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, Estero de Limantour, the western end of Limantour Spit, 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)
Western Snowy Plovers
Point Reyes Beach Beach Closure - May 28 through September 5, 2016
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 during the summer of 2016 to better ensure the survival of federally-threatened western snowy 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. 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. In 2013, for example, of the 11 newly hatched chicks in the proposed closure area, only 3 survived past the July 4 weekend.
Map of Beach Closure - May 28 through September 5, 2016 (564 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.
Northern Elephant Seals
Drakes Beach Temporary Beach Closure - February 4, 2016, through March 31, 2016
A temporary closure of Drakes Beach starting approximately ¼ mile southwest 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 during the pupping season when they are exceptionally vulnerable. All public use shall be prohibited. No decision has yet to be made as to whether a similar closure will be implemented in 2017.
Determination of Temporary Closure - February 4 through March 31, 2016 - signed on February 3, 2016 (31 KB PDF)
Map of Temporary Closure - February 4 through March 31, 2016 (93 KB PDF)
Chimney Rock Fish Dock Area Temporary Closure - December 30, 2015, through March 15, 2016
A temporary 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, was in effect from December 30, 2015, through Tuesday, March 15, 2016, due to nursing elephant seal pups in the Fish Dock area. No decision has yet to be made as to whether a similar closure will be implemented in 2017.
Determination of Temporary Closure - December 30, 2015, through March 15, 2016 - signed on December 30, 2015 (25 KB PDF)
Map of Chimney Rock Fish Dock Area Temporary Closure (326 KB PDF)
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