News Release

Visitor Services are Limited Inside Point Reyes National Seashore Due to the Lapse in Federal Appropriations

Date: December 30, 2018
Contact: John A. Dell'Osso, 415-464-5135

Point Reyes Station, CA — Point Reyes National Seashore is open, however visitor services are limited due to the lapse in federal appropriations. During the government shutdown, national parks are working to remain as open and accessible to the American people as possible.

Unfortunately, the following facilities and areas inside Point Reyes National Seashore are closed due to impacts from human waste and public safety concerns:

• All park visitor centers are currently closed.
• Palomarin parking lot and trailhead. There will be no access beyond the Marin County maintained paved road.
• All normal park rules and regulations still apply. Dogs are not permitted on park trails. Dogs must be on a leash at all times and are permitted in developed areas, on sidewalks. For more information on pet regulations, visit https://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/pets.htm.

Restroom facilities are very limited throughout the park, especially along at some trailheads. Visitors are encouraged to stop and use restroom facilities before entering the park. Visitors are also encouraged to pack in and pack out all trash (Leave No Trace), as custodial services are very limited at this time.

Additional facilities and areas may close within Point Reyes National Seashore at any time for the health and safety of park visitors, and protection of resources.

Areas that are open as of December 30, 2018, include:

• All roads and trails at this time.
• Parking lots are also open at various inland and beach locations including: Bear Valley, Limantour Beach, Drakes Beach, North Beach, South Beach, Abbotts Lagoon, Tomales Point, and Five Brooks. At several of these locations, vault toilets or bathrooms have been closed due to unhealthy conditions. Once closed, these facilities will remain closed until the lapse in appropriations is resolved.
• The four backcountry campgrounds are still open, but do not have any potable water so anyone going to those sites will have to bring water with them. Some of the vault toilets at the campgrounds are also filling and may be closed as conditions dictate. If you have camping reservation, your site may not be available.

Services operated by partners and concessioners including Point Reyes Hostel, Five Brooks Ranch, and Drakes Beach Bookstore. Contact these operations directly for operating status and hours. These facilities are not operated with Government funds.

Closed facilities and areas as of December 30, 2018:

• Drakes Beach starting approximately 1/2 mile southwest of the Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center and continuing south to the current permanent elephant seal closure.
• Palomarin parking lot and trailhead. There will be no access beyond the Marin County maintained paved road.
• All visitor centers and full service restroom facilities.
• The Point Reyes Lighthouse area remains closed. It is an active construction site and has been closed beyond the parking lot since early August 2018.
• Several vault toilet facilities have been closed due to unsanitary/unhealthy conditions. These include restrooms at the Lighthouse parking lot and North District Operations Center. This list will be updated as additional vault toilet facilities are closed due to unsanitary/unhealthy conditions.
• The road to the North District Operations Center (old RCA facility) is closed to vehicle traffic, but passable on foot.

For updates on the shutdown, please visit www.doi.gov/shutdown.

-NPS-