• 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 »

Closures at Point Reyes

For emergency road and weather conditions in West Marin, tune in to KWMR, 90.5 FM.

 

Storm Damage
Storms throughout the year can blow down trees throughout the wooded sections of or have flooded trails in Point Reyes National Seashore. If you encounter any downed trees, please report them to the Bear Valley Visitor Center (415-464-5100 x2 x5) or to Shawn Maloney (415-464-5154). Please provide as many details as possible, i.e., exact location of the tree on which trail, type of tree (bay, fir, etc.), whether it is bushy or straight, its size and diameter, whether it is on the ground or elevated, whether equestrians can get around it.

As of May 20, 2013, the park has received reports that the following trails are blocked by fallen trees. Please do not use these trails until they have been cleared.

  • Morgan Horse Trail: multiple trees blocking the trail.

Tomales Point Trail
Updated: May 20, 2013
The trail crew has cleared a cypress tree blocking the trail at the lower ranch site (approximately three miles north of the trailhead).

Lake Ranch Trail
Updated: May 17, 2013
The Lake Ranch Trail has reopened after the trail crew cleared a group of twenty bay tree trunks that had been blocking the trail south of Mud Lake.

Greenpicker Trail
Updated: May 1, 2013
The Greenpicker Trail has reopened after the trail crew cleared two sets of trees that had been blocking the trail near the top and bottom of the eastern leg of the trail.

Rift Zone Trail
December 11, 2012
The Rift Zone Trail at the south end of the Vedanta Society property (approximately 1.6 kilometers/1 mile north of Five Brooks) is impassable due to a landslide.

Cross Marin Trail
As of July 24, 2011, the Cross Marin Trail is closed to all uses between the Jewel Trail junction and Devils Gulch due to a culvert blow-out a short distance south of the Jewel Trail Junction. Please do not use this section of trail until the trail has been repaired.

Olema Valley Trail seasonal flooding
During the winter and spring, the Olema Valley Trail is often flooded and very muddy in a number of locations and hikers on this trail in the winter and spring may wish to wear or bring along knee-high waterproof boots. There is a ford just south of the Teixeira trail junction at which the water is frequently knee-deep and opaque with silt, the current strong, and the bottom uneven and covered with unstable, loose stones. This section of Olema Valley Trail is subject to seasonal (winter/spring) flooding.

If you have recently hiked any of the trails in Point Reyes National Seashore and found the trail conditions other than what is reported here, please email us to let us know. Thanks for your assistance.

 

Area Road Closures

For information on area road closures, check the Marin Sheriff's, the CalTrans',and CHP's (select "Bay Area" in the upper left corner, then look for "Marin" in the Area column) websites.

 

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Beach Closures
Due to the Cosco Busan oil spill, beaches in Point Reyes National Seashore may be temporarily closed to the public at any time. Please observe all closure signs. Please do not approach or pick up bunker fuel or an oiled animal. Bunker fuel is an extremely toxic substance and is dangerous to all animals, including humans. ONLY hazardous materials-trained and equipped personnel should handle bunker fuel or oiled wildlife. Instead, contact Point Reyes Dispatch at 415-464-5170 if you find any oil or oiled birds.
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Campground Closures

Road Closures

Trail Closures and Advisories

Visitor Center Closures
All Visitor Centers will be closed on December 25. Visitor Centers usually close at 2 p.m. on the day before Thanksgiving and on December 24. The Lighthouse Visitor Center is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays, open Thursday through Monday. For most of the year, the Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center is closed Monday through Friday, open Saturday, Sunday, and holidays. During the summer, the Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center may be open additional days.
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Wildlife Protection Closures

Harbor Seals
To protect harbor seals from disturbance during the most crucial part of the pupping season, from March 1 through June 30 the National Park Service has closed the following areas to the public: Drakes Estero, Limantour Estero and South Blue Gum Beach. Pelican Point, Duck Island and the east side of Hog Island are closed to the public year round.
Map of Estero closures (258 KB PDF)
Map of Tomales Bay closures (209 KB PDF)
Map of Hog Island closure (42 KB PDF)

Tule Elk
Llamas are prohibited from all areas that are inhabited by tule elk. Map (200 KB PDF)

Marine Protected Areas
On May 1, 2010, a number of Marine Protected Areas went into effect within and adjacent to Point Reyes National Seashore, in part to better protect nesting birds. Per the Marine Life Protection Act (MPLA), the Point Reyes Headlands is closed to all vessels within 305 meters (1000 feet) of shore from Chimney Rock west to Longitude 123° 01.00'. Per the Superintendent's Compendium, from Longitude 123° 01.00' west to the Point Reyes Lighthouse the headlands is closed to all vessels within 91 meters (100 yards) of shore. There are also 91-meter (300-foot) special closures around Point Resistance and Double Point/Stormy Stack, per the MLPA.

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Did You Know?

California red-legged frog

So many California red-legged frogs were caught for consumption in the late 1800's that their numbers declined throughout California. So bullfrogs were imported from the east to help meet the demand. But bullfrogs are voracious predators and helped drive the red-legged frog population lower yet. More...