Bass Lake
- Hike
- 6 mi round trip
- Road
- Gravel
- Permit
- Not required
- Dogs
- Not allowed
Entry fee: No entrance or day-use parking fee. Bass Lake is a lake cove in Marin County, California.
Closures and warnings
Accessing the lakeside can be challenging; poison oak is common. Unmaintained spur reaches the northwest shore. No lifeguards. As of September 28, 2026.
Before you swim
| Swimming allowed | Yes |
|---|---|
| Water type | Lake cove |
| Entry | Walk in |
| Current | None |
| Lifeguards | No lifeguards; swim at your own risk. |
| Water clarity | NPS: popular but unofficial swimming spot in the Phillip Burton Wilderness. |
Access
| Hike | 6 mi round trip |
|---|---|
| Road | Gravel |
| Road note | Last 1.2 mi of Mesa Road to Palomarin is unpaved and often severely potholed. Allow about 35 minutes from Bear Valley. |
| Parking | Palomarin Trailhead lot at the northwest end of Mesa Road, Bolinas (~75 spaces). Vault toilets at the lot. |
| When it fills | Lot fills early on weekends year-round and many summer weekdays; park may close Palomarin to further entry for hours when full. |
| Fee | No entrance or day-use parking fee |
| Hours | Day hiking 6 a.m. to midnight |
| Reservation or permit | Not required |
| Managed by | National Park Service (Point Reyes National Seashore) |
| Restrooms | Yes |
|---|---|
| Note | Vault toilets at Palomarin Trailhead only. No toilets at Bass Lake. |
Rules
| Dogs | Not allowed |
|---|
Common questions
Common questions
Is Bass Lake open?
Accessing the lakeside can be challenging; poison oak is common. Unmaintained spur reaches the northwest shore. No lifeguards. As of September 28, 2026. Hours: Day hiking 6 a.m. to midnight.
Can you swim at Bass Lake?
Yes, swimming is allowed at Bass Lake. No current is reported here. Lifeguards: No lifeguards; swim at your own risk.
How long is the hike to Bass Lake?
It's a 6 mi hike round trip. The road in is gravel. Last 1.2 mi of Mesa Road to Palomarin is unpaved and often severely potholed. Allow about 35 minutes from Bear Valley. Parking: Palomarin Trailhead lot at the northwest end of Mesa Road, Bolinas (~75 spaces). Vault toilets at the lot. Lot fills early on weekends year-round and many summer weekdays; park may close Palomarin to further entry for hours when full.
Do you need a reservation for Bass Lake?
No reservation or permit is required.
Is there a fee at Bass Lake?
The fee is No entrance or day-use parking fee.
What facilities are at Bass Lake?
Restrooms. Vault toilets at Palomarin Trailhead only. No toilets at Bass Lake.
What are the rules at Bass Lake?
Dogs are not allowed.
Nearby
Camping nearby
Public land
Bass Lake is inside Phillip Burton Wilderness and Point Reyes National Seashore .
Sources
2
- https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/hike-to-bass-lake.htm (accessed September 28, 2026; backs manager, waterbodyName, access.hikeDistanceMi, access.hikeDistanceBasis, access.parking, access.parkingPattern, access.roadNote, access.hours, access.amenities, rules.dogs, swimmerNotes.swimmingAllowed / swimmerNotes.lifeguardSeason, hazardNote)
- https://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/fees.htm (accessed September 28, 2026; backs access.fee)