Take the Sir Francis Drake Boulevard exit toward San Anselmo. Point Reyes is only about an hour north of San Francisco by car, but getting here can be quite a drive for newcomers. Check the website for information about twice-monthly special events when the light is switched on. It’s worth a visit the Fresnel lens and original machinery all remain in place, and the adjacent equipment building contains foghorns, air compressors, and other safety implements from decades gone by. 10am-4:30pm) still stands today on the point past the visitors center, accessed by descending a sometimes treacherous, cold, and windblown flight of over 300 stairs, which often closes to visitors during bad weather for safety reasons. The Point Reyes Historic Lighthouse (415/669-1534, Thurs.-Mon. It wasn’t until the 20th century, when a ship-to-shore radio station and newer lifesaving station were put in place, that the Point Reyes shore truly became safer for ships. Yet the danger remained, and soon after, a lifesaving station was constructed alongside the light station. Its first-order Fresnel lens threw light far enough for ships to see and avoid the treacherous granite cliffs. In 1870 the first lighthouse was constructed on the headlands. The jagged rocky shores of Point Reyes make for great sightseeing but incredibly dangerous maritime navigation. You’ll find the lighthouse right at your feet once you arrive. You must walk about 0.5 miles up a steep hill from the parking lot to get to this visitors center. 10am-4:30pm) is the most difficult of the three to access. Its small museum focuses on the maritime history of the region, and it acts as the host area for the annual Sand Sculpture event held on the beach every Labor Day Sunday.įinally, the Historic Lighthouse and Visitors Center (415/669-1534, Thurs.-Mon. 10am-5pm) sits right on the beach in a building made of weathered redwood. The Ken Patrick Visitors Center (Drakes Beach, 415/669-1250, Sat.-Sun. Two other visitors centers are located at different spots in the vast acreage of Point Reyes. You can also talk to the park rangers, either to ask advice or to obtain beach fire permits and backcountry camping permits. In addition to maps, fliers, and interpretive exhibits, you can watch a short video introducing the Point Reyes region. 8am-5pm) acts as the central visitors center for Point Reyes National Seashore. The Bear Valley Visitors Center (1 Bear Valley Rd., 415/464-5100, Mon.-Fri. The Point Reyes area includes the tiny towns of Olema, Point Reyes Station, and Inverness. Another remnant of past times is the historic Point Reyes Lighthouse, which is located on the cliffs of the Point Reyes Headlands, a point of land that is supposed to be the windiest place on the West Coast and the second foggiest spot in North America. Grandfathered in at the time the park was created, these sustainable, generations-old family farms give added character and historical depth to Point Reyes. There are also a number of ranches, dairy farms, and even an oyster farm that still operate inside the park. The pine forests shade shy deer and larger elk. Over a thousand elephant seals call these beaches home, while endangered Myrtle’s silverspot butterflies can be found in the dunes and grasslands. In the marshes and lagoons, a wide variety of birds-including three different species of pelicans-make their nests. The protected lands shelter a range of wildlife. Dedicated hikers can trek from the bay to the ocean, or from the beach to land’s end. Point Reyes National Seashore (1 Bear Valley Rd., 415/464-5100, daily dawn-midnight) stretches for miles between Tomales Bay and the Pacific, north from Stinson Beach to the tip of the land at the end of the bay. Expect cool weather even in the summer, but enjoy the lustrous green foliage and spectacular scenery that result. Marin CountyA haven for wilderness buffs, the Point Reyes area boasts acres of unspoiled forest and beach country. Photo © Miguel Vieira, licensed Creative Commons Attribution. Hiking along the Point Reyes Seashore Trail.
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