• The Point Reyes Beach as viewed from the Point Reyes Headlands

    Point Reyes

    National Seashore California

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  • Operational Changes Took Effect on May 1

    The Lighthouse Visitor Center is now only open Fridays through Mondays. The Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center will be closed through late December 2013. More »

  • 2013 Harbor Seal Pupping Season Closures

    From March 1 through June 30, the park implements closures of certain Tomales Bay beaches and Drakes Estero to water-based recreation to protect harbor seals during the pupping season. Please avoid disturbing seals to ensure a successful pupping season. More »

Photos & Multimedia

You will find links to a variety of photo galleries and multimedia presentations, as well as a link to the webcam at the Point Reyes Lighthouse Visitor Center. Check back every so often to find out what new content has been added.

Point Reyes 50th Anniversary Photo Contest

To commemorate our 50th anniversary, Point Reyes National Seashore is sponsoring a photo contest. From the 308th step at the historic lighthouse to high up on Mt. Vision's bishop pine covered ridge, share your favorite memories of this natural sanctuary. Park visitors are invited to submit their photos in three categories: flora and fauna, landscapes, and people in the seashore.

The competition is now closed. Submissions were accepted between August 1, 2012, and August 27, 2012. The winners will be announced in September to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the park.

The most recent additions are the 2012 - 31st Annual Sand Sculpture Contest photo galleries, the Picture Yourself at Point Reyes National Seashore video, the Green Wave by the Seashore video, and the The Natural Laboratory audio-slideshows and podcasts featuring:

  • California Sea Otters: A Gap in the Point Reyes Ecosystem 10/10/12
  • Elephants, Seals, and Lions, Oh My! 10/7/12
  • Declining fog in coastal California? (9/10/12)
  • Searching for the Endangered Black Abalone in Northern California (2/15/12)
  • Burning Ancient Life: The Geology of an Oil Reserve (9/22/11)
  • Ocean Acidification: Where will all the seashells go? (5/12/11),
  • Deep-water Corals of Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary (1/5/11),
  • An underground answer to greenhouse gasses (10/19/10),
  • Birds on the go: Climate change and California's feathered friends (9/9/10), and
  • Sustainability at Point Reyes National Seashore (9/9/10).

Other recent additions include:

Close to 300,000 resource and wildlife monitoring camera images and videos are also available through our Reading Room.

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Did You Know?

Bull elephant seal with harbor seals

Elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris)are the largest pinniped with males reaching a maximum of about 5,000 lbs.  Harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) are much smaller with both males and females reaching a maximum weight of around 250 lbs. More...