Tomales Bay Campground

Another great way to see Point Reyes National Seashore is via bicycle. The area provides a variety of off-road biking opportunities traversing diverse habitats and terrains. You can explore trails through evergreen forests, coastal scrub, or along estuaries and beach bluffs. Check out the official map to see which trails allow bikes, or pick up your free copy at the Bear Valley Visitor Centers. If you need to rent a bike, these outfitters can help you out.

For those of you who would rather travel on water than land, Tomales Beach is the perfect place to dock! Here you can participate in boat camping. These camp-in sites are particularly awesome, and have everything from vault toilets to charcoal grills.

Point Reyes is surrounded by the beautiful and abundant Pacific Ocean, making it a great spot for fishermen. Over 130 different species have been reported in the area, so it is definitely worth your while. Just be sure to be up to speed on the local rules and conservation efforts-- Point Reyes is a heavily regulated fishing area.

The National Seashore has about 150 miles of magnificent hiking trails to explore and run around. Just check out some of the best hiking trails in Point Reyes , there is something for everyone! Trail maps for the north district trails and south district trails are available at the Bear Valley Visitor Center. There are many ways to customize your hike to accommodate your physical and time limitations. If you want, stop by the Bear Valley Visitor Center for current trail information and suggested hikes. The volunteers and rangers there are super helpful and friendly!

With over 120 miles of trails that take you through forested mountain tops, grassy meadows, coastal scrub and miles of white sand beaches, the Point Reyes National Seashore is the perfect environment to enjoy horseback riding. Five Brooks Ranch offers guided trailrides and they know this place like the back of their hand!

Feel like playing with some seals or dipping your paddle into clean waters full of glowing bioluminescence ? Well, this is the place to do it! The most popular area for kayaking at Point Reyes National Seashore is on Tomales Bay, just take one look at the place and you’ll know why! 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. Adjacent communities include Pt. Reyes Station, Inverness, Tomales, Marshall, and Dillon Beach in the north where Tomales Bay meets Bodega Bay. Kayaking is also permitted on Drakes Estero and Limantour Estero from July 1 through February 28. If you need to rent a kayak, Blue Waters has you covered! They also offer great classes, bioluminescent tours, and suggestions for kayaking journies - just inquire within!

Point Reyes gets a significant amount of wind and is often a viable option for kiteboarding. Just be sure to check up on the stats before you go!

Point Reyes has some quality surfing options for the more intermediate-advanced surfer. There’s less crowds up here (I’m sure that has nothing to do with the fact that it’s in the “Red Triangle”), although we seriously doubt you’ll see any of the great white shark varietal. The best surfing here is at Drakes Beach, South Beach, North Beach, and some other spots along Great Beach. The closest surf shop is Point Reyes Surf , which has limited rentals. Make sure you also check the surf report before you head out. Just remember, it can get pretty gnar here, so just stay within your surfing limits!

Bass Lake is located 2.8 (fairly easy) miles in from the parking lot at Point Reyes park. This popular swimming spot is warm (compared to the Pacific), canopied and home to a rope swing (most of the time). Pack a picnic, bring your best floaties and don’t be deterred by the occasional skinny dipper.

Jutting 16 kilometers (10 miles) into the Pacific Ocean, the headlands of the Point Reyes Peninsula offer one of the finest spots to view grey whales . The Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary provides a 32-kilometer (20-mile) wide "highway" along which the whales cruise; sometimes they travel in the close lane (nearer to shore), and sometimes they travel in the far lane (farther out to sea). The areas around Chimney Rock and the Lighthouse offer some of the best whale watching spots in the park. Here at Point Reyes National Seashore, the peak of the southern migration usually occurs in mid-January and that of the northern migration in mid-March. Late April and early May afford the opportunity to see mothers and calves close to shore. The best opportunities of viewing the whales are on one of the whale tours, now get out there and watch these magnificent beasts! There is also forty species of land mammals to feast your eyes on (just don’t literally feast on them, it is illegal). From Tule elk to bobcats, to jackrabbits rustling in the bushes… there is no skimping on awesome wildlife in Point Reyes.