![]() It was disappointing especially since it was a clear sunny day though I ended up stopping by one of the beaches nearby instead. There is no set reopening date yet and online it said "closed until further notice" so I recommend checking online for updates before you go. The road of the last 6 miles to the lighthouse was closed and I didn't get to see it or the elephant seal overlook. You can see by the photos that the trees are continuously hammered by the wind. I looked through the windows of the visitor center and there are nice areas to sit and watch the beach and views without the crazy wind that is always present at this point. Because of Covid the lighthouse itself is closed and the visitor center at the lighthouse is also closed but it’s still well worth the visit to see the beaches, lighthouse as well as being able to see whales off of the point and huge numbers of birds. The drive out is long but is well worth it. We also saw a huge number of birds and several birds of prey. I would highly suggest going in the spring when there are less people and it’s green and to see spring flowers and wildlife. I’m not sure how this area would handle crowds because even in the 3rd week of March the parking lots were about 75% full. The parking lot near the elephant seals and the chimney rock trail is also quite small. The parking lot at the lighthouse is very small with maybe only 30 parking spots. We intentionally went to Point Reyes to avoid spring break crowds and summer crowds. ![]() If you drive out that way first you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the new road out to the lighthouse. The road out to Tomales point however is old, narrow with lots of potholes so I would imagine they’ll probably fix that road next. Browse exhibits on the historic Point Reyes Lighthouse, whales, seals, sea lions, wildflowers, birds, and maritime history.We drove out to the lighthouse in the last week in March 2021 and the road is brand new with white lines painted on the edges and yellow markers in the middle it’s brand new and clearly built for foggy and low visibility weather. Located 45 minutes west of Bear Valley on the Point Reyes Headlands, at the end of Sir Francis Drake Blvd., the Center is a 650 meter (0.4 mile) uphill walk from the parking lot. ![]() Located at beautiful Drake’s Beach this center contains exhibits focused on 16th-century maritime exploration, marine fossils, and marine environments. Just west of the Center’s parking lot is the 0.6-mile paved Earthquake Trail that takes you on an informational walk through key features of the San Andreas Fault zone. Visitor CentersĮxcellent exhibits, maps, and park information can be found at this center. The preserve is also rich in raptors and shorebirds. The peninsula includes wild coastal beaches and headlands, estuaries, and uplands and the northernmost part is maintained as a reserve for tule elk. The mix of commercial and recreational uses-historic ranching and oyster farming-was the reason the area was designated a National Seashore rather than a National Park. It is a nationally important nature preserve within which existing agricultural uses are allowed to continue. The southern half of Point Reyes National Seashore is a 71,028-acre designated wilderness area with more than 70 miles of trails and several hike-in campgrounds. Point Reyes National Seashore Association website > ![]()
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