To Main Page
To Travel in America
To California Coast

We have been to Point Reyes several times and we always find something new to do and explore. I have taken our two daughters up there for their first taste of backpacking when they we about ten and seven years old. We have hiked several of the trails through wooded areas, along the coast and up some steep slopes, and we have kayaked on Tomales Bay. But here I want to show you some pictures of two trips to the very northern tip of the peninsula.

This Google Earth map shows the long section pointing up into the Pacific Ocean. The road is barely visible in dark blue at the bottom. It stops at the 'Pierce Ranch', a historic cattle ranch owned and operated by Solomon Pierce from about 1850 on. The buildings are now part of the state park system and are kept as historic monuments.
The trail to the tip is shown in light blue. Toward the bottom I show a red line. It is the trail that leads to McClures Beach.
  


A few years ago I took this long hike to the far northern point. The day started out sunny and nice but slowly the fog started to roll in. Along the way I saw lots of wildflowers and a couple herds of Tule elk. Gradually the trail disappeared and I finally had to go cross country to reach the tip. However, the views of the cliffs and ocean were fantastic.

 


 


A series of rocks with breaking surf marks the tip. To the left is the Pacific Ocean and to the right the entrance to Tomales Bay. Then it was time to head back. Just when the fog got thicker.




=============================

The second time was more recently with Sharon. This time it was a real sunny day but a cold wind was blowing from the north. We had brought a couple sandwiches and a small bottle of wine. But instead of a nice picnic, we ate in the car before starting our hike.

 


 

It was the middle of May and we were surrounded by tons of wild radish flowers and large bushes of yellow lupine. Unfortunately we did not encounter any elk.

We only went about a mile along the Tomales Point trail when the wind became too strong and we returned to the ranch. So, instead we took the steep trail down to McClures Beach. It is about one half mile to get there, but it seemed like two miles going back up.

 

  






To top of the page