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Point Reyes National Seashore

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Overview

From its scenic open grasslands, forested ridges, and brushy hillsides to its expansive sandy beaches and rocky headlands, Point Reyes offers a varied and stunning diversity of over 1,500 species of plants and animals. Whether you are taking in the views while hiking along the inland trails or listening to the thunderous ocean breakers on the rugged shoreline, you are certain to be amazed by the diversity of this seashore. The park was also home to several cultures over thousands of years and preserves the rich tapestry of stories from these various inhabitants and their interactions with the landscape and each other. Point Reyes awaits your exploration!

To learn more about Point Reyes National Seashore, visit www.nps.gov.

Local Info

Visitor Centers:
All Visitor Centers are open year round, but are closed December 25. Visitor centers may close at 2 pm on Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. Hours for each visitor center vary by season; visit the Point Reyes website for current hours and more information.
  • Bear Valley Visitor Center
  • Lighthouse Visitor Center
  • Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center

Visiting Tips

Point Reyes National Seashore is open daily from sunrise to midnight, 365 days a year. Overnight camping is available by permit only.

Fees & Passes:
There is no entrance fee for Point Reyes National Seashore; however, there are some fee-based services.
To find out more about park fees, click here.

Camping & Lodging

Point Reyes National Seashore offers year-round backcountry hike-in camping along Drakes Bay and in the Phillip Burton Wilderness and boat-in camping on the west shore of Tomales Bay. Because of its location near the Metropolitan San Francisco Bay Area, the campsites at Point Reyes are in great demand, and reservations are strongly suggested. Reservations may be made online at www.recreation.gov or by calling 877-444-6777 (TDD: 877-833-6777).

  • Coast Camp: Twelve individual sites and two group sites.
  • Glen Camp: Twelve individual sites and no group sites.
  • Sky Camp: Eleven individual sites and one group site.
  • Wildcat Camp: Five individual sites and three group sites. Three of the individual sites only hold up to four people.
  • Tomales Bay: Twenty permits are available each day. Nine to parties of 1 to 6 people, 8 to parties of 7 to 14 people, and 3 to parties of 15 to 25 people.

The only lodging within Point Reyes National Seashore is the Point Reyes Hostel which offers dormitory style accommodations, as well as four private rooms. There are also many other nearby camping opportunities in the surrounding communities.

Food & Drink

Point Reyes National Seashore is conveniently located by one of the United States' culinary meccas, San Francisco! If you're staying in the Bay Area, be sure to take advantage of the local cuisine. If you're looking for a bite while in or near the park itself, the National Park Service has also compiled a list of options.

Other Activities

Whether hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, fishing kayaking, or camping, there are many ways to explore the park. Additionally, the region surrounding Point Reyes is ripe with opportunity for all kinds of activities. The NPS has compiled a great list of nearby attractions which details other parks in the area as well as other educational opportunities.

The Bay Area also has some amazing opportunities for mountain biking. Check out MTB Project for all the maps you need to get out and ride!

Gems in Point Reyes National Seashore - 7

Trail Run Project is built by runners like you. Add Your Gems

gem Favorite Atop Alamere Falls

Alamere Falls

(24) Bolinas, CA
gem Favorite Another view of Point Reyes Lighthouse

Point Reyes Lighthouse

(21) Inverness, CA
gem Favorite Tule elk male, Tule Elk Reserve, Tomales Bay

Pierce Point Ranch and Tule Elk Preserve

(13) Inverness, CA
gem Favorite California popies on the Earthquake Trail

Earthquake Trail

(3) Lagunit…, CA
gem Favorite Marshland

Limantour Beach

(4) Inverness, CA
gem Favorite Swing on the Giant Eucalyptus Tree.

Big Swing on a Giant Eucalyptus

(4) Inverness, CA
gem Favorite Palomarin trail

Bass Lake

(3) Bolinas, CA

Recommended Routes in Point Reyes National Seashore - 7

Trail Run Project is built by runners like you. Add Your Recommended Routes

Favorite Tule elk male, Tule Elk Reserve, Tomales Bay
Intermediate Intermediate

Tomales Point Trail

9.8 mi 15.7 km 996' Up 303.54 m Up 996' Down 303.53 m Down

Inverness, CA
Explore in 3D
Favorite Atop Alamere Falls
Intermediate Intermediate

Palomarin to Alamere Falls Out and Back

8.3 mi 13.3 km 991' Up 302.15 m Up 991' Down 302.09 m Down

Bolinas, CA
Explore in 3D
Favorite End of Bear Valley Trail at Arch Rock
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult

Mount Wittenberg and Bear Valley Loop

13.8 mi 22.2 km 1,648' Up 502.38 m Up 1,653' Down 503.91 m Down

Inverness, CA
Explore in 3D
Favorite View of the first estuary
Intermediate Intermediate

Estero to Sunset Beach

8.1 mi 13.0 km 623' Up 189.9 m Up 623' Down 189.9 m Down

Inverness, CA
Explore in 3D
Favorite Coast Trail Doubletrack
Intermediate Intermediate

Laguna and Coast Loop

5.1 mi 8.2 km 362' Up 110.37 m Up 348' Down 106.19 m Down

Inverness, CA
Explore in 3D
Favorite Looking toward the coast
Intermediate Intermediate

Muddy Hollow & The Estero

7.6 mi 12.3 km 777' Up 236.82 m Up 779' Down 237.51 m Down

Inverness, CA
Explore in 3D
Favorite No Photos
Intermediate Intermediate

Five Brooks & Firtop

7.5 mi 12.0 km 1,256' Up 382.95 m Up 1,256' Down 382.79 m Down

Lagunit…, CA
Explore in 3D

Point Reyes National Seashore Running

  • 142 Miles 229 Kilometers of Trail
  • 7 Recommended Routes
  • 7 Gems Gems
  • 44 Easy Trails Easy Trails
  • 43 Intermediate Trails Intermediate Trails
  • 7 Difficult Trails Difficult Trails
Trail Run Project is built by runners like you. Share what you know about this area!

Weather Averages


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Trails in Point Reyes National Seashore - 87

Trail Run Project is built by runners like you. Add Your Trails

0.7 mi 1.1 km #1Point Reyes Lighthouse Trail
Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate
Inverness, CA
Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate
Inverness, CA 11 
0.9 mi 1.5 km #2Chimney Rock
Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate
Inverness, CA
Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate
Inverness, CA 14 
10.6 mi 17.1 km #3Coast Trail - North
Intermediate Intermediate
Lagunitas-Forest Knolls, CA
Intermediate Intermediate
Lagunitas-Forest Knolls, CA
1.0 mi 1.6 km #4Limantour Spit Trail
Easy Easy
Inverness, CA
Easy Easy
Inverness, CA
4.2 mi 6.8 km #5Bear Valley
Easy Easy
Inverness, CA
Easy Easy
Inverness, CA 11 
1.6 mi 2.5 km #6Abbotts Lagoon
Easy Easy
Inverness, CA
Easy Easy
Inverness, CA 10 
5.7 mi 9.3 km #7Coast Trail - South
Intermediate Intermediate
Bolinas, CA
Intermediate Intermediate
Bolinas, CA
9.3 mi 15.0 km #8Estero
Intermediate Intermediate
Inverness, CA
Intermediate Intermediate
Inverness, CA
0.4 mi 0.6 km #9Alamere Falls Trail
Difficult Difficult
Bolinas, CA
Difficult Difficult
Bolinas, CA
2.9 mi 4.7 km #10Hidden Coast near Elephant Cave
Very Difficult Very Difficult
Inverness, CA
Very Difficult Very Difficult
Inverness, CA

Photos of Point Reyes National Seashore - 162

Trail Run Project is built by runners like you. Add Your Photos

Wonderful views from Coast Trail South
Feb 16, 2015 near Bolinas, CA
Atop Alamere Falls
Feb 17, 2015 near Bolinas, CA
The mighty Pacific Ocean!
Feb 18, 2015 near Bolinas, CA
End of Bear Valley Trail at Arch Rock
Mar 23, 2015 near Lagunit…, CA
Another view of Point Reyes Lighthouse
Sep 1, 2015 near Inverness, CA
Tule elk male, Tule Elk Reserve, Tomales Bay
Sep 1, 2015 near Inverness, CA
Elephant Rock
May 22, 2019 near Inverness, CA
Elephant rock
Feb 13, 2021 near Inverness, CA

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