Contact: John Golda, 415-464-5143
The winter season brings shorter days and stormy weather, but it also heralds one of the most spectacular seasons at Point Reyes National Seashore. Elephant seals begin to haul out onto the beaches on the Point Reyes Headlands in December and gray whales can be seen from late December through March. In preparation for the season, our three visitor centers will operate under winter hours beginning on Saturday, December 1, 2012. The Bear Valley Visitor Center, near Olema, is open 364 days a year. The doors open on weekdays at 10 am and on weekends and holidays at 9 am. The Visitor Center closes at 4:30 pm. The best, first stop at Point Reyes, Bear Valley exhibits and park staff will help you get ready to explore the seashore. The Point Reyes Lighthouse and Visitor Center are open from Thursday through Monday and are always closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The Lighthouse Visitor Center and the stairs to the Lighthouse open at 10 am and close at 4:30 pm. While winds over 40 miles per hour can close the stairs for safety reasons, there is a Park Ranger in the Lighthouse Lensroom from 2:30 pm until 4 pm. This is a perfect opportunity to learn why the Lighthouse was critical to generations of sailors and provided more than a spectacular view of the coast line. At Drakes Beach, the Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center is open on weekends and holidays from 9:30 am until 4:30 pm. Here you can walk along a pristine beach and appreciate the beauty in our own backyard. The winter is an amazing time of the year at Point Reyes National Seashore. We hope you will come visit one of your almost 400 National Park Sites and experience your America. For more information, visit our website at https://www.nps.gov/pore. Commemorating 50 years of Point Reyes National Seashore, 1962–2012 -NPS- |
Last updated: January 10, 2022