A three-day loop from forested ridgeline to two different beach camps, on a sliver of California that split off from the mainland.
A three-day loop through several distinct pieces of Point Reyes: a climb through fern-draped forest to the trip's only real high point, a long, open ridge walk with ocean views, two different beach camps, and a return through nettle-lined forest on an old fire road. Point Reyes sits on its own sliver of tectonic plate, split off from the rest of California by the San Andreas Fault, and it shows, the soils, plants, and fog here feel like nowhere else in the Bay Area. Watch for elephant seals, tule elk, and whale spouts from camp, and mind the poison oak.
Start: Bear Valley Trailhead (Bear Valley Visitor Center)
End: Bear Valley Trailhead (Bear Valley Visitor Center)
Water: Potable water spigot at Coast Camp
From the Bear Valley Visitor Center, follow a wide dirt fire road through dry meadow before the Wittenberg Trail splits off and climbs about 1,100ft through lush, fern-draped forest, the muggiest stretch of the whole trip. At just over 2 miles you crest the high point for the entire loop near 1,293ft. From there it is mostly downhill: Meadow Trail, then the Sky Trail along an open ridge with ocean views, then Woodward Valley Trail dropping steadily toward the coast. Cross a wooden bridge on the Coast Trail and drop into a small valley to reach Coast Camp. Individual sites (1-7) are past the group camping area, follow the trail a bit further to find them; a path from camp leads down to the beach.
Water: Potable water spigot at Wildcat Camp
Almost the entire day follows the Coast Trail. Retrace the first 0.9 miles back to the Woodward Valley junction, then continue south, flat and easy with sweeping ocean views and occasional seabird colonies on the offshore rocks. Around mile 5, past the Bear Valley Trail junction, the trail climbs a ridge (about 800ft of gain) through pine stands and grassy meadows before leveling off and dropping back to sea level at Wildcat Camp. Watch for quail darting through camp and small yellow songbirds in the brush.
Water: None reliable, carry from Wildcat Camp
Retrace the first 0.7 miles back to the Coast Trail junction, then continue straight for another half mile to the Glen Trail turnoff. Glen Trail descends through nettle-thick forest (do not touch) alternating with sunny meadows and soft pine-needle tread before joining the Bear Valley Trail. From there it is an easy, wide fire-road walk back to the visitor center, following a lush creek lined with ferns and wildflowers most of the way.
Sculptured Beach tidepools. Limantour Spit for shorebirds.
About 1 hour from San Francisco. Permits and reservations are picked up at the camping registration desk inside the Bear Valley Visitor Center. Consider grabbing the Tom Harrison Point Reyes map there (about $11), more accurate mileages than the free handout map. Watch for poison oak and stinging nettle, especially on the Wittenberg and Glen Trail sections; wear pants and wash hands and ankles each evening. Check for ticks daily. No bear canisters required, but raccoons are persistent, use the provided food storage lockers. Sites have picnic tables and pit toilets. Wind can be fierce on the coast, bring a solid tent.
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