Point
Reyes National Seashore
The Point Reyes National Seashore is an hour’s drive
northwest of San Francisco on the Pacific Coast Highway and is maintained by
the National Park Service.
Point Reyes National Seashore
The national seashore is actually a
peninsula, the Point Reyes Peninsula, which is separated from the mainland by Tomales
Bay. The bay is about 15 miles (24 km) long and was formed because it is part
of the San Andreas Fault, which runs through California.
Our Pick of the California Guides
Where
is the Point Reyes National Seashore?
The Point Reyes National Seashore is in
Marin County, California, about an hour’s drive northwest from San Francisco,
across the Golden Gate Bridge and along the Pacific Coast Highway. You go
through Stinson Beach and eventually reach the tiny community of Olema, where
you’ll find the Visitor Center for Point Reyes.
Map (c) Google Maps
How
Big is the Point Reyes National Seashore?
The Point Reyes National Seashore covers an
area of 71,028 acres, or 111 square miles (287 sq kms). It has 100 miles (161
kms) of shoreline. It was created in 1962 and is designated as both a national
seashore and a park preserve, and is maintained by the National Park Service.
Point Reyes Lighthouse
What
to Do at the Point Reyes National Seashore
The seashore has beaches that have been
voted the cleanest in California. There are plenty of trails, so get yourself a
good map or get information at the Visitor Center. There are estuaries,
headlands with dramatic views, a lighthouse, a lifeboat station, and uplands
too – it isn’t all at sea level! The highest point is Mount Wittenberg, which
is 1,407 feet (429 meters) high.
Kule Loklo
Close to the Visitor Center you can visit
Kule Loklo, which is a recreated Coast Miwok village, the Coast Miwok being the
indigenous people who originally lived around Point Reyes, in Marin County, and
in Sonoma County.
Wildlife
at the Point Reyes National Seashore
If you like wildlife you’ll love Point
Reyes, especially if you’re a keen birdwatcher. In all, some 45% of all bird
species in the whole of North America have been seen at the Point Reyes
National Seashore. At the northern end of the peninsula is a reserve of tule
elk, a species of elk that is only found in California. You can also see seals,
elephant seals, and see whales offshore when they are migrating.
Best
Time to Visit Point Reyes National Seashore
You can visit Point Reyes all year round,
but spring is a good time to see the best of the wild flowers. Most rain falls
from November to April, with the summers fairly dry. From June to October the
average maximum temperature is in the 70s (over 21C), while in winter it can
fall to near freezing.
Where
to Stay at Point Reyes?
There’s accommodation and eating places in
Olema, and a few miles further north in the little town of Point Reyes Station,
which is the gateway to the peninsula. On the peninsula itself, the town of
Inverness also has accommodation and places to eat. There are also four
campgrounds in the park which you need to book in advance, and the Hi
Point Reyes Hostel.
Other California coast pages
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This Visiting Hearst Castle page gives all the practicalities including location, types of tour, length of tours, how long to allow, and much more information.
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Standing on the Pacific Coast Highway in California, Santa Barbara is an attractive resort with a historic downtown, sandy beaches, a mission, and good museums.
Newport Beach is a small city on the Pacific coast of southern California, right on the Pacific Coast Highway and noted for its beaches and surfing.
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Lonely Planet's Coastal California guidebook is the ideal travel guide for driving or cycling the Pacific Coast Highway from the Oregon border to Mexico.
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One of the best California coast guides is the California Coastal Access Guide, describing the coast’s beaches, National Parks, State Parks, with many maps.
Bodega Bay is a small California coastal town on the borders of Marin County and Sonoma County, and the filming location for Alfred Hitchcock's the Birds.
La Jolla in southern California is north of San Diego off the Pacific Coast Highway and has museums, restaurants, hotels, beaches, and the Birch Aquarium.
Crescent City is on the Pacific Coast Highway in northern California and noted for its crescent-shaped beach, Ocean World sea park, and nearby redwoods and state parks.
The Pelican Inn and Suites in Cambria on California's Central Coast has oceanfront views, swimming pool, gardens, and is right on the beach near Hearst Castle.
Encinitas is a beach city in Southern California, famous for surfing, and regularly chosen as one of the best places to live in both California and the USA.
A walk around the Point Lobos State Reserve near Monterey and Carmel provides lots of photo opportunities, especially of the Harbor Seal Birthing Area.
The Stanford Inn by the Sea in Mendocino on the California coast is an eco-resort with yoga classes and the award-winning Ravens Restaurant.
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