Trail maps are also downloadable in PDF format. Backpackers may stay in the hike-in camps noted below.įor more details, refer to NPS' Point Reyes Trail Guide and Suggested Hikes. There are 150 miles of hiking trails in the park, many miles in designated wilderness. The elk are especially active during rutting season, July through September. The best place to observe s along the Tomales Point Trail although visitors can often observe elk near the roads from their car. While the area's original elk had disappeared by 1860, ten elk were re-introduced in 1978 with protected status, and the group has since grown to its current size. A herd of about 400 elk roam freely on the north end of the peninsula near Tomales Point. The beach features a walk-in campground and Alamere Falls. A walk-in beach accessible by either a hiking trail (5.5 miles) or biking trail (6.7 miles). Gray whales with their calves are close to the shore during the spring. A long narrow sandspit between Drakes Bay and an estuary. The popular beach has car access, a visitor center and museum, and a nice cafe open on weekends. Wide, sandy beach backed by dramatic white cliffs, on the sheltered side of the peninsula. Be aware of "sneaker" wave which can reach far above the tide line.ĭrakes Beach. The ten-mile long beach faces the open sea and has the potential for the wildest, most dangerous surf. Some of the more interesting beaches are described below. The NPS Guide to the Beaches of Point Reyes covers all the park's beaches and safety issues. Be aware of the park service's advisories regarding unsafe conditions such as dangerous surf, slippery rocks, debris, and unstable cliffs. You will also find lagoons and sand dunes. Beaches on Tomales Bay are even more sheltered, with warmer water. The beaches sheltered in Drakes Bays on the south side offer a calmer experience. Point Reyes Beach on the northwest side of the peninsula faces the open Pacific Ocean and the incoming weather, with the possibility of very rugged surf. Point Reyes offers some of the world's most amazing coastline with the spectacular diversity of its beaches. The park service will close the stairs if the weather is too severe.īeaches of Point Reyes National Seashore. High winds and very inclimate weather are possible, so bring warm clothes along. Note that the lighthouse area is very exposed to the elements. Both the lighthouse itself and the adjacent equipment building are open to visitors and contain a number of exhibits and informational panels. The visitor center and lighthouse are open for touring year round, Thursday-Monday, 10am-4:30pm. This is a sharply uphill walk on the return. From there, 300 steps lead down to the lighthouse itself. It is roughly a half mile, somewhat uphill walk from the parking area to the Lighthouse Visitor Center. The access road becomes slow and narrow as you approach the tip of the peninsula. The historic lighthouse is one of the park highlights. The smaller Lighthouse Visitor Center is located at stairs leading to the Point Reyes Lighthouse at the tip of the peninsula. Open weekends and holidays, 9am-5pm, Friday to Tuesday in summer. The Patrick Visitor Center is located at Drakes Beach with exhibits and information. Open 9am-5pm daily, weekends and holidays 8am-6pm. It's located off of Highway 1 on Bear Valley Road near Olema. The Bear Valley Visitor Center is the park headquarters with extensive exhibits and programs. Download the Point Reyes National Seashore Map - (PDF file). Point Reyes also features its historic and scenic lighthouse, a network of trails, an elk herd, and even a series of historic dairy farms in its interior. Several beaches are accessed only by hiking trails. This includes numerous beaches of widely different character from wild surf-pounded beaches to sheltered lagoons. Point Reyes National Seashore offers coastal scenery, recreation, wilderness, and historic sites.
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