Point Reyes National Seashore (Backpacking)

An isolated world of forest and sea, Point Reyes National Seashore protects 30,000 acres of wild California within the boundaries of Phillip Burton Wilderness. Over 100 miles of trail interlace through this magical land, a web of countless adventures spread among four distinct backcountry campgrounds. Come here to camp on a wild shoreline, commune with haunting old-growth forest, and experience a vast tract of coastal wilderness unlike any other in California. Information in this chapter is presented by campground rather than by trip, due to the abundance of trails, the numerous variations of backpacking routes, and the need to reserve specific campsites far in advance. At least two different access routes to each campground are described, ideal for those planning a simple overnight trip. If you are interested in planning a multi-day, multi-camp trip, you’ll find descriptions of recommended routes that connect each of the campgrounds at the end of the chapter. Note that all mileage and elevation gain/loss data in the hike descriptions are one-way rather than round-trip. In the rugged southern half of the Point Reyes Peninsula, Phillip Burton Wilderness protects a vast swath of coastal and mountainous wild land. Myriad trails are laced through the wilderness, but backcountry camping is confined to four designated hike-in campgrounds—Coast, Sky, Glen, and Wildcat camps. Each is described in the chapter. Roughly rectangular in shape, the wilderness is bounded by Limantour Rd. to the north, by the town of Bolinas to the south, and stretches west to east from the coast over 1200 ft. Inverness Ridge to Olema Valley. Six principal trailheads ring the wilderness area. Clockwise beginning in the northwest they are: Limantour Beach, Laguna, Sky, Bear Valley, Five Brooks, and Palomarin. You’ll find directions to the appropriate trailheads in the hike descriptions. While camping reservations are not required, they are usually necessary since sites often fill up months ahead of time.