Visit Point Reyes

POINT REYES LIGHTHOUSE

December 1, 2024 (154th Anniversary)

Great photo taken by Angelique Bernier of the Point Reyes Lighthouse.

The Point Reyes Lighthouse, built in 1870, was retired from service in 1975 when the U.S. Coast Guard installed an automated light. They then transferred ownership of the lighthouse to the National Park Service, which has taken on the job of preserving this fine specimen of our heritage.  The lighthouse at Point Reyes National Seashore is now a museum piece, where the era of the lightkeepers' lives, the craftsmanship and the beauty of the lighthouse are actively preserved.

The lighthouse is a sixteen sided, 37-foot (11 m) tower, and a twin of Cape Mendocino Light. The first-order Fresnel lens was first lit on December 1, 1870. Electricity came to the lighthouse in 1938, and concrete steps were built into the cliff in 1939. The station was automated in 1975. You can walk down the 313 steps to see the lighthouse, just remember that you have to walk back up those same 313 steps.

HAWK

November 14, 2024

Look at this stunning photograph taken by local artist, Richard Blair.  Be sure to check out Richard's website: https://blairgoodwin.com/meet-richard-blair/

Point Reyes National Seashore offers some of the finest birding in the United States. More than 70,000 acres of habitat harbor an incredible variety of bird life. Nearly 490 avian species have been observed in the park and on adjacent waters.

The park's coastal location and its wealth of unspoiled habitats, estuaries, grasslands, coastal scrub and forest all attract many migrating and wintering birds. The projection of the peninsula some 10 miles seaward from the "mainland" makes Point Reyes National Seashore a landing spot for many vagrants—birds that may have made errors in navigation and thus are unexpected in this area.

All of these factors account for the Point Reyes area consistently reporting one of the highest tallies in the nation every year during their annual count.

BOBCAT

November 7, 2024

Photo by Tom Reynolds

Some people think they've seen a mountain lion while visiting Point Reyes.  You may very well have seen one, however, mountain lions are generally calm, quiet and elusive. They are most commonly found in areas with plentiful prey and adequate cover. Such conditions exist within Point Reyes National Seashore. Mountain lions are an important part of the park ecosystem, helping to keep deer and other prey populations in check. Although lion attacks are rare, they are possible, as is injury from any wild animal. Even so, the potential for being killed or injured by a mountain lion is quite low compared to many other natural hazards. 

So, look at this great photo by Tom Reynolds - that's a gorgeous bobcat.  If that's not what you're seeing, then remember this:

• Stay calm. Hold your ground or back away slowly. Face the lion and stand upright.
• Do not approach a lion. Never approach a mountain lion, especially one that is feeding or with kittens. Most mountain lions will try to avoid a confrontation. Give them a way to escape.
• Do not run from a lion. Running may stimulate a mountain lion's instinct to chase. Instead, stand and face the animal. Make eye contact. If you have small children with you, pick them up, if possible, so they don't panic and run. Although it may be awkward, pick them up without bending over or turning away from the mountain lion.
• Do not crouch down or bend over. Biologists surmise mountain lions don't recognize standing humans as prey. On the other hand, a person squatting or bending over looks a lot like a four-legged prey animal. If you're in mountain lion habitat, avoid squatting, crouching, or bending over, even when picking up children.

SUNRISE

November 1, 2024

October 14, 2024

ELEPHANT SEAL

October 3, 2024

Look at this beauty!  Great photo by Amy Barrett.  While some elephant seals may be present at Point Reyes on any given day of the year, the greatest number of seals haul out on beaches around the headlands from December through March for the birthing and mating season, and in the spring when adult females and juveniles haul out to molt. Visitors may observe a colony of elephant seals from the Elephant Seal Overlook near Chimney Rock, above beautiful Drakes Bay, or from the South Beach Overlook a short distance north of the Point Reyes Lighthouse visitors' parking lot.

HIKING

September 26, 2024

The National Seashore has about 150 miles of hiking trails to explore - that's a lot during just one visit!  Trail maps are available at the Resort front desk or at the Bear Valley Visitor Center. There are many options to accommodate your physical and time limitations.  One of our favorites is the hike to Chimney Rock:  Enjoy spectacular views of Drakes Bay, the Pacific, and, in spring, wildflowers along this open coastal walk. From January through May, look for migratory whales from the point. 

TULE ELK

September 15, 2024

The Tule Elk at Point Reyes National Seashore in California represent one of the most remarkable wildlife conservation success stories. Tule Elk are a subspecies of elk native to California and were once on the brink of extinction due to overhunting and habitat loss. By the late 1800s, only a few individuals were left. Thanks to conservation efforts, their population has rebounded, and today, Point Reyes is home to a thriving population of these majestic animals.

History and Conservation:
- Reintroduction to Point Reyes: Tule Elk were reintroduced to Point Reyes in 1978. A small herd was released into a fenced reserve on Tomales Point, a northern peninsula in the park.
- Population Growth: Since their reintroduction, the elk have thrived. Today, there are several hundred Tule Elk in Point Reyes, divided into different herds. In addition to the Tomales Point herd, there are free-ranging herds in other parts of the park.

Viewing Tule Elk:
- Best Viewing Spots: One of the best places to see Tule Elk is the Tomales Point Trail, where the fenced reserve allows for close views of the herd. Visitors can often spot elk grazing in open grasslands or wandering near the coast.
- Mating Season (Rut): Late summer to early fall (usually August through October) is a particularly exciting time to visit, as it's the elk’s rutting season. Bulls can be seen competing for mates, often engaging in dramatic displays of bugling and sparring.

A GLIMPSE INTO TOMALES BAY

September 8, 2024

Tomales Bay stretches approximately 15 miles along the rugged coast of Marin County, forming a narrow tranquil estuary between the Point Reyes Peninsula and the mainland.  The bay's calm, shallow waters create a perfect environment for various activities, from kayaking and sailing to birdwatching and oyster farming. The Tomales Bay Resort sits directly on the shores of Tomales Bay offering panoramic views of the bay from our private beaches or from a Bay View room.

Rent kayaks directly onsite at the resort from Tomales Bay Expeditions.