Point Reyes National Seashore California - tomales point hike with pictures of tule elk

Point Reyes National Seashore

Point Reyes National Seashore is about 50 miles north of San Francisco on Highway 1. It cannot be experienced in just one day and maybe not even in one week. There are more than 150 miles worth of trails which is more than the paved roads in the park. So obviously if you want to see this beautifully preserved national park then you're going to have to walk, mountain bike or go on horseback. The hikes in Point Reyes National Seashore range from less than one hour to six hours. However, these estimated times do not include stopping but continuous walking so you need to be realistic with the daylight that is available during the time of year you plan on visiting. You don't want to rush your hike to Tomales Point just to turn around and practically speed walk or run back to your car, that would be to stressful. A typical hiking pace is about 1 to 2 miles per hour. Now, you might think that is ridiculously slow but this takes in account that you will actually enjoy the scenery on your hike by stopping, observing, taking pictures, exploring even.

The full service Bear Valley Visitor Center should be your first stop after entering the park. Park Rangers can answer any questions and let you know of any other pertinent information within the park. Sometimes there are road or trail closures so check on that too. The visitors center has terrific displays on the natural history of Point Reyes as well as animal and bird displays too. The main road, Sir Frances Drake Boulevard, twists through the Inverness Ridge and across the pastoral lands to the beaches, lighthouse, and wildlife viewing areas. The popular animal species to see in the park or from the park is coho salmon and steelhead trout, Tule elk, California gray whale, and elephant seals. With more than 70,000 acres Point Reyes is a bird watcher's paradise. There have been almost 490 avian species that live or have been observed in the park in either the marshes, on the ponds, on the beach, and soaring over dunes and wetlands.

From Bear Valley Visitor's Center we drove to the Point Reyes Lighthouse which is a very popular attraction. From the parking lot to the lighthouse you will walk on a paved road but the majority of it is down hill with lots and lots of steps to reach the lighthouse. It is a pretty steep walk back to the parking lot. From the top of the cliff we saw sea lions on the rocks below. The scenery during the entire journey is spectacular and offers a wonderful opportunity to take family pictures. On the way to the lighthouse you will pass the resident facilities of the lighthouse keepers. The location of this lighthouse is considered to be the windiest and foggiest on the west coast of the U.S.

After the lighthouse we headed towards the Historic Pierce Point Ranch which is where the trailhead is for the Tomales Point Trail. We stopped at McClures Beach first to check it out but because it was really foggy we didn't stay long. However, from the parking lot there is a rugged little trail that leads down a ravine to the ocean. On the way back to the car at the parking lot we saw Tule Elk.

One of the reasons for us hiking the Tomales Point Trail was to see the Tule elk. Even though they can be seen in different areas of the park we read that hiking this trail was our best chance at seeing them because this hike goes through the Tule Elk Reserve. As you can see by our pictures we really got to see a lot of elk. The Tomales Point Trail is a total of 9.5 miles, and with a number like that you have to take food and water with you. This is a pretty easy hike being that the elevation is not an issue and it is mostly sand or packed ground but it was a long day for us, and we are pretty fit. The trail is considered open, however the last stretch was a little overgrown. The views from the end of the Tomales Point hike were spectacular and a rest was well deserved.

Within the boundaries of the national seashore there are no RV campgrounds or hotels. So you have to drive in and out of the park each day. The only camping within the park is backcountry. Backcountry camping requires a permit and you get this at any of the backcountry camping spots either by hiking or biking in or you could boat-in at Tomales Bay. For hotel or RV camping facilities just travel south one mile from the Bear Valley Visitor Center to Olema. If you choose to stay at a California State Park then the closest would be six miles away from Point Reyes National Seashore California.

Jason's thoughts - This was far different than many of our hikes. It is super easy. Super fun and any skill level can do it. Long stretches of beautiful grassy rolling hills, low lying trees and little ponds dot the route. Lots of animals and if you can go all the way to the end like we did a spectacular site awaits you along the cliffs plunging to the sea. I will return here.
Kelly's thoughts - The Tomales Point hike was long but gratifying. Don't let the morning fog hinder you from exploring or hiking cause before you know it the blue sky shines through with the warming sun. I was pleased with seeing the Tule Elk almost the entire hike. Being on the cliffs to see the vast Pacific, surrounding coastlines and towns is a joy for me. I can't wait to go back and hike the southern portion of the park to see different views and different animal species.

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