California’s incredible coastline extends around 840 miles, and every section offers something unique and beautiful. One coastal area absolutely worth visiting is Point Reyes National Seashore, located in Marin County in Northern California. Here you’ll find everything from rocky shorelines to forests, grasslands, and many species of plants and animals.
You can start your exploration of this natural area by stopping into one of the three visitor centers. The main facility is the Bear Valley Visitor Center, where you can join a ranger-led program on weekends, obtain a backcountry camping permit, and learn more about the park. The Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center is located at Drakes Beach and has exhibits about marine exploration in the 16th century. It’s also fun to stop by the Point Reyes Lighthouse Visitor Center, a popular whale-watching spot.
Some highlights of this seashore area are the Historic KPH Maritime Radio Receiving Station, Cypress Tree Tunnel, the Point Reyes Lighthouse, Chimney Rock, and the Tomales Point Elk Reserve. You can reach these areas from the roads that lead to trailheads and beaches nearby. For a more remote and rugged experience, you can check out the Phillip Burton Wilderness Area, which comprises 33,373 acres of dunes, shorelines, grasslands, forests, and other diverse landscapes.
Birdwatching is one of the most popular activities in the park, especially in the spring and fall when birds are migrating through the area. The trails here are also great for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. Just remember that the seashore is large, so it’s very possible that you won’t be able to see and do everything you want to in just one day.
Fortunately, you can camp at Point Reyes National Seashore and make a multi-day journey out of this fantastic place. There are no developed campgrounds or RV hookup sites here, but there are hike-in and boat-in camping areas in the backcountry. For example, Coast Camp is near the beach and tidepools, Glen Camp is in a wooded valley, Sky Camp is on the west side of Mt. Wittenberg, and Wildcat Camp is on a meadow that overlooks the ocean. Boat-in camping is also available at Tomales Bay. Alternatively, there are more advanced and accessible camping options provided by Golden Gate National Recreation Area and California State Parks nearby, as well as lodging further out in Marin County.
Unlike many national recreation areas and parks, no entrance fee is required to visit Point Reyes National Seashore. So, see this beautiful shoreline and all it has to offer for yourself.
Point Reyes National Seashore Headquarters Information:
Address: 1 Bear Valley Road, Point Reyes Station, CA 94956
Phone Number: 415-464-5100
Official Website
