Can you die without walking? Trip to American National Parks (11) A trail packed with all the good things about California Point Rays National Coast
Written by Sayaka Kato
When you think of California, you will find beaches that continue to be blue sky and blue oceans.
That's exactly the CA! Point Rays National Coast is located about an hour and a half from San Francisco.
There are also many trails there, making it a great place for those who want to experience the great outdoors on a day trip from San Francisco and hike. Simply stepping into the place will fill your mind with a beautiful, extraordinary scenery, and you'll be able to enjoy it by simply going on a drive and meeting nature without having to go hiking.
Especially on sunny days, you will be greeted by the truly stunning Blue Sky and Blue Ocean.
This time, we will introduce a trail located on Point Rays National Coast that is packed with all the good points of California, where you can see forests, lakes, beaches, seas and even waterfalls while hiking.
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What is Point Reyes National Seashore?
Point Rays National Coast, as the name suggests, is not a national park. Also, it is not a well-known tourist destination worldwide, so many people have never heard of it. However, it is a well-known place among locals who live here, and it is a place that locals love to visit as well. And it's close, anyway.
Approximately an hour's drive from Golden Gate Bridge to reach the vast nature reserve, where you can encounter wild animals such as elk, deer, coyotes, and rabbits, as well as a quiet, empty beach that runs all the way to your heart's content. There are viewpoints in various places and there are many photo spots.
How to get to Point Rays National Coast
The best place to visit Point Rays is to drive from San Francisco. There is no public transport, so we recommend that you drive.
Cross the Golden Gate Bridge and head north along Highway 1 along the Pacific Ocean, about 30 miles later you will see a small sign indicating the entrance to the reserve. (Admission is free)
Highway 1 runs along the coastline, so the scenery is truly beautiful and you can enjoy driving. On days when the weather is good and stable, we highly recommend Highway 1. It's a drive with California's blue sky and ocean.
If the weather isn't very good, take National Route 101, which has few curves! It is possible through the Golden Gate Bridge or from the Bay Bridge, but there is also another route that takes National Route 101 inland from San Francisco, then heads west from San Raffel to head for Point Raise. You can enjoy driving in the greenery, in contrast to Highway 1. This is a very beautiful driving route (the goal route, such as parking lot, will vary depending on the destination, so it's a good idea to enter your address in advance on Google Maps).
Point Rays is a very wide cape, reaching 28,732 hectares. First, you need to decide in advance where you want to go.
Depending on your purpose, the parking lot and direction you go to will change, and the driving route will also change depending on your purpose, such as whether you want to go hiking or going around the viewpoint. It's very spacious, so it's very easy and smooth to decide your destination in advance when you have radio waves and enter the places you want to go to GPS, such as Google Maps.
First, take a toilet break at the Point Reyes Visitor Center in the foreground and get stops, maps, and more. After that, we head to Point Reyes Shipwrecks, a photogenic spot.
Recommended view points for driving around Point Rays National Coast
■Point Reyes Shipwrecks
Address: 12783 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Inverness, CA 94937
A deserted shipwreck left unattended. It is a popular spot where you can go close together and take photos.
The Point Rays area, which is foggy and dangerous cliffs, has also been feared by sailors for generations. These wrecks and sunk ships are not mere memories of past tragedy, but time capsules and ocean history. The old-fashioned retro atmosphere is irresistible.
■Cypress Tree Tunnel
Address: Inverness, CA 94937
This place is often featured on Instagram. It's a picturesque place just before you head to Point Rays Lighthouse, so be sure to stop by. Depending on the time of day, the light spills out of the trees and the art-like appearance can be very fantastic.
■Point Reyes Lighthouse protruding into the Pacific Ocean
The observation deck is where you can see whales if you're lucky (usually from January to mid-April).
This is a historic observation deck, and it takes a short walk to get from the parking lot to the observation deck. If you want to go inside the observation deck, you will have to go down the long stairs. So on the way back, you'll have to climb a long stairs and come back. It's a very picturesque place, although it's a little far away.
■Go to see the wild elephant seals near the observation deck (Elephant Seal Overlook)
Let's go and see a wild elephant seal lying down on the sandy beach. This is also a unique landscape that is unique to Northern California, where the seawater is cold. Wild elephant seals are rare sights that you wouldn't see in your everyday life!
To get there, turn right at the first fork after departing from Point Rays Lighthouse, there is a parking lot at the end, and there is a trail leading to Elephant Seal Overlook (note that there is also the Chimney Rock Trail Head nearby, but not that).
There is a viewpoint at the end of the walk about 10 minutes. It's close to Point Rays Lighthouse, so be sure to stop by.
Hiking information for Point Rays National Coast
Up until this point, we explained the viewpoints when traveling around Point Reyes National Seashore by car. Here's hiking information.
This time we will introduce a trail to see the beautiful waterfalls along the beach called Alamere Falls. Walking around, forests, lakes, beaches, seas and waterfalls! This trail will bring you fun and discover a variety of scenery. It's a very peaceful and beautiful trail.
Above all, it is an attractive trail that does not have that much ups and downs and is not high in elevation, reducing the strain on your body.
- Distance: 13.8 miles 22.08km (A shortcut that goes directly down to Alamere Falls on the way)
- Elevation difference: 1,955 feet 595.884m
Trailhead
There are two options for the starting point (trailhead).
- Palomarin Trailhead - washable. The address is "Palomarin Trail Head, Bolinas, CA 94924."
- Bear Valley Trailhead There is a visitor centre and bathrooms nearby. The address is "Bear Valley Visitor Center Access Road, Point Reyes Station, CA 94956."
The above two are the trailheads that are the closest to Alamea Falls, but this time we will introduce the route from Palomarine Trailhead, the most popular of which is the Palomarine Trailhead.
Palomarine Trailhead offers parking and toilets. Once you've prepared, the hike begins.
Pass the gate in the photo below and walk through the eucalyptic forest.
The fresh scent of eucalypse makes it very pleasant to walk around.
A short walk will reveal the first sign. We take you to Alamea Falls via the Coast Trail, so after a 5-minute walk towards the Coast Trail, the view changes and you'll see the ocean.
The blue sky and blue sea are very beautiful.
As you walk through the forest, you can see the ocean, not only for a landscape that will never get boring, but also for the changes in the air due to the skin and scent, and for the pleasant chirping of birds.
The season in the photo was March, so the flowers were in full bloom, allowing you to feel the spring in many places.
After walking for the first 30 minutes, you'll also be able to see a downhill. It involves climbing and descending, and walking on flat roads.
The slope begins about 10 minutes after passing the second bridge. There are also wooden tunnels everywhere, which is very nice.
About an hour after I started walking, a brief shady area appeared and it suddenly felt cool. It's so comfortable, so take a little break.
There will also be a downhill slope and then the second sign (photo below) will appear. Again, head towards the COAST TRAIL.
After walking for about 10 minutes from the second sign, you will see a lake called Bass Lake on the left. We pass the quiet lake and walk through the forest again.
Then you will see a second lake called Erlicon Lake on the left side. At the same time, the ocean is also visible ahead. This trail is full of things to watch and is really full. There are three lakes on the trail.
At this point, it is an area that is over half the trail, but here
- Take a shortcut and head to Alamea Falls
- Take a detour and walk along the beach to Alamea Falls via COAST TRAIL
You can choose from these two options.
In 1, the time will be shortened, which is an easy way to do this, but the last unpaved trail to Alamea Falls is very steep, and the cliff-like scaffolding will lead you to a downhill area. Most people can go here, but even those with healthy legs need to be careful, and there are risks involved, so if you want to take that into consideration, choose that.
There are arrows made of stones at the entrance to the shortcut, so you can just follow them as a marker (please note that there is a similar thin trail in front of the shortcut, but that is a path called the Pelican Trail and is not that).
In the second place, we took a detour through the beach to Alamea Falls, and on the return journey we took a shortcut and returned. Personally, I recommend this one.
The idea would be to take the original Route 2 on the outbound journey and then go through the Coast Trail, and then go home with a shortcut on the way back. This is because even on the same cliff, I think it's still more stable and safe to go when climbing than down, so here we will introduce the route to Alamera Falls via the Coast Trail to get there.
You will pass through the shortcut trail from the previous one on your left and continue along the main coast trail.
After about an hour and 30 minutes after I started walking, I began to see the third bridge.
After that, you will also see the third sign. There is another crossroads here, with the trail on the left to take you to the Ocean Lake Loop and the fork that continues on to the same coast trail as the way you came.
Even if you walk along the Ocean Lake Loop, which starts on the left, it will eventually lead to the Coast Trail, so either way is fine, but as planned, you will continue along the Coast Trail.
March is the rainy season in California, so the greenery that absorbed plenty of water was truly lively along the trail. We will continue along the trail surrounded by fresh greenery.
Flowers everywhere. It's irresistible for flower lovers. This orange flower is also the state flower, and the fourth sign of California Poppy, is directed towards the Coast Trail.
After about five minutes from the sign, you will see the third lake, Wildcat Lake, on your left.
Beyond that, there is a place where the Ocean Lake Loop, where there was a fork earlier, meets the Coast Trail you've been walking up until now, and there is also a sign there (the fifth sign).
A beautiful blue ocean appears in front of you. As we got closer to the beach, we came to see the last bridge.
Once you cross the bridge, there is an intersection between the road to the Wildcat Campground and the road to the beach, so head towards the beach (to the left at the end of the bridge).
While feeling the scent of the sea, I took another deep breath at the scenery, wind, scent, and sounds that changed all at once.
It's also strange that the beach changes from the energy of the mountains to the beach at once. After this, walk in the direction of travel with the mountain on your left.
An empty beach. The sound of the waves and the beach are all yours!
As I continued walking down the beach, listening to the sound of the waves, I saw a waterfall in the distance.
After walking further, about two and a half hours after the start, we finally arrived at Alamera Fall.
Lots of negative ions!
This is the place where the bountiful waters from the mountains meet the great sea.
If you want to take a break for lunch or something, the beach near the waterfall is fine, but there is a lovely space for resting just after you go up the shortcut trail on the way home, so I think it would be a good idea to take a break there.
After refreshing yourself with the negative ion at the waterfall, on the way home, take the shortcut trail. Just before the waterfall (see from the way you came), there is a cliff-like depression between the rocks, and you will have to walk there.
Your feet are unstable and very steep, so if you're not confident, try taking the same coast trail as the way you came back.
After climbing the cliff, what appears is a surprise! Another waterfall will greet you. The waterfall is divided into three stages, and it's also wonderful. It's small but has a lovely view.
It would be nice to take a break for lunch or something in a space located here or a little up the trail.
There was a view here that you wouldn't see without shortcuts.
There is a trail to the right of the waterfall, so you will continue along the waterfall.
Walking along the trail surrounded by trees like a wooden tunnel, we arrive at the confluence point with the coast trail we originally came to. It's a pretty shortcut, and taking this trail saves a lot of time and energy.
After that, just go back the way you came. If things go smoothly on the way back, you can return to the trailhead in about an hour and a half.
It was a wonderful hiking trail that was fascinated by the blue sky, blue sea, vibrant greenery and flowers, and sparkling waterfalls. This area is also a place where fog is often seen, so when you go, check the weather forecast and when you go on a sunny day, I think the colours are even more beautiful in this area.
Notes regarding the spread of COVID-19
As of August 2020, various countries are likely to experience a variety of situations, including entry restrictions due to the strengthening of quarantine systems, restrictions on admission to national parks, and restrictions on travel within the country. These conditions may change without notice, so when traveling, be sure to obtain local information such as embassies and consulates of each country, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' overseas safety website (infectious disease risk information) and national park websites, and check the information about the transfer location, the countries where you plan to travel, and the area around the destinations you plan to visit before making any effort to plan and take reasonable steps.
Kato Sayaka
Leave your hiking and travel plans for Point Rays National Coast and California to us. Due to my father's influence, I have always loved outdoor activities, and since I was in Japan, I was captivated by the great nature of America and Canada, and as a result, I arrived at the United States, which I had longed for. We currently run ANAMI TOURS, which offers local optional tours that can be created with customers, including completely private hiking tours with Japanese guides. We will introduce you to some special options that you can find out because you are a local resident. If you are interested, please visit the website below.
