Point Reyes National Seashore
Discover Point Reyes National Seashore
Point Reyes National Seashore is a United States national seashore that is one of the Bay Area's overlooked treasures, with more than 100 square miles of coastal wilderness area. Located at the westernmost tip of Marin County, it is a reasonable day trip from San Francisco, but also worth visiting as a destination on its own. The western part of Marin County is relatively unpopulated. Small towns near Point Reyes National Seashore include (from south to north) Olema, Point Reyes Station, Inverness, and Marshall.
What to Experience in Point Reyes National Seashore
Taste of Point Reyes National Seashore...
Options for food are limited in the Point Reyes region. Although on the expensive side, the cities of Inverness and Point Reyes Station both have a variety of food options and are conveniently located on the main roads. There are no organized campgrounds within national seashore, although backcountry camping is allowed by permit (see below). The two organized campgrounds outside the park are Olema Ranch Campground (+1 415-663-8001) and at Samuel P. Taylor State Park (+1-800-444-7275). Point Reyes offers backpackers four hike-in campgrounds from which to choose. Boat-in camping is allowed on national seashore beaches on the west side of Tomales Bay, beginning north of Indian Beach in Tomales Bay State Park. There is no car camping at Point Reyes National Seashore. Dogs are not allowed on any trails or in the designated campgrounds. Possibly the most dangerous hazard in the park, a sneaker wave is an unexpectedly large wave that is higher, stronger and reaching farther up the beach to levels far beyond where the normal waves reach. There have been several incidents of visitors to Point Reyes being caught by sneaker waves and drowned. Sneaker waves also have the ability to toss around large driftwood logs that may fall on a person, injuring or even killing them. Sneaker waves can occur at any time, day or night, during incoming and outgoing tides, during storms and during sunny calm weather; they are often preceded by a sudden lowering of the water level.
A Rich Past
Explore the historical roots that shaped Point Reyes National Seashore into what it is today.
Aside from its natural beauty, Point Reyes is of some historical significance, as it is believed to be here that England's Sir Francis Drake came ashore during the summer of 1579, in order to careen his ship and repair its hull, during his circumnavigation of the globe. The ship's chaplain complained in his log of "the stinking fogges", so nothing much has changed. The Point Reyes National Seashore was established by President John F. Kennedy in 1962. The nearby town of Point Reyes Station, once a railroad terminus, now serves as the gateway to the park. It's the closest spot with significant shopping and restaurants, and its small-town charm makes it worth a visit on the way in or out from the park. Point Reyes lies at the tip of a narrow peninsula which sticks out some 15 mi (24 km) into the Pacific Ocean. The point itself is significantly higher than the peninsula connecting it to the mainland and gives spectacular views, especially from the lighthouse at its highest point. But be prepared for it to be either very windy or foggy. Native land mammals number about 37 species and marine mammals augment this total by another dozen species. The biological diversity stems from a favorable location in the middle of California and the natural occurrence of many distinct habitats. Nearly 20% of the State's flowering plant species are represented on the peninsula and over 45% of the bird species in North America have been sighted....
Climate
Point Reyes Peninsula's climate is characterized by warm, dry summers and cool, rainy winters, similar to the type of climate that prevails on the Mediterranean. Usually, there are constant winds of moderate to strong velocity on the exposed headlands and outer beaches. Headlands and beaches on the Pacific Coast are subjected to frequent heavy fogs, most commonly during July, August and September. Sunshine and higher temperatures occur inland. The east side of Inverness Ridge and the beaches of Tomales Bay are sheltered from the summit of the ridge westward to the ocean, leaving sunny areas for picnicking and swimming. Inland temperatures in the summer are often 20 degrees warmer than temperatures on the Headlands and outer coast. The rainy season is December through March. Dressing in layered clothing is recommended. From Highway 101, take Sir Francis Drake Boulevard west through Fairfax and western Marin county to Highway 1. Turn right, and take the first left (almost immediately).
Essential Information
Best Time to Visit
Jan – Marbest time of year to see the whales is from January through May, with whales being most frequently seen from the Lighthouse area in mid-January and mid-March....
Getting There
Multiple OptionsFrom Highway 101, take Sir Francis Drake Boulevard west through Fairfax and western Marin county to Highway 1. Turn right, and take the first left (almost immediately). The next left is the entrance to the seashore. It's also possible to get to the park from Highway 1, north from Stinson Beach or south from Sonoma County. There are no entrance fees charged to visit Point Reyes. Permits are required for backcountry camping and for all fires. Overnight parking without a backcountry permit is not allowed. The park is open daily (with overnight camping available by permit only) from sunrise to sunset throughout the year. Although some of the park's best attractions are accessible by car, the best way to get around in Point Reyes is by hiking. The park is crisscrossed with excellent and well-maintained hiking paths. There are limited bike paths from the Bear Valley entrance, and of course bikes can be used on the park's roads, but single-track mountain biking isn't allowed on most trails....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
The park is open daily (with overnight camping available by permit only) from sunrise to sunset throughout the year. Although some of the park's best attractions are accessible by car, the best way to get around in Point Reyes is by hiking. The park is crisscrossed with excellent and well-maintained hiking paths. There are limited bike paths from the Bear Valley entrance, and of course bikes can be used on the park's roads, but single-track mountain biking isn't allowed on most trails. There are over 147 mi (237 km) of hiking trails in the park. The park provides an official list of trails. The most popular area for kayaking at Point Reyes National Seashore is on Tomales Bay. Tomales Bay is a 25 mi (40 km) long, 6,780 acres (2,740 hectares) tidal water body located in rural west Marin County, California. It is the largest unspoiled coastal embayment on the coast of California. The bay is bounded largely on the west by the Point Reyes National Seashore.
Where to Stay
There are no organized campgrounds within national seashore, although backcountry camping is allowed by permit (see below). The two organized campgrounds outside the park are Olema Ranch Campground (+1 415-663-8001) and at Samuel P. Taylor State Park (+1-800-444-7275). Point Reyes offers backpackers four hike-in campgrounds from which to choose. Boat-in camping is allowed on national seashore beaches on the west side of Tomales Bay, beginning north of Indian Beach in Tomales Bay State Park. There is no car camping at Point Reyes National Seashore. Dogs are not allowed on any trails or in the designated campgrounds. Possibly the most dangerous hazard in the park, a sneaker wave is an unexpectedly large wave that is higher, stronger and reaching farther up the beach to levels far beyond where the normal waves reach. There have been several incidents of visitors to Point Reyes being caught by sneaker waves and drowned.
Money & Budget
The visitor centers within Point Reyes National Seashore offer books of local interest, postcards, and other souvenir items for sale. In addition: Options for food are limited in the Point Reyes region. Although on the expensive side, the cities of Inverness and Point Reyes Station both have a variety of food options and are conveniently located on the main roads. There are no organized campgrounds within national seashore, although backcountry camping is allowed by permit (see below). The two organized campgrounds outside the park are Olema Ranch Campground (+1 415-663-8001) and at Samuel P. Taylor State Park (+1-800-444-7275). Point Reyes offers backpackers four hike-in campgrounds from which to choose.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Possibly the most dangerous hazard in the park, a sneaker wave is an unexpectedly large wave that is higher, stronger and reaching farther up the beach to levels far beyond where the normal waves reach. There have been several incidents of visitors to Point Reyes being caught by sneaker waves and drowned. Sneaker waves also have the ability to toss around large driftwood logs that may fall on a person, injuring or even killing them. Sneaker waves can occur at any time, day or night, during incoming and outgoing tides, during storms and during sunny calm weather; they are often preceded by a sudden lowering of the water level. An additional danger comes from rip currents, which are channeled currents of water flowing away from shore that can easily drag strong swimmers out to sea. If you are caught in a rip current, remain calm and swim along the shoreline in order to escape the outgoing current. Once out of the current, swim towards shore. Another park danger is from hypothermia.