There are over 147 miles of hiking trails located within the park.

 • Earthquake Trail (0.6 mile round-trip). A short paved loop explores the San Andreas Fault Zone. Interpretive signs describe the geology of the area. The trail begins in the Bear Valley Picnic Area.
 • Kule Loklo Trail (1.0 mile round-trip). A short path leads up to a replica of a Coast Miwok Indian village. Interpretive signs briefly describe Coast Miwok culture and history and the structures in the village. The trail begins just outside of the front doors of the Bear Valley Visitor Center.
 • Woodpecker Trail (0.7 mile round-trip). A beautiful loop explores local forest and meadows, with interpretive signs describing some plants and animals you may see. The trail starts at the Bear Valley Trailhead.
 • Chimney Rock Trail (1.2 mile round-trip). A spectacular hike with views of Drakes Bay and the Pacific Ocean, great for spring wildflowers! From January through May, look for migrating whales from the point. The trail begins at the Chimney Rock Trailhead, near the Lighthouse.
 • Kehoe Beach Trail (1.2 mile round-trip). A flat trail through Kehoe Marsh and out to Kehoe Beach. This trail is the only trail at Point Reyes where dogs are permitted. Look for elusive brush rabbits, bobcats and mountain lions which are occasionally sighted in this area. The trail begins on Pierce Point Road.
 • McClures Beach Trail (1.2 mile round-trip). A rugged trail descends 300 feet down a ravine to the ocean and through a beautiful cove backed by rocky cliffs. The trails starts at the end of Pierce Point Road.
 • Divide Meadow via Bear Valley Trail (3.2 mile round-trip). A casual stroll through mixed Douglas fir forest and along Bear Valley Creek to an open grassy meadow. Several benches along the way offer great resting spots in the shade, and Divide Meadow is a nice picnic area in the sun. The trail begins at the Bear Valley Trailhead.
 • Mt. Wittenberg Loop (5 mile round-trip). A steep 1300' climb to the highest point in the park (1407'), with panoramic views of the Seashore and Olema Valley. The trailhead is located O.2 miles up the Bear Valley Trail.
 • Coast - Laguna Loop (5 mile round-trip). An easy walk through coastal scrub and grassland with breath-taking ocean-views. Keep your eyes open for hawks and shorebirds. The trail begins 15 minute driving time from the Bear Valley Visitor Center, off Limantour Road at Laguna Parking Lot.
 • Abbots Lagoon (3 mile round-trip). An easy stroll through open and coastal scrub, with good spring wildflowers and excellent bird watching, especially in fall and winter. The trailhead is located 25 minutes from the Bear Valley Visitor Center on Pierce Point Road; the trailhead is clearly marked.
 • Bolinas Ridge Trail (2 - 22 mile round-trip). The best trail in the area for walking a dog, with views of Olema Valley. If you choose to continue beyond the first few miles, you will enter the redwood forest and eventually the chaparral. Turn around and retrace your steps whenever you are ready. The trail begins 5 minutes driving time from Bear Valley Visitor Center, on Sir Francis Drake Highway.
 • Arch Rock via Bear Valley (8.2 mile round-trip). Probably the single most popular trail in the park, the Bear Valley Trail is the most direct walk to the ocean from Bear Valley Visitor Center. Arch Rock is an overlook point. The trailhead is at the end of the Bear Valley Parking Lot.
 • Bass Lake and Wildcat Beach (6 mile and 11 mile round-trips). The south end of Coast Trail begins with spectacular ocean views from far above the surf. Bass Lake is unofficially the best swimming at Point Reyes, but access can be challenging and there are no lifeguards-swim at your own risk! If you choose to continue to Wildcat you'll be rewarded with ocean and lake views and a beautiful beach! The trail starts at Palomarin Trailhead, located at the end of Mesa Road.
 • Tomales Point Trail (10 mile round-trip). This open trail through the Tule Elk Range offers spectacular views of Tomales Bay, Bodega Bay, and the Pacific Ocean. It is also a prime wildlife viewing trail, as it is remote and the tule elk are enclosed in this reserve. The first 3 miles to Lower Pierce Point Ranch are well marked and maintained, but the last stretch can be overgrown with bush lupine and other shrubs, so long pants and long sleeves are a good idea. The journey all the way to the Point is worth it, for the view is unparalleled. The trail starts at the end of Pierce Point Road.

Kayaking

The most popular area for kayaking at Point Reyes National Seashore is on Tomales Bay. Tomales Bay is a 15-mile long, 6780-acre tidal water body located in rural west Marin County, California. It is the largest unspoiled coastal embayment on the coast of California. The bay is bounded largely on the west by the Point Reyes National Seashore.

Kayaking is also permitted on Drakes Estero and Limantour Estero from July 1 through February 28. To protect harbor seals from disturbance during the most crucial part of the pupping season, from March 1 through June 30 the National Park Service closes Drakes Estero and Limantour Estero to boating.

Guided kayak trips and rentals are available from local outfitters:

 • Blue Water Kayaks (Marshall), 19225 Shoreline Highway, Ph: 663-1743 - Rentals (single & double kayaks) available for 2 hours ($30 / $50), 4 hours ($45 / $65), full day ($60 / $85), 24 hours ($90 / $120), 36 hours ($125, $160). Guided trips are also available.
 • Blue Water Kayaks (Inverness), 12938 Sir Francis Drake Blvd (at the Golden Hinde Inn), Ph: 669-2600 - Rentals (single & double kayaks) available for 2 hours ($30 / $50), 4 hours ($45 / $65), full day ($60 / $85), 24 hours ($90 / $120), 36 hours ($125, $160). Guided trips are also available.

Wildlife Viewing

Gray whales can be seen during their migrations between Mexico and Alaska. The whales often swim close to shore, and can frequently be viewed from the Lighthouse. The best time of year to see the whales is from January through May, with whales being most frequently seen from the Lighthouse area in mid-January and mid-March. Gray whales swim about 5 mph, 24 hours a day with a 4 to 7 week layover (late January through early March) in Baja California. The last to leave Baja are the cows and calves. Therefore, they are the last northbound whales to be seen, April through early May.

Extinct in the park for 150 years, northern elephant seals began re-colonizing Point Reyes in the 1970's, and the population has been growing at the astounding rate of 16% annually. From December through March a breeding colony of elephant seals can be observed from Elephant Seal Overlook near Chimney Rock. The males arrive in December, and pregnant females arrive soon after to give birth to a single pup. Subadult and juvenile animals arrive later, and the colony can number close to one hundred animals. Be aware that elephant seals can weigh up to 5,000 pounds and can be very dangerous; they should not be approached closer than 100 yards.

Tule elk are most often seen at the Tule Elk Preserve at Tomales Point. A large harbor seal rookery can be found at Drakes Estero as well as near the Lighthouse. Sea Lions are most commonly seen at Sea Lion Overlook or near the lighthouse.