How to spend a perfect day in Point Reyes California?

Are you ready for a beautiful day trip to one of Northern California’s finest and often overlooked tourist destinations? Point Reyes is about 60 miles North of San Francisco and is surrounded by Tomales Bay on the North East and Bolinas Lagoon on the South East. This expansive coastline is full of sandy beaches and has thousands of varieties of plants and animals to learn about and explore.

This blog post is to help you spend a perfect day in Point Reyes! I highly recommend starting your day trip earlier in the morning so that you can cover different places by sunset.

Pick up coffee and breakfast ☕

There is a cute little cafe called Pump Espresso Bar with coffee, cold brews, snacks and breakfast items and it opens up at 7 am! We really liked the vibe of this place as it was cozy, artsy and woody inside. It is a nice little stop before the amazing hike that you will be doing next.

Depending on where you are driving from, there are also a few other options.

• Station House Cafe
• Cafe Reyes
• Inverness Park Market
• Toby’s Coffee Bar etc.

Hike alongside Elks in Tomales Bay

The best way to start your day is with a hike to Tomales Point Trail at Tule Elk Reserve to spot Elks. Fall is one of the best seasons to see Bulls since it is rutting season but you can spot them here all year long.

• Distance: 9.5 mi
• Elevation Gain: 1200 ft

If your aim is to only see the Elks, then you can turn back any time. Otherwise this is such a gorgeous trail with expansive cliff and ocean views. It is very exposed so proper sun protection is a must. You may not get the views if there is fog cover but it also makes for a very magical ambience when spotting Elks. Please keep your distance from wildlife and always wait for your turn if they are crossing trails.

Take a stroll at Cypress Tree Tunnel

This “tree tunnel” created by the Monterey Cypress Trees that were planted around 1930 is one of a kind and a must-visit when you are in Point Reyes.

Take a relaxed stroll along the tunnel enjoying the shade and the uniqueness of the place. Don’t forget to click some beautiful pictures!

Grab Lunch at Side Street Kitchen

We loved grabbing a quick lunch here. Side Street Kitchen uses fresh, local and organic ingredients as much as possible. There were many veggie options such as sandwiches, salads and veggie hash etc. You can skip the cheese to make some of the dishes Vegan.

You can also check out Palace Market and some of the places mentioned under coffee and breakfast section which also serve lunch/ dinner and are located in the same area.

Drive along Sir Francis Drake Boulevard

You would have already driven along Sir Francis Drake Boulevard on your way to the Cypress Tree Tunnel but the most scenic parts of it start later while you are on your way to your next destinations Chimney Rock Trail and Point Reyes Lighthouse.

Sir Francis Drake Boulevard is a 43.8 mi road in Marin County that runs from Point Reyes Lighthouse to Interstate 580. It is said to give people Ireland vibes when driving along this road so take in all the beautiful scenery around you.

Climb down to Point Reyes Lighthouse

Walk down 313 steps from the Lighthouse Visitor Center to the Lighthouse. Take your time when climbing back up since it is a steep climb.

You can also take in the views from the Observation Deck at the top of the steps. If it is the right season, you might even spot some whales from here.

Do a scenic hike along Chimney Rock Trail

This is an easy super scenic trail for such a short distance. A lot of people go to the Lighthouse but miss going here. If you had to pick between the two, I suggest checking out the Chimney Rock Trail for the beautiful Drakes Bay and Ocean views.

• Distance: 1.8 mi
• Elevation Gain: 160 ft

If you have more time, you can see Elephant seals from the Elephant Seal Overlook. The best times are during March and April.

Enjoy a sunset at Limantour Beach

Finally end your day with a beautiful sunset at Limantour Beach which is about 20 minutes from the Point Reyes Station. This beach goes on for four miles from Limantour Spit to Santa Maria Beach. Exercise caution but the waves here are usually safer than the other west-facing beaches in Point Reyes. If the water temperature is low or there are rip current warnings, it is not safe to swim.

The Estuary is home to several wildlife such as birds, ducks, harbor seals and sometimes even gray whales in Spring.

Here are some other super fun things to do based on time!

• Kayaking at Tomales Bay
• Ranger Guided Programs
• Backcountry Camping
• Drakes Beach
• Tomales Bay Farmers Market (Saturdays)

Hope you enjoyed this blog post on spending a perfect day in Point Reyes. If you have been here already or decide to go, please let me know how you liked it in the comments!