What a somewhat hidden gem! Definitely lesser traveled than a lot of other NPS places. When we…read morewent, in the beginning of July, it was cold and windy - about 55F but with windchill. I ended up buying a sweater at the visitor's center and used it during the entire trip! Our itinerary included the Bear Valley Visitors Center, Chimney Rock, Elephant Seal Overlook, Lighthouse, Drakes Beach, Cypress Tree Tunnel, then back to the Bear Valley Visitors Center. The entire trip took about 6.5 hours - it was great! The visitors center was clean, well-stocked, and informative. Bathrooms on the outside, plenty of parking. Inside there's a shop with lots of goodies including clothing, totes, stickers/pins, first aid supplies, and more typical goodies. Rangers were very friendly and informative. Lots of interactive displays as well. Chimney Rock was a quick hike. There's a bathroom and a bench or two at the trailhead. We thought the hike was pretty easy. Lots to see including wildflowers, bugs, birds, and deer! Plus, the view at the end is gorgeous, and there's a geological stamp there too. No elephant seals at the overlook, but it's not peak season, so we weren't expecting any. The lighthouse was a nice surprise! According to the website, it should have been closed on a Tuesday, but the ranger told us that summer hours are different, and it was open! We went to the small visitors center, then walked the 313 steps down to see the lighthouse. It was super windy. There are several rest points along the staircase in case folks need it. While we couldn't climb into the lighthouse, we could go inside and peak around, which was pretty cool. There was a ranger there who answered questions, and we saw some people looking for whales. Drakes Beach was gorgeous. We ended up staying for about 1.5 hours because the kids had so much fun digging in the sand and watching crabs scurry along the beach. There was barely anyone else there, so we had a huge part to ourselves. And there are a bunch of sand dollars! That was so cool to see. Most of them were cracked, but occasionally we saw some whole ones. The visitors center here was closed, but looked like it was well-stocked with unique goodies. Bathrooms were open, big, and clean. Cypress Tree Tunnel was every bit as beautiful as I've seen in photos. Quite a few people there walking the tunnel and taking photos. The boys earned their Junior Ranger badge at the end of the visit. And we got our stamps! Fun times - we'll definitely be back!

How fortunate we are to have Point Reyes National Seashore. The headquarters is fantastic- maps,…read morerecommendations, nice restrooms & plenty of free parking. Today we chose the Bear Valley hike trail. The path is wide and mostly flat and even includes a bathroom midway. As you walk you are able to hear the beautiful sounds of the babbling brook along the route. Being late Spring we were able to spot a good amount of wildflowers- buttercups, poppies, bleeding heart, foxglove and more. We encountered several equestrian's throughout our hike.

"Where is the best place to get 360 degree views of the ocean?" Someone asked me this question last…read moreweek while I was hiking out at Tomales Point, and I've decided that the answer is Chimney Rock. (I mean, technically, the answer is actually 'from a boat in the middle of the ocean,' but I'm pretty sure they meant like, 300 degree views.) Chimney Rock is a thin straight of land that peeps out into the ocean. Or, in more technical terms, according to the NPS website, it is "the Eastern spur of the Point Reyes headlands." If you think of Point Reyes as being shaped like a double-headed wrench, the lighthouse and Chimney Rock are on the same side of the wrench, but they are the tips that oppose each other. Each one juts out into the ocean on its own. Of course, you could also get great, nearly all-around views at the lighthouse, but this requires hiking down 313 stairs. As opposed to the lighthouse, Chimney Rock is a much easier hike. In fact, this hike would have been a breeze, if not for the actual breeze, which was blowing at about 45mph. (Point Reyes is the second windiest point on the West Coast. If you are not able to maintain a very strong stance against the wind, then consider a different hike.) The hike was less than a mile each way. There were not very many wildflowers, but in some ways, this is actually an advantage over Tomales Point, because it allows for better unobstructed views. There are a lot of social trails at Chimney Rock. NPS has posted signs in front of these trails that say, "Unauthorized trail, hazardous cliffs. Please stay on authorized trails." I stayed on the authorized trails, not just because I'm a goody-two-shoes as a hiker, but because, as a California native, I understand cliff geology, and the very real risks associated with it. You may be thinking, "This cliff isn't really going to crumble and drop me into the ocean," but actually, this can and does happen all the time. (In fact, this actually happened to a member of my cohort at UC Santa Barbara.) A side hike can take you down to the Historic Life Saving Station. There is not a sign that says "this way to the life saving station," but you will know which trail it is because it is *not* marked with an unauthorized trail sign. (I have not yet taken that side hike, but it looks interesting.)

Yelp has the wrong map location for this spot. A nice hike and we were close and personal with a…read morecoyote during our hike. We just kept still and it walked on by. Pretty cool! The easy walk itself is fairly short out and back with a mandatory turnaround at the end of the trail. Make sure you venture to the right toward the beginning to get that awesome sheer cliff ocean view. And be careful because that little 20 foot desire comes with some wind. Many folks miss this feature of the hike. Lots of flowers during springtime.

The perfect definition of a secluded beach. It's tranquil, it's peaceful, and best of all; it's…read morepretty much void of the general populations that frequent the park. This is because you'll have to hike at least 5 miles one way just to reach this beautiful beach. One of the most rewarding elements of making it here is being able to see the hidden waterfall right as you reach the bottom of the steps leading down the beach. There are probably a few different connector trails that you can take to get here. The quickest and less aggressive way would be to take the Bear Valley Trail to the Coastal Trail. This route is mostly flat and measures about 5 miles one way. It's also the popular trail within the park. If you're looking for more of an adventure and killer workout, take the Mount Wittenberg Trail to the Sky Trail which will also lead you to the Coastal Trail and down to the beach. Not only is this trail filled with tons of great inclines and ridges, but it's also insanely gorgeous! You'll be walking amongst the most beautiful trees and have stunning views of the coastline on your way there. This is the trail that I took to get there. It's about 7 miles one way, but you can also take the Bear Valley Trail back to make it a 12 mile loop instead of 14. Once you make it there, you'll be rewarded with calming waves and beautiful white water right beneath your feet. The sand is soft and there's plenty of flat driftwood to sit on. Use it to relax and have lunch while you take in the sights and sounds of Kelham. I think I saw about 2, maybe 3 people while I was there. I stayed at the beach for a little over an hour or so. Basically had it to myself for the majority of the time. If you're looking for a secluded beach to relax at during your trip to Point Reyes, this is the one. The trek may be long, but the sights and solidarity make it totally worth it.

Kelham Beach was the destination for my boyfriend and I's Point Reyes hike. It is about 5 miles…read moreone way from the Bear Valley Visitor Center to get to this beach. Once you see the sign for the Kelham Beach Trail, go down the several steep steps to the beach. Once you reach the beach, you will be treated to a nice sandy beach with not too many people. When we were there, there might have been only a few other groups there. It feels very remote and secluded. It is defiantly a nice place for a romantic picnic. The beach also a small waterfall which was a nice surprise. If you have never been to Point Reyes before, hiking to Kelham Beach is a good starting point. The terrain wasn't too challenging and the beach was easy to find. I would defiantly recommend checking it out if you are able to.

AWESOME. Hiked a 5…read moremile night hike to arrive around 3am with 7 people. We had two sites and it was great. Clean bathrooms, and running water which we purified and cleaned. This place is tucked deep away and its really nice. We hiked in from the south and then used bear valley trail to leave towards the coast.

Point Reyes national seashore is a day hikers and beachcombers paradise, with nearly all of its…read morescenic treasures accessible from a drive-in trailhead or beach parking area. If you have the time and money, you can B&B it in style at Osprey Peak and enjoy oysters and wine at Saltwater in Inverness while hiking during the day. But there's more to Point Reyes than meets the eye. There's also the wilderness. The wilderness? The Phillip Burton Wilderness, actually. And wilderness areas are special - the most protected areas within the National Parks and National Forests in the US with the strictest rules regarding land use and recreation. You traverse the wilderness area on many hikes, but there are only 4 places (and about 50 sites) where you can overnight. Of the four, Glen Camp is to my mind the most secluded and therefore also the most "wildernessy" of the bunch. Wildcat and Coast camps are beach sites, extremely pretty but very popular and rather unprotected from the elements. Sky is closest to the road and the Bear Valley visitor center, which makes it good for folks w/ kids or tons of gear. It has sheltering trees but isn't as deep into the woods as Glen and further away from some of the scenic wonders: the lakes and Alamere falls and wildflower-covered ridges. And of the sites in Glen Camp, 005 and 006 are the most secluded, located up a hillside and under gorgeous tree canopies. Importantly, the toilets and water pump are out of sight up here, so you'll feel more in the woods than on the flat (and dusty) section below. It's not as OutThere! as Montana's Bob Marshall wilderness, but it's secluded and fun and full of forest sounds and sensations, which is all you really need, unless grizzly scat, snowmelt, and sage grouse are what you're after. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/glen-camp-point-reyes-station?select=gqO8uxAcbaNpw1BH3_iNUw#gqO8uxAcbaNpw1BH3_iNUw http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/glen-camp-point-reyes-station?select=gqO8uxAcbaNpw1BH3_iNUw#6DTO7sDytgZWZjrpbpt7nA http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/glen-camp-point-reyes-station?select=gqO8uxAcbaNpw1BH3_iNUw#uMfDaekmvtCXFMjYAVjC2w http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/glen-camp-point-reyes-station?select=gqO8uxAcbaNpw1BH3_iNUw#QaLBtYeVRcDzAtHqIX28Vg From Glen Camp, you are perfectly positioned for a half-day loop hike to Wildcat Beach and back, using part of the epically scenic Lakes trail and getting a full-on forest meets the sea experience: the best Point Reyes wilderness experience you'll find. Lots of microclimates and intimate as well as expansive views. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/glen-camp-point-reyes-station?select=gqO8uxAcbaNpw1BH3_iNUw#5IMcDlW-oQ6fTTb218z6zw http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/glen-camp-point-reyes-station?select=gqO8uxAcbaNpw1BH3_iNUw#MzaY0PU4X300QfK9T1R4UA http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/glen-camp-point-reyes-station?select=gqO8uxAcbaNpw1BH3_iNUw#KkiBU7OVZQN1q6kJ3vwjNg http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/glen-camp-point-reyes-station?select=gqO8uxAcbaNpw1BH3_iNUw#jHDmbp8uydgCTnq3_utLEw http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/glen-camp-point-reyes-station?select=gqO8uxAcbaNpw1BH3_iNUw#j8kxoOJliLa9mpv5BkbRyA http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/glen-camp-point-reyes-station?select=gqO8uxAcbaNpw1BH3_iNUw#aqfLOMz8P0RTFPZH7DVmYw Remember that you'll be one of 50-100 people around, probably less, once the evening sets in. Because you can't camp anywhere but the four designated spaces. And Glen gets fewer reservation requests than Wildcat or Coast. On the return to Bear Valley, don't take the shortest route to your car. Instead, set out on the Coast Trail to Arch Rock, then return to Bear Valley. You'll be rewarded with wonderful coastal views and - if you get an early start - you'll have the trails to yourself. Solitude is part of what Point Reyes' wilderness experience is all about. Glen Camp gives you a convenient base from which to explore the inner recesses during times of the day when the masses are still asleep or on the road. That's what makes it so special.

Fog is burning off. He fires up the Jetboil…read more She probes him: "Say, What is this little rat-tail thing you've got going on?" He has a short braided thing of hair hanging off the back of his head, like he's a Padawan apprentice or something. "What, this?" he laughs. "Party in the back?" In a thicket by the creek, they sip coffee. Song of the thrush ascends. Seems to spiral to heaven upward like a shell. They gaze through a seven foot tall cow parsnip at the sky. The umbels are bobbing galaxies in a vast universe. Ever expanding. Wielding a magic wand, she identifies the plant: "Heracleum maximum!" It has gigantic leaves. Each one is connected to a thick, hollow, densely-haired stem. She steers the huge leaves on their thick stems in her slender arms. Swipes away the poison oak. "Found a path to the creek," she says cheerily. Clear water riffles and splits around a shoal. It's sandy with willows and cattails. There is a great blue heron in the reeds. The heron saunters forward deceptively, like a starlet at the Croisette, then recoils its long neck and strikes. "Bill stab!" he exclaims. He purses his mouth, throws his arm up and makes a fist. Taking a beat, she observes the scene, and says wryly "Sick, huge fan. What a bird." The impaled fish writhes on the heron's spear in the sun, scales glinting. It has met its immutable fate. They sit on a bank dotted with Cyperaceae. Lady beetles fly about. They turn and face each other. "F#$%#g sh*# show that was..." he moans. "What do you mean? We shucked a thousand shells. You have to respect your aunt's stamina, it's a Vibe!" she says, grinning. The moment is fleeting. The song and the chirping and the thrum of insects in the morning heat. They kill the coffee. It's time to pack up their tent and go. "Check out time!" she says. "Pack it up!"

Beautiful campground and hike in, I took coast trail from bear valley and it was 8 miles... trail…read morewas very secluded after bear valley fire road... magical forest and garden surrounds the campgrounds. Camped at 2ab and it was ok, it was not very private and near the bathroom/water spigot so I felt like it was more people interaction than I cared for but that was what was available! The beach was a great place to relax after my hiking days and I loved it. I was there 3 days mid week in June and it was 75 one day and foggy/wet 60 degrees the other days, recommend rain fly for tents, and exploring the singletrack trails , they are so beautiful, full of wildlife

Half these reviews are of the wrong place. There's the Tomales Bay Trail and the Tomales Point…read moreTrail which sound very similar so it's easy to get them mixed up but they are completely different places. The Tomales Point Trail is much farther out and the hike is in view of the ocean and features Tule Elk. That place is: https://www.yelp.com/biz/tomales-point-trail-tule-elk-preserve-inverness?osq=tomales+trail The Tomales Bay Trail is right outside of Point Reyes Station off the Shoreline freeway. The trail is about 2.5 miles and takes a little over an hour. Since it's so close to Point Reyes Station it's nice to go here if you are looking for a shorter hike and not wanting to go all the way out to the seashore or do a long Bear Valley trail. The trail is easy passing by two lagoons or ponds and views of the Inverness mountain in the background. Lots of wildflowers in the spring! Lots of birds, not always in eyesight but I could hear them everywhere. I kept seeing a black bird with a bright red markings, not sure what type of bird this is but it was pretty. There is no shade, most of the time this isn't an issue since Point Reyes is naturally cool or foggy but on a sunny day this can really creep up on you.

For years now I've driven by the Tomales Bay Trailhead and been consistent in remarking that "I…read morewant to hike that". I finally did, and when I'd almost fully back-tracked to my car I said "Well, done that. Don't need to do that again". I got home and told my son I'd hiked this nothing-burger trail. At first he didn't know which trail I was talking about then he was struck with a sudden recognition. "You're right" he said, "that's a nothing-burger". There's nothing wrong with his trail aside from there not being much to it. Parking at the trailhead is easy and free in a small lot. After going through numerous gates designed, I believe, to keep the cows in, hikers are presented with attractive views of Tomales Bay and the surrounding wetlands. The trail is neither challenging, steep, nor long but if you want to make it as long as possible head out to the end of the peninsula. Reach the end of that and return the way you came and you'll log a bit under 3.5 miles total. There's no looping here so backtracking is your sole option. Dogs aren't permitted though nobody appears to be checking. If you've also been driving by this trailhead for a long time know that crossing it off your own bucket list won't eat up too much of your day so you might as well. Pretty, easy, and short make this a worthy place to work off a few calories before heading further north for, perhaps, that platter of Hog Island oysters that's got you on this road in the first place.

Dallas and Liz were wonderful to work with. We rented kayaks from them for a family trip with…read morelittle kids and felt supported and energized by them the entire time. Their knowledge of the area is engrained and you really feel like you're tapping into the spirit of the area. 100% recommend supporting this small business

Went with my husband. Really enjoyed our time there…read moreDefinitely would be back. Just a great place and the fresh air was exactly what we needed

A nice little nature spot to stop off at to explore especially if you have kids who may need to…read morestretch their legs. It's so close the Point Reyes Station. -- It has porta potties and Poison Oak, lots of it. But it's a pretty little lookout, especially on a clear day, I'd imagine. Once you park in the large parking lot, it's just a few steps to the side of the Creek. It's a large creek with a lovely view of the landscape and a short trail that runs parallel to the lake.