About Point Reyes National Seashore
From its thunderous ocean breakers crashing against rocky headlands and expansive sand beaches to its open grasslands, brushy hillsides, and forested ridges, Point Reyes offers visitors over 1500 species of plants and animals to discover. Home to several cultures over thousands of years, the Seashore preserves a tapestry of stories and interactions of people. Point Reyes awaits your exploration.
Quick Facts
Operating Hours
Point Reyes National Seashore is open to visitors every day of the year! The park is open from 6 am to midnight. (Visit our Visitor Centers web page, for the hours for the Bear Valley Visitor Center, the Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center at Drakes Beach, and the Point Reyes Lighthouse and the stairs leading down to the lighthouse.) Overnight parking is only permitted in the park with a valid backcountry camping permit or for visitors staying at the Point Reyes Hostel.
Activities
Getting There
Point Reyes is located along the west coast of California approximately 30 miles (50 km) north of San Francisco. Travelers may approach the park from the winding scenic Highway 1, either from the north or the south. Visitors can also reach the park via Sir Francis Drake Boulevard or the Point Reyes/Petaluma Road.
View Official DirectionsContact & Address
Topics & Themes
Things To Do
Whale Watching at Point Reyes National Seashore
Get closer to migrating whales than most other places on the California coast!
Hike the Woodward Valley Loop
Travel from forest to tidepools on this ambitious hike. This trail includes beautiful forest and spectacular coastal hiking with sweeping…
Hike to Secret Beach and Skylight Cave
Skylight Cave is a sea cave with a collapsed ceiling at the north end of Secret Beach, which is located…
Bike the Bear Valley Trail to the Glen Trail Junction
This wide gravel trail through Douglas fir forest is great for a family cruise, a mellow ride, or the start…
Bike the Estero Trail
This trail through grassland and cattle pastures offers outstanding views of Drakes Estero and Estero de Limantour, and the opportunity…
Bike to Wildcat Campground
Biking to Wildcat Campground is no easy feat—but a lot of work yields a lot of reward! Enjoy your lunch…
Visitor Centers
Bear Valley Visitor Center
The park's primary visitor center provides an orientation of the park's roads, trails, and human and natural history. The interior exhibit space provides a glimpse…
Hours: The Bear Valley Visitor Center is scheduled to be open daily from 9:30 am until 5 pm. The Bear Valley Visitor Center is closed on December 25 and usually closes at 2 pm on Thanksgiving.
Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center
Located at beautiful Drakes Beach, the Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center contains exhibits that focus on maritime exploration in the 1500s, marine fossils, and marine…
Hours: Provided there are no active exceptions, the Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center is open from 10 am to 4:30 pm on weekends and federal holidays that fall on Mondays; closed on weekdays.
Point Reyes Lighthouse Visitor Center
The Lighthouse Visitor Center (LHVC) offers exhibits on the Point Reyes Lighthouse, marine life, & maritime history, as well as a small bookstore. The stairs…
Hours: The Lighthouse Visitor Center (LHVC) and the stairs leading down to the lighthouse (LH) are open from 10 am to 4 pm on Thursdays through Mondays (provided there are no active exceptions), and closed Tue. & Wed. The stairs to the LH are closed when winds exceed 40 miles per hour. The LH's clockwork room, which houses the original clockworks & from which one can get a close look at the first-order Fresnel lens, is usually open on days the stairs are open from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm, as staffing & weather permit.
Campgrounds
Coast Campground
Coast Campground is nestled within a small coastal valley with easy access to the beach and tidepools. The beach is within 220 yards of the…
Glen Campground
Glen Campground is located deep within a wooded valley protected from ocean breezes. The closest beach is 2.5-miles away. One may access Glen Camp by…
Sky Campground
Sky Campground is located on the western side of Mount Wittenberg at an elevation of 1025 feet. In clear weather, it has a sweeping view…
Tomales Bay Boat-in Camping
Tomales Bay boat-in camping is allowed on west-side National Park beaches north of Tomales Bay State Park's northern border (i.e., north of Indian Beach and…
Wildcat Campground
Wildcat Campground is located in an open meadow on a bluff overlooking the ocean with a short walk to the beach. One may access Wildcat…
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