Park Details
Maps!
Point Reyes National
Seashore Map
Park Details
Location Information
Point Reyes Station, CA
Address:
Point Reyes National Seashore
Point Reyes Station, CA 94956-9799
Telephone:
(415) 663-1092 or fax (415) 663-8132
Directions:
State highway 1 provides direct access from the north and the
south. It is a scenic, winding road. U.S. 101, further east, is
a freeway. East-west roads, such as Sir Francis Drake Highway,
connect these two highways. Sir Francis Drake Highway begins off
Interstate 580 crossing the Richmond Bridge. You may also access
Sir Francis Drake Highway where it crosses Interstate 101 in the
town of Greenbrae.
Transportation:
To Park: Golden Gate Transit is the only public
transportation available from the San Francisco area. For
schedule and fare information: (415) 923-2000.
In Park: personal vehicle or bicycle.
Operating Hours/Seasons
The park is open daily from sunrise to sunset throughout the year. Visitor center hours are as follows: Bear Valley Visitor Center, weekdays, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., weekends and holidays 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Lighthouse Visitor Center, Thursday through Monday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays; Ken Patrick Visitor Center, weekends and holidays, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. All visitor centers are closed December 25.
Reservations/Permits/Fees
No entrance fees. Donations accepted at each of the three visitor centers.
Reservations are required for school groups wishing a ranger guided walk of the replica Coast Miwok village, the Morgan Horse Ranch, the Earthquake Trail, or the Lighthouse. Reservations are also needed for environmental education programs on wildflowers, whales, and habitat explorations. Call (415) 663-1092. Reservations are not required for backpack camping, but are helpful, especially on weekends between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Climate, Recommended Clothing
Weather at Point Reyes varies not only from day to day but from hour to hour. From February through July, mild weather carpets the land with a host of brilliantly colored wildflowers. Summer is the time when fog can blanket the coastal areas while the inland valleys remain warm. Fall and winter provide opportunities for viewing migratory gray whales as the fogs of summer retreat and clear skies can prevail. Dress in layers while visiting the seashore since you may begin a hike in 75 degree sunshine and finish it along the coast where cooler temperatures (50 to 60 degrees) and ocean breezes can change quickly.
Facilities and Opportunities
Visitor Center/Exhibits:
Three visitor centers highlighting the diversity of the park
are available. The Bear Valley Visitor Center, located at park
headquarters near Olema, is a barn-like structure that contains
2,500 square feet of exhibits and dioramas. All of the major
ecosystems are represented along with cultural history of the
area. An auditorium plays an introductory film or slide
presentation on request. Backcountry campground permits are
issued from the center. Hours are weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to
5:00 p.m. and weekends and holidays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
It is closed December 25th. The Ken Patrick Visitor Center,
located at Drakes Beach, houses a 250 gallon salt water aquarium,
a 16 foot minke whale skeleton, five to nine million year old
whale fossils, a cross section of a 16th Century cargo vessel, an
interactive touch screen computer, sales area and much more.
Hours are weekends and holidays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It
is closed December 25th. The Lighthouse Visitor Center, located
at the most westerly point of the Point Reyes peninsula, gives
the visitor information on the lighthouse and lifesaving services
performed over the 125 years of its use as well as natural
history information on whales, seals and wildflowers. Hours are
from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Thursday through Monday. It is
closed Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and December 25th.
Trails, Roads:
Over 140 miles of hiking trails allow the visitor to explore
Point Reyes and all its splendor. Some of the trails allow
bicycles, although they are not allowed in the designated
wilderness; pick up a free hiking trail map that differentiates
hiking and biking trails. Horses are allowed on most trails and
beaches but some restrictions exist. Pets are not allowed on
trails at Point Reyes. They may visit North and South Beaches,
Kehoe Beach, and Palomarin Beach, but must be on a leash no
longer than six feet. Additional information on nearby parks
where hiking with pets is permitted, may be obtained at
information centers.
Programs/Activities:
A list of free naturalist activities is published in the
quarterly newspaper. Programs on lighthouses and lifeboat
stations, gray whales, seals and sea lions, wildflowers, birds,
geology, Native Americans, tidepools and much more are offered
throughout the year.
Lodging and camping facilities:
Four (4) hike-in campgrounds are available in the park.
Permits are required, but are free and can be obtained at the
Bear Valley Visitor Center. Reservations can be made up to two
months in advance by calling (415) 663-1092, Monday through
Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Campgrounds are equipped with
running water and pit toilets. Each site has a picnic table and
benches, a charcoal brazier and a food storage locker. Wood
fires are prohibited in the campgrounds, as are firearms and
fireworks. (NOTE: The park is currently reviewing it's camping
management policies. A reservation fee for backpack sites may be
instituted in 1996.)
A variety of bed-and-breakfast inns and a few motels are within five miles of the headquarters. RV camping is available at nearby Olema Ranch Campground (415) 633-8001, one mile from park headquarters, and Samuel P. Taylor State Park (Mistix 1-800-444- 7275), six miles from park headquarters, respectively.
Visit the Marin County Convention and Visitors Bureau web site at http://marin.org/mcenter/marin.html for a complete listing of lodging and camping in Marin County.
Food/supplies:
Neighboring towns all have grocery stores, delicatessens and
restaurants.
Other Concessions/NPS-Managed Visitor Facilities and
Opportunities:
Each visitor center has a bookstore that is operated by the
Point Reyes National Seashore Association. A concession operated
cafe exists at Drakes Beach, and a youth hostel is located near
Limantour Beach. Five Brooks Stables for rental horse riding is
located at Fivebrooks, off of Highway 1. Call the stables at
(415) 663-1570, for a listing of daily scheduled trail rides, and
to make reservations.
Accessibility:
All three visitor centers are wheelchair accessible, and all
three have wheelchairs for use. Bear Valley has a TDD, rest
room, public telephone and designated parking spaces. The park
film is close-captioned, and an assistive listening device can be
borrowed for outdoor programs. The Earthquake Trail, a self-
guided half-mile loop explaining the San Andreas Fault and 1906
Earthquake, is paved. Other accessible improvements throughout
the park include: Limantour Beach (paved trail for birdwatching),
Abbotts Lagoon (soil cement trail leading to an overlook, rest
rooms at parking lot and parking spaces), and the Historic Pierce
Point Ranch (soil cement trail with self-guided signs explaining
the history of the 1880 dairy ranch).
Recommended Activities/Park Use
Trails may be used by hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders. Leisurely drives throughout the seashore to beaches and wildlife areas; such as the tule elk range or historic lighthouse. Picnicking at beaches and trailheads is also recommended. Some restrictions apply to trail usage by bikers and horses, so please pick up free park maps with specific trails marked. Birdwatching is exceptional, especially during fall and spring migrations. The park beaches are also excellent places to view the annual gray whale migration, January through April.
Visitation
2.6 million annually. Peaks are from May to August and again in January. Winter visitation is primarily centered on viewing the annual gray whale migration along the California coastline.
Begin your visit at the Bear Valley Visitor Center, off highway 1 near Olema; gateway to the seashore. Maps and information are available, as well as rest rooms and a picnic area. Short trails from this visitor center explore earthquake activity, Coast Miwok culture, and the Douglas fir forest for a basic overview of the park. Then head for the beaches, a scenic drive to the elk range or historic lighthouse!
Visitor Impacts:
Check at park visitor centers for up-to-date information on
road and trail conditions. Information is available on
environmental hazards such as ticks, poison oak, or wildlife
activity. The park has an active volunteer habitat restoration
program to remove non-native plants and preserve the natural
landscape. Also, the "Adopt A Trail Program" allows park
visitors to work on trail construction and restoration. If you
have some time to spare, call (415) 663-1092 for information on
these volunteer opportunities. If you plan to visit during the
gray whale migration, parking lots become congested, especially
on weekends. A free shuttle service operates from beach parking
lots to the lighthouse area. Call (415) 669-1534 for
schedules.
Special Events Programs
Several annual events take place throughout the seashore. The following is a list with approximate dates: Native American Strawberry Festival (April), Dairy Days (May), Native American Big Time Celebration (July), Morgan Horse Ranch Festival (August), and Sandcastle Contest (Sunday of Labor Day Weekend, September).
Adjacent Visitor Attractions
The Marin County Visitors and Convention Bureau web site may be accessed at http://marin.org/mcenter/marin.html for a complete listing of local, state, and national parks, and commercial attractions.
Additional Information
Write:
Information Request
Point Reyes National Seashore
Point Reyes Station, CA 94956-9799 or call (415) 663-1092.