season for western snowy plovers, from about mid-March to early September.
ABBOTTS LAGOON: Off Pierce Point Rd., 3.4 mi. N.W. of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. An easy 1.5-mile-long trail leads to the lagoon and to the beach beyond.
▪ Caspian terns may be seen in the summer
▪ Canoeing permitted in the lagoon
NORTH BEACH AND SOUTH BEACH: Off Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. Twelve-mile-long beach has rough surf; swimming is unsafe. Dogs on leash allowed; observe posted restrictions during snowy plover nesting season in spring and summer.
DRAKES ESTERO: Estero Trail off Sir Francis Drake Blvd., 4 mi. W. of Inverness. A mile-long trail leads downhill from the Estero Trailhead to the water’s edge.
▪ Harbor seal breeding colony in Drakes Estero
POINT REYES LIGHTHOUSE: End of Sir Francis Drake Blvd., 15 mi. S.W. of Inverness. Visitor center open Thurs.–Mon., 10:00 AM–4:30 PM; 300-step stairway to the lighthouse. Parking is limited; during peak whale-watching months, a shuttle (fee) operates from Drakes Beach parking area, weekends and holidays only. Special parking and drop-off areas for visitors with limited mobility. For recorded lighthouse information, call: 415-464-5100.
▪ Popular place for sighting migrating gray whales, especially mid-January (southbound animals) and mid-March (northbound)
▪ California sea lions occupy offshore rocks
▪ Breeding colony of Steller sea lions in one of the coves
CHIMNEY ROCK TRAILHEAD: Off Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Pt. Reyes Headlands. Mile-long trail to the Chimney Rock overlook. A separate short path leads to an elephant seal viewing area; bring binoculars for good views.
DRAKES BEACH: Drakes Beach Rd., off Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center has interpretive displays and ranger-led walks. Open daily except Wed. and Thurs. during summer months and open weekends and holidays all year, 10 AM–5 PM. For recorded information, call: 415-464-5100.
Marin County
Limantour Beach and Olema Valley
Point Reyes National Seashore
The National Seashore includes over 70,000 acres; a wide variety of recreational pursuits are possible. There is no car camping at Point Reyes National Seashore. Camping is permitted at four walk-in camps and at boat-in beaches on Tomales Bay, by reservation only. Camping permits are available at the visitor center daily; for camping reservations, call: 877-444-6777. Leashed dogs are allowed in the Point Reyes National Seashore only on South Limantour Beach, North and South Point Reyes Beaches, and Kehoe Beach; seasonal closures may apply. For National Seashore information, call: 415-464-5100.
ESTERO DE LIMANTOUR: End of Limantour Road. A state marine reserve; wildlife viewing is allowed, but regulations prohibit the take of all marine life.
▪ White pelicans and brant feed and rest in the estero
▪ Harbor seals haul out on shore
POINT REYES HOSTEL: Off Limantour Rd., 7 mi. from Bear Valley Road. Family rooms and bunkhouse space, wood stoves, full kitchen. Reservations recommended year round. Between 7:30–10:00 AM or 4:30–9:30 PM, call: 415-663-8811.
LIMANTOUR BEACH: End of Limantour Road. Wave action is generally calmer here than on the west-facing beaches of the Point Reyes Peninsula.
▪ Wheelchair-accessible trail runs along the lagoon southeast of the main access road
SCULPTURED BEACH: 6 mi. from Bear Valley via trail. Hike from the Point Reyes National Seashore Visitor Center or Limantour Beach. For recorded weather and tide conditions, call: 415-464-5100.
OLEMA: Hwy. One at Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. Historic village; tent and RV camping at Olema Ranch Campground, which has 187 sites, some with hookups. RVs up to 50 feet long accommodated; dump station available. Hot showers, general store and laundromat, play area and recreation hall, and mountain bike rentals. Call: 415-663-8106.
POINT REYES NATIONAL SEASHORE VISITOR CENTER: Bear Valley Rd., .5 mi. N.W. of Olema. Exhibits about Point Reyes National Seashore attractions. Open weekdays, 9 AM–5 PM, and weekends and holidays, 8 AM–5 PM (closed Dec. 25).
▪ Wheelchair-accessible Earthquake Trail
▪ Coast Miwok Indian village
▪ Morgan horse farm
SAMUEL P. TAYLOR STATE PARK: Sir Francis Drake Blvd., 5.2 mi. E. of Olema. Picnic areas, trails, family campsites, hike or bike campsites, and enroute campsites. Five group camping areas are available, two at Madrone and three primitive sites (one for equestrians) at Devil’s Gulch, located one mile north of the other camping areas. Streams in the park are closed to fishing and boating year round. For park information, call: 415-488-9897. For camping reservations, call: 1-800-444-7275.
FIVE BROOKS TRAILHEAD: Hwy. One, 3 mi. S. of Olema. Trails lead to beaches, the Coast Trail, and to walk-in campsites. For park and trail information, call: 415-464-5100 or 415-464-5137.
▪ Five Brooks Ranch offers horseback riding lessons and trail rides; call: 415-663-1570
Marin County
Bolinas
PALOMARIN TRAILHEAD: End of Mesa Rd., 5 mi. N.W. of Bolinas. Access to the southern end of the Point Reyes National Seashore. A network of trails leads along the bluffs and to lakes, beaches, and walk-in camps. The Coast Trail, part of the California Coastal Trail, leads north to Sculptured Beach.
▪ Alamere Falls, off the Coast Trail, cascades onto the sandy beach north of Double Point
POINT BLUE VISITOR CENTER: Mesa Rd., 4.5 mi. N.W. of Bolinas. Point Blue Conservation Science carries out research and education focused on protecting birds and wildlife. Visitors are welcome to view some of the research activities, including the bird-banding process in which birds are safely captured in a fine net, examined, and released. Banding takes place from May through Thanksgiving, Tues.–Sun., sunrise–noon, and during the remainder of the year on Wed., Sat., and Sun., sunrise–noon, weather permitting. Drop-in visitors in groups of ten or fewer are welcome to view the mist-netting process; to check conditions, call: 415-868-0655. A small visitor center
