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Enjoy the supreme solitude on this trail along picturesque Drakes Estuary.


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Map Key

1.6

Miles

2.6

KM

100%

Runnable

157' 48 m

High

10' 3 m

Low

7' 2 m

Up

148' 45 m

Down

2%

Avg Grade (1°)

4%

Max Grade (2°)

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · Views · Wildflowers

Runner Notes

This is an easy descent, but it's sandy. There's an optional mudflat crossing at the end.

Description

From the junction with the Estero Trail, head south through grassland and scrub on a wide easy trail. The gentle downhill passes a pond, skirts a hillside, and offers views Bull Point to the northeast across Drakes Estero. On park maps, the Sunset Beach Trail ends at the pond, but if conditions are not too muddy continue on the fading trail to the small rocky beach across from Limantour spit. Find the strangely shaped sandstone boulders on this beach. If the weather is clear you can see Chimney Rock in the distance across the water. Retrace your steps on this out-and-back.

Be sure to stay on the trail and not venture inland to avoid mud, poison oak is endemic here. Note: bikes are allowed on this trail.

Flora & Fauna

Coyote brush, lupine, and late summer goldenrod. Douglas iris in April and May.

Shared By:

Megan W

Trail Ratings

  4.0 from 1 vote

#17454

Overall
  4.0 from 1 vote
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Trail Rankings

#1,851

in California

#17,454

Overall
2 Views Last Month
332 Since Jan 30, 2015
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Photos

Sunset Beach
Mar 10, 2015 near Inverness, CA
Near Sunset Beach, 4 miles into the hike, near the end.
Jun 27, 2018 near Inverness, CA
View looking north from near the mouth of Drakes Estero
Mar 2, 2015 near Inverness, CA

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