Wow is Cypress Tree Tunnel beautiful. We were on the way to Drakes beach and decided to stop along…read morethe road so we could walk down the path. It's not a very long walk and the trees make such a unique shape! There was an old radio station at the end of the pathway that is no longer operational and therefore closed to the public. The walk along the path was worth it though regardless. It was definitely crowded, but with how long the walk is and the width of the path, it still felt like everyone had their own space. We took some Polaroids of our group and just enjoyed the peace of it. It's not a crazy-must-see-in-your-lifetime experience, but I recommend stopping if you're in the area and driving past.

Instagram picture place that's a free thing to do on the way to the lighthouse. You have to park…read morealong the road and there are no facilities in the area.

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.

Sea How You Are A…read more71,000-acre park that was founded in 1962 and whose eastern boundary consists of a little thing called the San Andreas Fault. It's also home to over 900 plant species (50 of which are endangered), over 40 species of mammals, and over 400 different birds. Point Reyes is unlike any other park we've ever been to in that it's such a unique area that includes a small town, farmlands, estuaries, beaches, headlands, and so much more. If this is your first time or you're planning your first time, I'd try to allow for at least two full days to really get a feel for this place, and the best part is it's all 100% free to visit! Here's a quick guide to the best of the best things to do here (Pro Tip: There are multiple other Yelp pages with lots of more specific reviews for each of these locations). * The PR lighthouse is a must-see, and with the 308 stairs you'll need to get there, you'll definitely get your steps in! * There are multiple Visitors Centers, but if you only want to visit one, I'd recommend going to the one at Drake's Beach where you might get a glimpse of elephant seals during their breeding period (Dec - March). * Tomales Point Trail at the Tule Elk Preserve is my mostest favoritetest trail on Earth. It's relatively flat with very little uphill, but it is over nine miles if you want to get to the point and get back. And, yes, you'll want to get to the point. Otherwise, what's the point? ;) Just be sure to bring water and some snacks to cover you for those 9+ miles. This will also be your best chance to come face-to-face with the infamous Tule Elk. * Drake's Estero if you want to do some kayaking (check website for rules and dates). * McClures Beach if you want to hang and picnic. Great for tidepooling but not so much for swimming. Seriously. Don't do it. * Chimney Rock Trail is a relatively low effort for high reward spot for some spectacular views. There's plenty of other places to check out, but this should help get you started. Enjoy!

This is a nice walk if looking for things to do while driving along the 1 or for a short hike right…read moreoutside of Point Reyes station. The loop is about 1.5 miles or 30 minutes, but I always take longer because I'm taking in all the scenery. There's a little beach which can get slightly busy on the weekend, but no one is really around on the weekdays. The walk is pretty flat so it's easy. I love the scenery and looking out at Tomales Bay and Mount Vision.

We only made it about 20 minutes out of Point Reyes Station before I hit the brakes and swerved…read moreinto the Millerton Point parking lot because the views here were amazing. Not in a mood for hiking today, we stopped, walked out to the point, looked and took pictures. The views are amazing with Tomales Bay separating the mainland from the peninsula. Absolutely stunning. We were here in the morning. I'll bet the sunsets are intense. There is a small permanent potty here but it does not have running water.

It's free quick thing to see while in the area. Unfortunately it's falling apart and probably…read morewon't last much longer. The signs are gone

I haven't been since 2021, so it was before all of the storm damage and deterioration I've…read moreread/heard about. Not sure why, but it was a 'magical' experience for me...maybe because it reminded me of being a kid and creating a fun story in my mind about how a treacherous adventure ended in a shipwreck! (Even though it's a small boat that simply got beached. LOL) Pics I'm sharing were taken in January 2021.

Small with portable potty…read more I'd heard about this spot for years and when I finally went, I hate to admit I was truly underwhelmed. There are so many fantastic places to go to revel in nature and this isn't in my top 10. It was small, kinda dull, and flat with no amenities. Next time I'm out this way I'll go to Limantour.

Interesting little beach. Not the type of beach to play in or picnic in, basically just for taking…read morea walk or sticking a kayak in the water. The sand is full of rocks, grasses, and sticky mud from the tide going in and out. Nice place to view the water. No sidewalk or wheelchair access. The bathroom situation is a port-a-potty. Park on the side of the road and hoof it down the hill.

This is a really great little playground. It's mostly geared towards younger kids but it does have…read moresome fun unique pieces, included a spider web shaped climbing structure. There are picnic tables and plenty of shade trees. The nonglamourous side of this review is the bathrooms, but I wish I'd known. Most places in downtown Point Reyes are quite small & don't have restrooms so you are directed to these at the park. The bathrooms are quite bar bones here, but they are well stocked. I was pretty grossed out by them, but they were getting very heavy use. There are only four stalls for both men & women, but there are portapotties as well if you can't wait.

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

My first time visiting Limantour beach this past weekend and loved it! I was with my boys scout…read moretroop and we practically had the whole beach to ourselves on Saturday afternoon! Beautiful day where it wasn't too cold or too hot. Our camp ground was walking distance to this beach. We saw deers and lots sea gulls. There were mussel shells and crab shells in the beach. We came back in the evening to catch the beautiful sunset and had a campfire. Overall, I would come back and bring my own chair and just enjoyed the view!

Lovely views, but super crowded! Beach had an outhouse which was locked, had to park waaay down the…read moreroad as lot was full. Saw a lot of TP along the trail, then I cut my foot on broken glass in the sand!! This used to be a nice beach, not any more. Somebody should say something to the county about it.

Parking is limited, so head over early or be prepared to park in the neighborhood and walk over. As…read morewith many hidden gems, this beach is more crowded than it used to be prior to 2020. Visited last week and there was one group of people playing football on half the beach, so there were few other places we could settle into. We did see some bones, which looked like a deer to me, but we didn't find the skull which would have confirmed the find for me. If you continue hiking, there is another beach that you can reach, but be prepared to wade through some water to get over to the other beach. If you're in the mood to continue hiking, there is more to see beyond the second beach, which will get you more privacy since many people stop at the first beach. FYI it can get cold here, even if it's sunny. I always bring a blanket along with a beach mat. The mat for sitting on, and the blanket for keeping warm. Nice place to unwind at the end of the day since the crowd dissipates as the sun goes down and the temperature cools.

8 miles northwest of the town of Pt Reyes Station lies a totally unknown day-use beach area (with…read moreclean bathroom) for picnics and fun in the sun. This park appears to be part of the Tomales Bay State Park. Located within minutes of leaving Tomales Bay Oyster company on the 1, heading south, on the right, heading away from Marshall and toward Pt Reyes Station is a " blink once and miss" private beach. One can walk for a long while here...soak up sun, or enjoy fresh raw oysters and great wine n food---as we did! Saw people launching kayaks, dipping in, and enjoying the bay's serene views. Such a cool find...wonder how many people know about it? Yelpified it has been now!

Gorgeous day trip during good weather! If you're lucky you can see the ocean during a clear day…read morebut most times, there's a fog blanket. Beautiful lighthouse and view from the top. You can go down a ton of steps to see and learn about the lighthouse. Make sure to stop by Marin French Cheese Company on the way and bring a picnic of cheese, sandwiches to snack on. It's pretty windy down there too so bring layers and a jacket. You can explore the adjacent trails and do some hiking too. Definitely will get some Insta worthy photos!

The Point Reyes Lighthouse contains the ORIGINAL first order Fresnel lens and clockworks that were…read moreon display at the 1867 World Fair in Paris. Not just a replica, but the actual model that was actually on display in Paris. The best time to see the inside of the lighthouse (where the lens and clockworks reside) is typically on weekends between 10am-noon and 1:30-3:30pm, but only in winds under 40mph, and (ideally), when it's not foggy. (Check the park website or call for current hours, which may fluctuate.) During these hours, rangers and volunteers are often around to answer questions, give educational talks, and sell merchandise. For safety reasons, the lighthouse and stairs are always closed to the public when the winds exceed 40mph-- which happens often. This is the windiest spot on the west coast. When you check the wind online, the results come from a weather station miles away from the lighthouse. Wind speeds may be much higher at the actual lighthouse than what you see online. To avoid wasting gas and time, you can always call the park visitor center (after 10am) to ask about the winds for that day. The Point Reyes lighthouse parking lot sits about a quarter mile away from the viewing platform above the lighthouse. This portion of the trail is accessible. There is also a closer accessible lot for those with handicapped placards. From the viewing platform, it's 313 stairs plus two steep slopes (of about 100 feet each) down to the actual lighthouse. The reason the lighthouse sits so low below the viewing platform is because the heavy fog that plagues the area is often just above this level. So, it's essentially below fog level-- except for when it's not. For those circumstances, there are foghorns. The modern foghorns are controlled by the coast guard, and are not on display. However, a large equipment-building-turned-museum, which sits at the same level as the lighthouse, houses several of the historic horns and air compressors, along with a few interpretive signs. In my personal opinion, the lighthouse could use a lot more pictures and interpretive signs. I personally think that it would be cool if these were plastered all over the inside of the lighthouse, like they are in Heceta. Is it worth the 313 stairs to see the lighthouse? I am the wrong person to answer this question, since, for me, the stairs have always been my main motivation for visiting. I would climb these stairs just for fun, and I've done so many times. And yes, I bought one of the "I survived the climb!" stickers from the visitor center at the top of the stairs, which is typically open the same hours as the lighthouse. The lens itself is pretty chipped up, but still beautiful to look at. I'm not sure if the chips are due to the weather, historic vandalism, or routine maintenance. What I do know is that the glass is technically irreplaceable. The original glass was made by French artisans in the 1800s. The modern replacement glass is manufactured in England, from different sand, which is apparently a different color and clarity than the original. Typically speaking, even when on display, the lighthouse is not rotated, and the curtains are kept mostly closed. Some people (me) might argue that it's deceptive to call it "fully functional" or claim that it's "in working order." That being said, the clockworks (a cabinet full of gears, pulleys, and cables) is pretty cool too see. It looks like a giant nineteenth century wind-up toy. The park keeps it painted, polished, and well-maintained. National Lighthouse Day is coming up on August 7th. Historically, including last year, the park has operated the lighthouse for this event. I haven't seen anything online about it yet, but maybe they'll celebrate this year, too. The nearest gas and food to the lighthouse are about thirty minutes away, so make sure you plan for that ahead of time. Chimney Rock is a short drive away. Drake's Beach (including the Ken Patrick visitor center), North Beach, South Beach, and the Cypress tree tunnel are all passed on the road between the lighthouse and Inverness, so if you plan right, you could definitely knock all of those sights out in one day. If you're a real overachiever, you could also add Tomales Point/Pierce Point Ranch to the same day, as the road to these destinations is between the lighthouse and Point Reyes Station.