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.
Plan a Visit
Core visitor information on this page is sourced from the National Park Service. NPD proximity sections use NPS reference coordinates and straight-line distance. Local source bundle updated Sep 27, 2026. View the official NPS page.
Weather & Conditions
The moderating influence of the Pacific Ocean creates a climate with no great extremes of heat or cold. Any season can bring interesting weather during your visit to Point Reyes National Seashore. Come prepared!
NPS Reference Location
Park state / territory membership: California. This map uses the National Park Service reference coordinate. It may represent an administrative or reference point rather than a park entrance, trailhead, visitor center, or the nearest access point. Use the official NPS directions below when planning travel.
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
The NPS-listed address may be an administrative office, visitor center, mailing/contact location, or other park facility rather than a park entrance.
Topics & Themes
Things To Do
Hike the Chimney Rock Trail
Enjoy spectacular views of Drakes Bay, the Pacific, and, in spring, wildflowers along this open coastal walk. From January through…
Hike the Marshall Beach Trail
Marshall Beach is a 400-foot-long (366-meter-long) beach on the west side of Tomales Bay in the northern part of the…
Hike to Mount Wittenberg from Bear Valley
The hikes described on this page start at the Bear Valley Trailhead and feature steep 400 meter (1300 feet) climbs to…
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…
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 Divide Meadow
Stroll through a forest of towering Douglas fir trees and along a shaded creek on this family-friendly hike to Divide…
More Things to Do
Additional activities and experiences from the National Park Service.
Hike the Abbotts Lagoon Trail to the Ocean
Take an easy hike that will lead you past a unique coastal lagoon bordered by sand dunes to the Pacific Ocean. This…
Fishing at Point Reyes
Fish on! Point Reyes National Seashore allows fishing as a means of providing for public enjoyment, and customary and traditional use, and…
Swimming at Point Reyes
What comes to mind when you think about the beach? Surf, sand, and swimming are a few words associated with a day…
Bike to Sky Campground
Ride your bike up a moderate incline along this multi-use trail through Douglas fir forest to Sky Campground, where you can enjoy…
Hike the Laguna-Coast Loop
This moderate hike through coastal scrub and grasslands offers some breath-taking ocean views and a couple locations to descend to a beach.…
Hike the Tomales Point Trail to Windy Gap
Take a short walk along the ridge crest of Tomales Point to a location from which tule elk are frequently seen. Allow…
Hike the Tomales Point Trail
Ramble along the crest of an open ridge that offers spectacular views of tule elk, Tomales Bay, and the Pacific Ocean. Allow…
Whale Watching at Point Reyes National Seashore
Get closer to migrating whales than most other places on the California coast!
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 within the…
Bike the Estero Trail
This trail through grassland and cattle pastures offers outstanding views of Drakes Estero and Estero de Limantour, and the opportunity to see…
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 at sunny…
Hike to Alamere Falls
Alamere Falls is an incredible sight, as water cascades over a 40 foot cliff onto a beautiful sandy beach below. Getting there…
Showing 18 of 53 NPS Things to Do records available for Point Reyes National Seashore.
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…
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…
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…
Campgrounds
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…
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…
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…
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…
Nearby National Park Service Sites
These sites are ordered by straight-line distance between NPS reference coordinates. This is useful for comparison, but it is not road mileage. Trails, parkways, rivers, and distributed units may extend far from their reference point.
Nearby Cities for Trip Planning
These cities are ordered by straight-line distance from the NPS reference coordinate. They are comparison starting points, not official park gateways or road-distance estimates. Trails and other distributed units may extend far beyond this reference point.
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