point reyes hiking trails

CaliforniaLosthiker

Easy hike to Arch Rock if you have children that also love the outdoors. 4.1 miles one way. Theirs a meadow halfway with restrooms, water and picnic benches. Enjoy :)

douge73

This is an amazing, picturesque trail. Not to be missed. It ends an overlook of Drake's Bay. One of the nicest trails in the park.

OllieOop

Beautiful and expansive -- and a fairly easy hike. The parking lot was full but the trail never felt crowded. Lots of alone time. The male elk are impressive. As is the coast. Really spectacular. What a joyful day!

ElaineH94301

My sister and I hiked the Bear Valley Trail, a 9+ mile trail through lovely woods, ending at the spectacular Arch Rock. It is not a difficult hike (no significant elevation changes). It is popular trail, but we often hiked without seeing many other people. The area has many other trails to suit almost any hiking ability. Lovely place.

joey_purk

The trails lead you to lovely little sighting areas. From one you could perhaps see seals, different kinds of birds, deer. And if you are particularly lucky, you might even see whales. The terrain is very different, almost like you might find in Scotland. Definitely worth the hike

LBleislager

Bird watching. Beaches. Scenery. Few people even at the Lighthouse. Trails round the Bear Valley Visitor Centre

Sarack

We've hiked a lot of the Point Reyes trails and each one has it's own landscape and character. Some of our favorites are the out-and-back Estero Trail - if you're lucky you may even see sea otters as you cross the bridge over Drake's Bay and you can make this a short or longer hike depending on your time and energy. You probably won't see a lot of people on this trail-it's not as popular as others. Abbot's Lagoon is another favorite with varied flora and lots of dragonflies and quail if you're lucky. And just did the 5 mile loop starting at the trailhead past the hostel-Laguna back around on Coast trail (no portapotties here) and saw a gorgeous heron in the marshy area along the way back.

Zoom_Gotti

First, beware, it may be foggy and wet so try to monitor the weather and come here when it's clear. Visit the information desk at Bear Valley first for maps and updated trail information. I spent two days hiking along Drake's Beach, viewed the elephant seals and went out to the Chimney Rock lookout point; then walked South and North beaches, the 10 mile roundtrip to Tomales Point and ending with an hour or so walk along McClure's beach. Along the Tomales trail you're sure to spot elk herds. Some elk might even come right up beside you on the trail. On weekends docents are there to help with the identification. During the whale watching season you'll be forced to ride a bus shuttle to many of the main spots. But the trail to Limantour Spit should be accessible. Other good hikes are to Mt. Wittenberg, Abbott's Lagoon, the Estero trail, and Bolinas Ridge.

steveng375

Trails are well used and popular. Trails well marked and scenic and easy walking. The park can be seen nicely from inside a car, but to really enjoy the trails are a must.

jobe5

We've hiked the trail leading to arch rock a couple of times now. The second time we decided to take our bikes - FUN! It is a long trail, about 4 miles one-way to arch rock which is at the beach. If you decide to bike the trail leading to arch rock, there is a bike rack less than a mile from arch rock to secure your bike. There are plenty of trees to keep the trail cool but bring plenty of water and a snack to munch on when you get to the beach. It is a rocky downhill descent to the the beach so be cautious. And this is NOT a swimming beach. I would not recommend it for safety reasons - stick to walking along it and exploring the rocky areas. If you don't want to go all the way down, you can stay at the top and enjoy the views. It's beautiful!

rachelp305

Really loved Point Reyes. It has its own unique beauty and the views of the ocean are breathtaking from any vantage point.The Bear Valley Trail to Arch Rock was pretty long- more than 8 miles round trip. As an avid hiker, I enjoyed the well-maintained trail and natural beauty, but found the trail to be a bit long for my taste. It is an out-and-back trail so the trip back can feel long when you've already seen it. Arch Rock had sweeping views of the bay though. Trail was definitely a bit crowded and loud at times. There were restrooms at one point on the trail at a sort of rest area.Earthquake Trail at Bear Valley Visitor Center was quick, easy, and informative. Would be great for kids. We saw some deer while on the trail.The hike out to Chimney Rock is void of shade, so put your sunscreen on before heading out. It has really gorgeous views of the bay. The rock formations are bisected across the bay, and geologically it was interesting to look at them as we hiked. We saw seals sunbathing at one point, and the views were awesome at the end. With binoculars, you can see San Francisco!

frantzrt

I've hiked all over Point Reyes quite a bit since moving out here 4 years ago, and have to say I keep wanting to come back. There are a number of hiking trails to take with a lot of variety. While you won't get a tremendous amount of elevation change, there is no shortage of scenery, wildlife, beaches, cliffs, and much more. My favorite hike to-date is the one to Alamere Falls, which has a trailhead just north of Bolinas, CA. We walked 4.5 hrs and 13.5 miles in a big loops, stopping at the falls for some sun and snacks. Definitely recommend paying a visit or three!

KimberlyP17

I went here with a close friend upon recommendation of another friend. I think there's so much opportunity here - you can take short or long trails. You can drive or walk. It really has something for everyone. We took the 8.5 mile Bear Valley/Arch's Rock from the Visitor's Center. Basically, it is a straight walk with little elevation, so it's fine for anyone who is fit. I'd even recommend it to those who are not as fit, except that it's long and you'll have to have the stamina to walk for 4+ hours. The walk is lovely (but really just fine). The actually Arch's Rock/seaside point is stunning. I really recommend you bring water in your backpack, food for picnic, and dress in layers. I'm so excited to go back again and do another trail some day!

BTDavey

An excellent trail system with wonderful views every where you look. A terrific assortment of long and short trails with something for everyone (short walks to and along the beach to 10 miles of exposed ride trails). A must for anyone looking to get away from the metro area for a day or hopefully more.

BrianROakland_CA

As a Bay Area native, I feel especially blessed to have the Pt. Reyes National Seashore in our backyard. I imagine over the decades I've hike hundreds of miles there, and yet at least 2-3 times a year I discover a route I hadn't known of before. In particular I love the Coast and Sky trails. And the Tamales Point trail through the tule elk preserve. Any season, this is one of the most amazing places on the planet.