Trip Ideas for Point Reyes

For Spring

Day 1: Stop at the Pt. Reyes Seashore Visitor Center which has maps and the latest information about whale and elephant seal sightings. Drive out to the lighthouse with a picnic lunch and linger to whale watch. (Lighthouse closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays).  Stop at the Sea Lion Overlook on the way out or as you head back. Later, drive back to Chimney Rock, where there is a great overlook to view the seals.

If you're up for wildflowers and a hike, take the trail out to the point, where you will see multitudes of flowers. March-May is ideal but is a grand view at all times. The historic Pt. Reyes Lifeboat Station is worth a look on the way out or back from the point.

Day 2: Beach Day:  Bring a picnic and a blanket! Drive along the Limantour Road to the beach. Don't forget your binoculars as there is great birding here also.

Several options:

1) Park along the road to the Pt. Reyes Hostel at the Coast Trail head and take the trail down to Sculptured Beach and enjoy the beach!

2) Drive all the way to the Limantour Beach, take the short walk out to the beach through some wetlands and then turn right, to the north, and walk up to the Drakes Estero where you will always see bird and seals. There is a trail along the wetlands behind the beach that you can walk for the first part of your hike. This whole walk takes about 45 min-1 hour unless you linger to enjoy the sand, sun and watch for whales and pelicans, which are often sighted, and the many shore birds. If that's enough sun for the day, then take a drive into Pt. Reyes and north along Rt. 1 to Marshall and check out that shore of Tomales Bay: there are a couple of short hikes, Tomales Bay Trail and Millerton Point. When you are passing through Inverness, stop at the Jack Mason Museum just a short block off Sir Francis Drake on Inverness Way North.

3) Drive south to the Bolinas lagoon, great birding, and visit the Bolinas Museum, Friday -Sunday only.

Day 3: The main visitor center (Bear Valley Visitors Center) sometimes has a walk to Kule Loco where you can tour and hear about the history of the local tribes. If there is not a scheduled walk while you are visiting, it's well worth touring on your own. Walk up to the Morgan Horse Barn first and visit the newborns and moms then take the ½ mile trail to Kule Loco. Kids love this!

When you're finished and back at the visitor center, there are two more short hikes, the Earthquake Trail and a short nature trail that goes off to the right, just at the start of the Bear Valley Trail. Now drive, 15 minutes to the North, over to Tomales Bay which has lovely beaches, great birding and short hikes along the length of the west side.

To get to Shell Beach, drive about 1-1/4 mi north of Inverness; take a right turn off of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard across from the Inverness Valley Inn, named Camino del Mar and drive to the end of the road. You have a short stroll through the woods, to arrive at the beach. Shell Beach has two parts to it, divided by a rocky hill with a foot path connecting the two sides. It's a great swimming beach with a float to swim out to. You can walk along the shore, or drive, up to Heart's Desire Beach in the Tomales Bay State Park. You can drive right up to this beach which has picnic facilities. From here you can walk to the north along a nature trail that ends at Indian Beach, another great swimming beach.

For Summer

Day 1: If golf is of interest to you, make a stop at the San Geronimo Golf Course on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in San Geronimo. Then, drive out towards the Lighthouse; lunch or a snack can be had at the Drakes Bay Cafe at Drakes Beach. The visitor center at Drakes Bay is worth a visit also. The trail that starts just south of the visitor center up above the beach along the cliffs has great views of the Farrallones Islands when it's not foggy. Enjoy the beach and then drive another 10 minutes out to the lighthouse (closed Tuesday and Wednesday)

Day 2: Kayaking in the morning on Tomales Bay is fabulous and fun. Then visit the Pt. Reyes Station shops and galleries and pick up a picnic lunch. Drive out to the Tomales Bay State Park which has a delightful picnic area; enjoy the beach there and take the guided trail north to Indian Beach, another beach with clear water great for swimming!

Day 3: Take the trail, easy 30-40 minutes out to Abbotts Lagoon and then a little further takes you out to the ocean and the 11 mile stretch of gorgeous beach. An alternative for this day would be to return to your car after exploring Abbotts Lagoon and driving out to the historic Pierce Point Ranch touring the Ranch often glimpsing Tule Elk and a hike out on the Tomales Point Trail.