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Plan a Road Trip > Explore America > National Parks > Point Reyes National Seashore |
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Point Reyes Station, CA 94956-9799
Phone: 415-663-1092 or 415-663-8522
Fax: 415-663-8132
Open All Year
Overview. Sir Francis Drake first made landfall along Point Reyes at Drake's Estero in 1579. Over 20 years later, Spaniard Don Sebastian Vizcaino dubbed the triangular spit of coastline "La Punta de Los Reyes" in honor of the Feast of the Three Kings. Although Europeans didn't settle the area for another 200 years, the Coast Miwok Native Americans had lived off the seashore's bounty for centuries before Drake set eyes on California. Today, Point Reyes National Seashore preserves the spectacular coastline, ocean-carved beaches, estuaries and salt marshes teeming with birds, deep forests of Douglas fir and Bishop pine, and lush meadows blanketed with wildflowers. Along the migratory paths of the gray whale and hundreds of birds, Point Reyes is also the habitat of sea lions, harbor seals, two herds of tule elk and several species of deer. Visit the historic Point Reyes Lighthouse, decommissioned in 1975, that protected this treacherous section of Pacific coastline, the windiest on the west coast, for over a hundred years before it was replaced by an automated system.
Although Point Reyes is only a few miles north of San Francisco in scenic western Marin County, it is accessible by CA 1, 40 miles of twisting mountain road, making its windswept beauty seem a haven for solitude.
What to see and do. Begin your visit at the Bear Valley Visitor Center near Olema where a film, slide presentation, exhibits, and dioramas introduce you to the natural and cultural history of the park. Hike the half-mile Earthquake Trail loop that passes along the infamous San Andreas Fault to learn how the 1906 earthquake altered the peninsula. Kule Loklo, a half-mile from the Bear Valley Visitor Center, is a recreated Coast Miwok village where you can wander through kotcas (Miwok family homes), a sweat lodge, and other religious structures. If you're lucky, native Coast Miwoks will be on site, demonstrating crafts and presenting living history programs. The Morgan Horse Ranch, also near Bear Valley, is a working horse farm where the National Park Service breeds and trains horses for use in their facilities. Visitors are welcome. Other visitor centers are located at the Point Reyes Lighthouse (a prime location for whale watching during the winter and spring) and at Drake's Bay, where there is also an aquarium and a cafe. To get the most from your visit to Point Reyes, however, you must get out of your car and into the open air, even if only to stroll along a windswept beach.
There are over 140 miles of hiking trails though the Point Reyes Peninsula; about 100 miles of these are open to horse travel and close to 40 allow mountain bikes as well. Trails vary in length and difficulty, but many are relatively flat and reward the hiker with glimpses of wildlife and coastal beauty. Bear Valley Trail, one of the most popular, begins at the Bear Valley Visitor Center and winds a little over four miles to Arch Rock and the ocean. Other trails lead to the top of Mt. Wittenberg, the highest point in the park with an elevation of over 1400 feet; to Pierce Point Ranch, a historic dairy farm; and to beaches and estuaries all along the coast. There are four hike-in campgrounds available, but reservations should be made with the park by calling 415-663-8054 (Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 2 PM) in advance of your trip because these sites are very popular. Hostelling International operates a dormitory-style hostel near Limantour Beach; call 415-663-8811 for more details. Fishing is allowed with a valid California license; contact the park for specific regulations. You can swim at your own risk at Limantour and Drakes Beaches, but keep in mind that the water is always cold and there are no lifeguards on duty. Do not attempt to swim at any other park beaches, as undertow and surf are treacherous at all times.
Concessionaires near the seashore provide horseback riding tours. Lodging, restaurants, and private campgrounds are available in nearby communities.
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Beach |
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Bicycle Trails |
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Bird Watching |
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Fishing |
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Food Service |
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Geological Sites |
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Gift Shop |
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Guided Tours |
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Hiking/Nature Trails |
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Historic Sites |
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Horse Trails |
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Museum/Exhibits |
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Non-motor Boating |
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Picnic Sites |
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Programs/Talks |
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Self-guided Tours |
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Swimming |
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Visitor Center |
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Wildflower Viewing |
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Wildlife Viewing |
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