Closures at Point Reyes

For emergency road and weather conditions in West Marin, visit Point Reyes National Seashore's Twitter feed, the National Weather Service San Francisco Bay Area's Twitter feed, the Marin County Department of Public Works' Twitter feed, the Marin Sheriff Department's Twitter feed, the Marin Fire Department's Twitter feed, the California Highway Patrol: Marin's Twitter feed, or tune in to KWMR, 90.5 FM.

 

Area Road Closures

For information on road closures in Marin County and the Bay Area, check the Marin Sheriff Current Emergency Information, the California Department of Transportation's Current Highway Conditions, and CHP Traffic Incident Information (select "Golden Gate" from the "Communication Centers" drop-down menu in the upper left corner, then look for "Marin" in the "Location" and/or "Area" columns) 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

All campgrounds within Point Reyes National Seashore are currently open.

Road Closures

Trail Advisories and Closures

Visitor Center Closures

All Visitor Centers will be closed on December 25. Visitor Centers usually close at 2 pm on Thanksgiving Day. Visit our Operating Hours & Seasons page for current days and hours of operations
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All Areas Beyond the Lighthouse Visitors' Parking Lot are Closed Until ~October 6, 2018.

On Monday, August 6, 2018, Point Reyes National Seashore began a large restoration project on the historic Point Reyes Lighthouse. This website's 2018 Lighthouse Restoration blog and our social media platforms on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram will keep you up-to-date, so bookmark these and check back in the near future. There will be times when the lighthouse area will be closed to all foot traffic, such as from August 6 to ~October 6, and we apologize for that in advance. The necessary improvements will make your future experience even better.
Map of the temporary closure in the Point Reyes Lighthouse Area - Monday, August 6, 2018, through ~Saturday, October 6, 2018 (321 KB PDF)

During the period during which the Lighthouse Visitor Center is closed, the Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center at Drakes Beach will be open from 10 am to 5 pm on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and federal holidays.

After the Lighthouse Visitor Center reopens, the Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center at Drakes Beach will be closed seven days a week until Saturday, December 29, 2018, after which it will be open weekends and federal holidays through the duration of the Winter Shuttle Bus System.

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Wildlife Protection Closures

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.

Northern Elephant Seals

To better protect elephant seals from disturbance, especially during the pupping season when they are exceptionally vulnerable, the park implements the following closures:

• Drakes Beach Elephant Seal Colony - year-round closure
  The Drakes Beach elephant seal colony as delineated by signs at the western-most end of Drakes Beach is closed to all entry due to seal activity at all times of the year. This closure is necessary to protect an established elephant seal colony from disturbance and protect the public. The elephant seal colony is used all year. No management action other than a year-round closure is sufficient.

• Drakes Beach Temporary Beach Closure - January 13, 2018, through March 15, 2018
  A temporary closure of Drakes Beach starting at the southern edge of the cove in front of the Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center and continuing south to the current permanent elephant seal closure was in effect to better protect elephant seals from disturbance. All public use was prohibited. No decision has yet to be made as to whether a similar closure will be implemented in 2019.
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• Chimney Rock Fish Dock Area Closure - December 15 through March 31
  A closure of the road leading from the gate at the end of the Chimney Rock Road to the Fish Dock area, including immediately adjacent beaches, is in effect on an annual basis due to nursing elephant seal pups in the Fish Dock area.
  Map of Elephant Seal Protection Closures in the Chimney Rock Fish Dock Area December 15–March 31 (301 KB PDF)

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, Estero de Limantour, Double Point, and the western end of Limantour Spit. Duck Island and the east side of Hog Island are closed to the public year round.
Map of Estero closures March 1–June 30 (258 KB PDF)
Map of Seal Protection Closures at the western end of Limantour Spit March 1–June 30 (104 KB PDF)
Map of Hog Island closure (42 KB PDF)

Western Snowy Plovers

The western snowy plover is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Disturbance by park visitors in plover breeding areas can separate chicks from the adults, and the chicks may then not be able to forage efficiently, thermoregulate properly, and hide from predators.

• Point Reyes Beach Closure - Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend
  A closure of the beach area between the North Beach parking lot and the mouth of Abbotts Lagoon is in effect on weekends and federal holidays from the Saturday immediately preceding Memorial Day through Labor Day to better ensure the survival of plover nests and chicks within this area on busy weekends. All public use is prohibited. Reproductive monitoring of western snowy plovers at Point Reyes has previously demonstrated that chick mortality is higher on weekend days than weekdays. In 2013, for example, of the 11 newly hatched chicks in this area, only 3 survived past the July 4 weekend.
  Map of Beach Closure - the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend (322 KB PDF)

• Limantour Beach Temporary Closure - Friday, April 20, 2018, through Monday, September 3, 2018
  A section of Limantour Beach marked by fencing between the larger, gravel northern parking lot and the smaller, paved southern parking lot was closed from April 20, 2018, through Labor Day 2018 to better protect western snowy plovers from disturbance during their nesting season. All public use was prohibited. Western snowy plovers, a federally-threatened species, had chosen an area of Limantour Beach between the two parking lots for nesting. In 2017, five nests occurred in the same area. Public visitation at Limantour Beach reached an all-time high in 2017. Park staff witnessed multiple occasions in which people and dogs disturbed the nesting plovers, despite ample signage and other protection measures. Disturbance by park visitors in plover breeding areas prevent plovers from incubating their eggs, can separate chicks from the adults, and the chicks may then not be able to forage efficiently, thermoregulate properly, and hide from predators. No decision has yet to be made as to whether a similar closure will be implemented in 2019.
  Map of Temporary Beach Closure - Friday, April 20, 2018 through Monday, September 3, 2018 (266 KB PDF)
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