Point Reyes National Seashore

Point Reyes National Seashore

National Park · Marin County, California
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Point Reyes National Seashore is a 71,028-acre park preserve located on the Point Reyes Peninsula in Marin County, California. As a national seashore, it is maintained by the US National Park Service as an important nature preserve. Some existing agricultural uses are allowed to continue within the park.

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At the idyllic Point Reyes National Seashore, a brush with wildlife is almost guaranteed. The historic Point Reyes Lighthouse is a popular late-winter site for whale watching, and the 9.4 mile hike to Tomales Point often presents close encounters with grazing tule elk. Once on Tomales Point Trail, try tracing out game trails — staying quiet, low and maintaining safe distance — to find the big bulls with their harems.
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Must-do Bay Area hikes
San Francisco Chronicle8 places
Established in the 1960s to prevent imminent development, the Point Reyes National Seashore in California’s Marin County is located on a peninsula in the Pacific Ocean and separated from almost all of the continental U.S. by a portion of the San Andreas Fault. Home to nearly half of North America’s bird species and almost 20 percent of California’s plant species, Point Reyes is also known for the tule elk that were once much more numerous throughout its prairies and meadows.
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A guide to all 10 national seashores
Roadtrippers10 places
A jutting peninsula of spectacular cliffs along the northern California coastline, here hikers can trek to quiet lagoons, pine forests, rolling dunes, and salt marshes. For bird-watchers, there’s Limantour Spit, where long-billed pelicans roam the flats and ride the updrafts. And one of the most popular activities of visitors to the seashore is watching rush hour in the Pacific from the vantage of the 136-year-old Point Reyes Lighthouse.
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Hidden National Park Gems
National Park Foundation10 places
Explore the wonders of Point Reyes' sandy beaches, majestic waves, and otherworldly cypress trees. Some of the park’s trails feature self-guiding paved pathways to various points of interest across the park. Detailed information on the park's accessible points of interest can also be found online through the park's accessibility guide.
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Park Access for All
National Park Foundation12 places
About 30 miles north of San Francisco, Point Reyes National Seashore is where the Pacific Ocean meets some of California’s most picturesque cliffs and beaches. A favorite of nature lovers and explorers, there’s lots to discover at this park. Bask in the sandy beaches and majestic waves, stop by the Point Reyes Lighthouse, go whale-watching, or take in the sights of otherworldly cypress trees. Whether you have an hour or multiple days, there’s something for everyone to explore!
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National Parks in the City by the Bay
National Park Foundation8 places
Point Reyes National Seashore is a protected area that is home to many different plants and animals. One of the most popular spots in Point Reyes is the Phillip Burton Wilderness, an area with 33,373 acres (13,506 hectares) of magnificent California coastline named after a congressman who dedicated much of his life to creating the National Park System. This rocky and often stormy area has a dark side as well and was the final resting place for over 50 shipwrecks.
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Incredible Day Trips from San Francisco
Culture Trip10 places
Some of the finest birding in the United States can be found at Point Reyes National Seashore Park. The park offers 70,000 acres of harbor habitat for birds and has incredible bird diversity, with over 490 different avian species spotted in the park and adjacent waters. See if you can spot a snowy plover on the beach or seabird in the water!
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Best Birding Day Trips from the Bay Area
The Nature Conservancy5 places

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Outdoor Parking
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