I took a detour here on my way up the coast recently. I love how this is a remote spot that still…read morefeels like the California Coast has always been. I have come a few times before while staying in Olema. The drive is beautiful from town to the beach. No matter the tide, there is miles and miles of beach to walk. Most days are cool, some are warm. This is one of my favorite beaches because it is still so natural.

Gorgeous pristine beach with fine sand. You can walk for miles and see great sea life, birds, and…read morespectacular views.

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.

My fav! Easy…read moreparking, quick walk down to the beach. Feels endless so with a little walking you can feel like you have it to yourself even on beautiful summer days.

Long peaceful walks on the Pacific cost shore with large rock formations and streams. Small…read morewaterfalls and little caves. Lots of wild life.

"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.