Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Point Reyes National Seashore has 110 sq miles of pristine ocean beaches, and the pen-
insula offers excellent hiking and camping opportunities. Be sure to bring warm clothing,
as even the sunniest days can quickly turn cold and foggy.
POINT REYES SHUTTLE
On good-weather weekends and holidays from late December through mid-April, the
road to Chimney Rock and the lighthouse is closed to private vehicles. Instead you must
take a shuttle ($5, children under 17 free) from Drakes Beach.
Sights & Activities
For an awe-inspiring view, follow the
Earthquake Trail
from the park headquarters at
Bear Valley. The trail reaches a 16ft gap between the two halves of a once-connected fence
line, a lasting testimonial to the power of the 1906 earthquake that was centered in this
area. Another trail leads from the visitors center a short way to
Kule Loklo
, a reproduction
of a Miwok village.
Limantour Rd, off Bear Valley Rd about 1 mile north of Bear Valley Visitor Center,
leads to the Point Reyes Hostel and
Limantour Beach
, where a trail runs along Limantour
Spit with Estero de Limantour on one side and Drakes Bay on the other. The
Inverness
Ridge Trail
heads from Limantour Rd up to Mt Vision (1282ft), from where there are
spectacular views of the entire national seashore. You can drive almost to the top of Mt Vi-
sion from the other side.
About 2 miles past Inverness, Pierce Point Rd splits off to the right from Sir Francis
Drake Blvd. From here you can get to two nice swimming beaches on the bay: Marshall
Beach requires a mile-long hike from the parking area, while Hearts Desire, in
Tomales
Bay State Park
, is accessible by car.
Pierce Point Rd continues to the huge windswept sand dunes at
Abbotts Lagoon
, full of
peeping killdeer and other shorebirds. At the end of the road is Pierce Point Ranch, the
trailhead for the 3.5-mile
Tomales Point Trail
through the
Tule Elk Reserve
. The plenti-
ful elk are an amazing sight, standing with their big horns against the backdrop of Tomales
Point, with Bodega Bay to the north, Tomales Bay to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the
west.
