Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Point Reyes Lighthouse
LIGHTHOUSE
At the very end of Sir Francis Drake Blvd, with wild terrain and ferocious winds, this spot
feels like the end of the earth and offers the best
whale-watching
along the coast. The
lighthouse sits below the headlands; to reach it requires descending more than 300 stairs.
Nearby
Chimney Rock
is a fine short hike, especially in spring when the wildflowers are
blossoming. A nearby viewing area allows you to spy on the park's
elephant seal colony
.
Keep back from the water's edge at the exposed North Beach and South Beach, as
people have been dragged in and drowned by frequent rogue waves.
Five Brooks Stables
HORSEBACK RIDING
( 415-663-1570;
www.fivebrooks.com
;
trail rides from $40; )
Explore the landscape on horseback with a trail ride. Take a slow amble through a pasture
or ascend more than 1000ft to Inverness Ridge for views of the Olema Valley. If you can
stay in the saddle for six hours, ride along the coastline to Alamere Falls via Wildcat
Beach.
Sleeping
Wake up to deer nibbling under a blanket of fog at one of Point Reyes' four very popular
lets, water and tables. Reservations are accepted up to six months in advance, and week-
ends go fast. Reaching the campgrounds requires a 2- to 6-mile hike or bicycle ride, or you
can try for a permit to kayak camp on the beach in Tomales Bay. Check with the
Bear Val-
ley Visitor Center
for same-day permits.
HI Point Reyes Hostel
HOSTEL
$82-120, all with shared bath; )
Just off Limantour Rd, this rustic HI property has bunkhouses with warm and cozy front
rooms, big-view windows and outdoor areas with hill vistas, and a newer LEED-certified
building with four private rooms (two-night minimum stay on weekends) and a stunning
