Point Reyes National Seashore Custom Search Point Reyes National Seashore contains unique elements of biological and historical interest in a spectacularly scenic panorama of thunderous ocean breakers, open grasslands, bushy hillsides and forested ridges. Native land mammals number about 37 species and marine mammals augment this total by another dozen species. The biological diversity stems from a favorable location in the middle of California and the natural occurrence of many distinct habitats. Nearly 20% of the State's flowering plant species are represented on the peninsula and over 45% of the bird species in North America have been sighted. The Point Reyes National Seashore was established by President John F. Kennedy on September 13, 1962.     CONTACTS Email - PORE_Webmaster@nps.gov Fax- (415) 663-8132 Write to Point Reyes National Seashore Point Reyes, CA 94956 Phone Visitor Information - (415) 464-5100 Headquarters - (415) 464-5100 Volunteer Information - (415) 464-5225 TRAVEL BASICS Operating Hours, Seasons The park is open daily (with overnight camping available by permit only) from sunrise to sunset throughout the year. Visitor center hours are as follows: Bear Valley Visitor Center, weekdays, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., weekends and holidays 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Lighthouse Visitor Center, Thursday through Monday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Lighthouse stairs and exhibits (weather permitting), 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Lens Room open as weather & staffing permit, all Lighthouse facilities closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays; Ken Patrick Visitor Center, weekends and holidays, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. All visitor centers are closed December 25. Getting There PLANE - The closest major airports are San Francisco International and Oakland Airport. You will most likely need to rent a car to reach the park. CAR - Point Reyes is located approximately 22 miles north of San Francisco on Highway 1 along the west coast of California. Travelers may approach the park from the winding scenic Highway 1, either northbound or southbound. You can also reach the park via Sir Francis Drake Boulevard or Point Reyes/Petaluma Road. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - Limited public transportation is provided by Golden Gate Transit. To contact GGT's automated phone system call (415) 923-2000. To reach Point Reyes National Seashore by bus, you will want to take the #65 bus from the San Rafael Transit Center at 3rd and Hetherton. The bus runs only on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. Weather & Climate Point Reyes Peninsula's climate is characterized by warm, dry summers and cool, rainy winters, similar to the type of climate that prevails on the Mediterranean. There are constant winds of moderate to strong velocity on the exposed headlands and outer beaches. Headlands and beaches on the Pacific Coast are subjected to frequent heavy fogs. Such heavy fogs are most common in the months of July, August and September. Sunshine and higher temperatures occur inland. The east side of Inverness Ridge and the beaches of Tomales Bay are sheltered from the summit of the ridge westward to the ocean, leaving sunny areas for picnicking and swimming. Inland temperatures in the summer are often 20 degrees warmer than temperatures on the Headlands and outer coast. The rainy season is December through March. We recommend bringing and wearing layers. Getting Around You will need a car to visit areas beyond Bear Valley, such as the lighthouse and the beaches. CAMPING Backpacking Camps - General Information Open All Year Point Reyes offers backpackers four campgrounds to choose from. (There is no car camping at Point Reyes National Seashore. Dogs are not allowed on any trail or in the designated campgrounds.) Each campground has designated sites. A credit card is required for phone reservations. Payment is due at the time the reservation is made. There are no refunds given for weather, illness, etc. Once the payment has been made, the site is guaranteed for your stay. However, a permit must still be picked up before beginning your trip. Those arriving after the visitor center has closed (usually after 5 pm), should look for their permit in the after hours box on the information board in front of the building. Each campsite has a picnic table, food storage locker and a charcoal brazier. (Only charcoal may be burned in the grill, not wood.) Each campground has pit toilets and a water faucet. Water may need to be treated using iodine tablets, boiling for one minute or filtering with a commercial filter. Do not drink water from streams without treating. For More Information on this campground please call 415-663-8054, 9-2, M-F Boat-in Beach Camping on Tomales Bay Open All Year BOAT-IN CAMPING ONLY (no hiking). No dogs allowed. Boat-in camping is allowed on national seashore beaches on the west side of Tomales Bay, beginning north of Indian Beach. No human waste is permitted in the bay or onto park beaches so campers must bring portable facilities or limit camping to Marshall Beach or Tomales Beach, where pit toilets are available. There is no potable water available. There are seasonal closures on some beaches. Check with the seashore reservation office for updates. A credit card is required for phone reservations. Payment is due at the time the reservation is made. There are no refunds given for weather, illness, etc. Once the payment has been made, your site is guaranteed for your stay. However, a permit must still be picked up before beginning your trip. Those arriving after the visitor center has closed (usually after 5 pm), should look for their permit in the after hours box on the information board in front of the building. For More Information on this campground please call 415-663-8054, 9-2 M-F Coast Camp Open All Year Backpack or bicycle only. No dogs allowed. Coast Camp is nestled within a small coastal valley with easy access to the beach and tidepools. It includes one of the easiest hikes of all routes to Point Reyes campgrounds. The shortest hike to this camp is 1.8 miles. The beach is within easy access from the camp. For More Information on this campground please call 415-663-8054, 9-2 M-F Glen Camp Open All Year Backpack or bicycle only. No dogs allowed. Glen Camp is a quiet and secluded camp deep within the Douglas fir forest. The shortest hike to this camp is a moderate 5 miles by foot or bicycle. It is a 2.5 mile strenuous hike to the beach. For More Information on this campground please call 415-663-8054, 9-2 M-F Sky Camp Open All Year Backpack or bicycle only. No dogs allowed. Sky Camp lies on the western slope of Mt. Wittenberg overlooking the Pacific Ocean. In clear weather, this area has wonderful ocean views. The shortest hike for this camp is 1.3 miles on foot or bicycle. It is a 4.5 mile moderately strenuous to hike to the beach. For More Information on this campground please call 415-663-8054, 9-2 M-F Wildcat Camp Open All Year Backpack or bicycle only. No dogs allowed. Wildcat Camp is a vigorous 5.5 mile hike to the southern coast of the Seashore. The shortest hiking route is the coast trail from Palomarin. The only biking route is 6.7 miles from Five Brooks on the strenous Stewart Trail. In route you pass Bass Lake, a popular destination for many hikers. The beach is a short walk from camp. For More Information on this campground please call 415-663-8054, 9-2 M-F FACILITIES BEAR VALLEY VISITOR CENTER Open All Year Mon. - Fri. 9 am - 5 pm, Sat. - Sun. 8 am - 5 pm Phone - (415) 464-5100 Location - Bear Valley Road in Olema, CA. Closures - Closed December 25. Exhibits - The Bear Valley Visitor Center was designed to blend in with its natural surroundings and with the histroically significant ranching culture of this area. It is located in the heart of the Olema Valley. The interior exhibit space provides a glimpse into the diverse ecosystems and cultural heritage of the park and includes a weather station, seismograph, touch table, auditorium, and book sales area. Available Facilities - The park's primary visitor center provides an orientation to the park's roads, trails and general history. A dramatic slide program is available upon request. Restrooms are available 24 hours a day. Reservations and permits for backcountry camping, as well as beach fire permits can be obtained here. KENNETH C. PATRICK VISITOR CENTER Open All Year Weekends and Holidays, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Memorial Day to Labor Day Friday - Tuesday, 10 am - 5 pm Phone - (415) 669-1250 Location - 30 minutes from Bear Valley on Drakes Beach off Sir Frances Drake Blvd. Closures - Closed Monday through Friday and December 25. Special Programs - Labor Day Sunday Sand Sculpture Contest each year. Exhibits - Located at beautiful Drakes Beach, exhibits in this facility focus on 16th century maritime exploration, marine fossils and marine environments. A 250 gallon salt water aquarium highlights life from Drakes Bay. A minke whale skeleton is suspended from the ceiling. Available Facilities - Restrooms and outdoor shower are available. There is a pay phone, picnic tables, and bar-b-que grills nearby. Drakes Beach Cafe is located next door. LIGHTHOUSE VISITOR CENTER Open All Year Thursday through Monday, 10:00 am - 4:30 pm Phone - (415) 669-1534 Location - 45 minutes from Bear Valley on the Point Reyes Headlands, at the end of Sir Frances Drake Blvd. There is a .5 mile walk (mostly uphill) from the parking lot to the Lighthouse Visitor Center. Closures - Closed Tuesday and Wednesday every week. Closed December 25. Exhibits - The visitor center offers exhibits on whales, wildflowers, birds and maritime history. Available Facilities - Restrooms are available. POINT REYES HISTORIC LIGHTHOUSE Open All Year Thur. - Mon. 10:00 am - 4:30 pm Weather permitting Phone - (415) 669-1534 Location - The lighthouse itself is a short 0.5 miles from the parking area down some 300 steps - the equivalent of 30 stories. Closures - Closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Closed when wind speeds exceed 40 miles per hour. Special Programs - The lens room and clockwork area are open as staffing and weather conditions permit. Evening programs illuminating the historic light occurs on the first and third Saturday each month, April through December. There is no fee. However, reservations are required. Please Call (415) 669-1534 10:00 am - 4:30 pm. Exhibits - The equipment building exhibits the fog signal used at Point Reyes. The historic lighthouse has exhibits panels on the history of the light and the keepers. The lens room includes the original clockworks and the 130 year old first order Fresnel lens in working condition.   Map Detailed Map Contact Info Phone, Email, Address, GPS coordinates Campgrounds Nearby List of Nearby Campgrounds Weather Local weather forecast These outdoors activities are available near Point Reyes National Seashore.   Campgrounds Near Point Reyes National Seashore: Olema RV Resort and Campground, Olema, 2 miles away Sky Campground, Marin County, 2 miles away Coast Campground, Marin County, 4 miles away Glen Campground, Marin County, 5 miles away Upper Campground, Marin County, 6 miles away Lower Campground, Marin County, 6 miles away Madrone Group Area Campground, Marin County, 6 miles away   Marinas Near Point Reyes National Seashore: Petaluma Marina, Petaluma , 16 miles away Mira Monte Landing, Novato , 17 miles away   Hotels Near Point Reyes National Seashore: The Continental Inn, Tomales , 12 miles away Quality Inn Petaluma, Petaluma , 15 miles away Americas Best Value Inn, Petaluma , 15 miles away Metro Hotel and Cafe, Petaluma , 15 miles away Best Western Petaluma Inn, Petaluma , 16 miles away Sheraton Sonoma County - Petaluma, Petaluma , 16 miles away Best Western Inn, Rohnert Park , 16 miles away   Trails Near Point Reyes National Seashore: Meadow Trail, Marin County , 2 miles away,  3.8 hiking miles, 1122 feet elevation difference Old Pine Trail, Marin County , 3 miles away,  5.2 hiking miles, 1145 feet elevation difference Sky Trail, Marin County , 3 miles away,  8.4 hiking miles, 1147 feet elevation difference Beatty Trail, Marin County , 3 miles away,  9.4 hiking miles, 1128 feet elevation difference Woodward Valley Trail, Marin County , 3 miles away,  8.4 hiking miles, 1275 feet elevation difference Bear Valley Trail, Marin County , 3 miles away,  5.4 hiking miles, 276 feet elevation difference Baldy Trail, Marin County , 4 miles away,  11.6 hiking miles, 1147 feet elevation difference   Beaches Near Point Reyes National Seashore: Alan Sieroty Beach, Marin County , 3 miles away Sculptured Beach, Marin County , 4 miles away Santa Maria Beach, Marin County , 4 miles away Kelham Beach, Marin County , 4 miles away Teachers Beach, Marin County , 5 miles away   Whitewater Near Point Reyes National Seashore: Mark West Creek, Sonoma County , 27 miles away, Class III-V - 4 miles long (Mark West Lodge to Mark West Road)   Public Lands Near Point Reyes National Seashore: Muir Woods National Monument, Mill Valley - CA , 19 miles away Golden Gate National Recreation Area, San Francisco - CA , 30 miles away Presidio National Park, San Francisco - CA , 30 miles away Marconi Conference Center State Park, California , 6 miles away Samuel P. Taylor State Park, California , 6 miles away Tomales Bay State Park, California , 8 miles away Mount Tamalpais State Park, California , 17 miles away   Golf Courses Near Point Reyes National Seashore: Meadow Club, Fairfax , 14 miles away Sonoma County Golf Park, Cotati , 15 miles away Petaluma Golf & Country Club, Petaluma , 16 miles away Rooster Run Golf Club, Petaluma , 17 miles away Rooster Run Golf Course, Petaluma , 17 miles away   Lakes Near Point Reyes National Seashore Alpine Lake, Marin County , 14 miles away Lake Lagunitas, Marin County , 16 miles away Phoenix Lake, Marin County , 17 miles away