps.

San Francisco Bay

An area bounded by the Golden Gate, the Richmond/San Rafael bridge and the Bay bridge with major shipping lanes intersecting the bay in the direction of each of these bridges. The three major ports are Point Richmond, Oakland, and San Francisco.

• Alcatraz Island  is under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service and is closed to all boaters for landing. This famous island in the center of San Francisco Bay is the nesting area for many bird colonies. Keep at least 300 feet away from the island or nesting cormorants will be scared off their nests and waiting seagulls can dive in to eat the chicks. This is a common scenario along many bird colonies now with the increased frequency of kayakers; many well-intentioned kayakers just aren't aware of their impact. From over 10 years of collecting data, biologists have found that the birds are easily disturbed by small non-motorized boats approaching within 300 feet from the island during their breeding season from March to August.
• Brooks Island  is a 373-acre island off Point Richmond once used as a water-fenced compound for animal stock, then a private pheasant hunting preserve; now it's a reserve for nesting terns, herons, and egrets. It's closed to all boaters landing.Two caretakers oversee the island and tours can be arranged through East Bay Parks.
• Castro Rocks  just south of the Richmond San Rafael bridge and north of the Standard Oil pier is a known harbor seal haul-out.
• Crissy Field [www.parksconservancy.org/programs/crissy-field-center] is under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service and has recently undergone a major restoration to return it to its natural state. The area of shoreline from the airfield to the entrance to the lagoon (which is a water bird protection area), is closed to kayakers. Further eastwards, in an area popular with wind surfers, launching is permitted from the sandy beach with adjacent car parking.
• McLaughlin Eastshore State Park [https://www.ebparks.org/parks/eastshore/www.ebparks.org/parks/eastshore/] is a park in progress. It will eventually join 1,817 acres, or approximately five miles, of shoreline from Emeryville to Point Richmond. It will open in stages as environmental cleanup and restoration progresses. It's the joint effort of the East Bay Regional Park District and the State of California. Currently sections of the shoreline have signs, hazards, and private -no landing- restrictions.
• Point Bonita/Rodeo Beach  The following areas are now closed to boating within 300 ft. of shore: 1) The shoreline of Bonita Cove east of Point Bonita and 2) The area around Bird Island (aka Bird Rock) off Rodeo Beach. See this Park Service Memo for more information.
• Richardson Bay [https://richardsonbay.audubon.org/] The northeastern portion of Richardson Bay is a 900-acre water bird sanctuary run by the Richardson Bay Audubon Center that provides public education programs focusing on wetlands and the San Francisco Bay, migratory birds, and endangered species.
  
  The sanctuary closes to all watercraft from October 1 through March 31 of each winter. The area is marked on the south and west with seasonal buoys and by three permanent cement pilings on the southern boundary.
• San Quentin Prison  in the 1970s some inmates escaped in a makeshift kayak. Generally speaking, it's best to keep at least 100 feet from shore and not try to come in for a look. The guards will yell warnings and if you do not obey, the situation could escalate into a confrontation! You have been warned.

San Pablo Bay

This vast area north of the Richmond/San Rafael bridge has many areas to avoid for a variety of reasons.

• Castro Point - HAZARD  immediately north of the Richmond/San Rafael bridge, the Castro Point Pier is falling apart and has become a submerged water hazard to boaters.
• The Brothers  these two rocky islands are hosts to cormorants, gulls, pelicans, and the East Brother Lighthouse. The lighthousekeeper's 1873 home is now a stunning bed & breakfast. Landing is not allowed without prior arrangement. Boaters will note that water is funneled extremely quickly between the two islands during a strong ebb or flood tide.
• Mare Island, opposite Vallejo, has a long history of being a Navy shipyard—from building paddlewheel gunboats in 1859 to nuclear submarines up to 1970. In 1996, it was turned over to civilian use. It's located in an area of extensive mudflats, but kayaking is possible on Dutchman Slough off the Napa River. Along the South side of the slough is Cullinan Ranch, managed by US Fish and Wildlife, previously closed to public, but a kayak launch is now available there.
• Marin Islands  National Wildlife Refuge and State Ecological Reserve, often referred to as the San Rafael Islands, are under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, monitored by the San Rafael Police, and off-limits and closed to all. The two islands of 3 and 10 acres may be approached for bird watching, but you must keep 100 feet from shore.
• Point Molate to Point Orient  Landing is not allowed between these two points just north of the Richmond/San Rafael bridge. The area belongs to the US Navy and is in process of being transferred to the City of Richmond.

The South Bay/San Mateo Coast

The South Bay a huge, multi-use area. The northern end is used as a shipping anchorage for the Port of Oakland. There are two major airports, miles of mud flats, and at the southern tip, salt ponds.

• Corkscrew Slough  (part of Don Edwards) south of Bair Island is open for kayaking (although there are seal haulouts and exposed birdlife), but the small waterways north of it are off limits.
• Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge [www.fws.gov/refuge/don_edwards_san_francisco_bay/] is under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. [Call the USFW headquarters for areas used for hunting and dates they are off-limits (415) 792-0222]. This 21,000-acre refuge extends from Alameda Creek near Interstate 92 in the East Bay to Coyote Creek at the extreme end of South Bay, to Steinberger Slough near 92 in the West Bay. It essentially includes all the hills, marshes, and waterways, and provides protection for habitat and wildlife, several of which are endangered. The general rule is: all sloughs (with restrictions) are accessible, but all salt marshes and salt ponds are off limits. No landing is allowed above the high tide mark and disturbance of wildlife or habitat is open to citation. Many sloughs empty at low tide and if stranded, it's requested to wait for the next tide. The mud is deep and can be dangerous. One can get stuck permanently! When kayaking, follow the Viewing Wildlife guidelines and also maintain a distance from rafts of birds on the open water. Harbor seals are particularly sensitive here unlike the seals of the North Bay and Elkhorn Slough. Wildlife has little protective cover, especially during the higher tides and in winter. Forcing it from cover exposes it to easy predation. Observe posted signs and watch for seasonal closures.
• Mowry Slough  in the far South Bay is closed March 15 to June 15 for seal pupping.
• Mallard Slough  off Coyote Creek, is closed March 1 to August 31 for heron nesting and is also closed approximately mid-October to mid-January for duck hunting.
• Devil’s Slide Rock (Egg Rock) to Devil's Slide Special Closure on the coast is just north of Half Moon Bay, and hosts a colony of over 3,000 nesting Common Murres. It's closed year-round to boating. Map and more information.