Point Reyes Hikes, Beaches, and Views
Get out of the city, spend a day at Point Reyes☀️ (5 min. read)
An hour and a half up north, Point Reyes is one of the most accessible National Parks (Seashore) if you live in San Francisco. My friends and I did a road trip up there, and we were able to do so much in just one day. We spent the early afternoon hanging out at Limantour Beach, checked out the Point Reyes shipwrecks, took pictures at the Cypress Tree Tunnel, and ended the day hiking on Chimney Rock.
I took all of the photos seen on this article!
The Drive Up
We went with a group of nine and rented out two GIGs (check out my article on GIG Rideshare). If you love to drive, you are in for a treat. Once you north on the 101 until St. Vincent, you diverge off the highway and drive through Lucas Valley. The drive along Lucas Valley road is very scenic. Stop by one of the cute farms or restaurants along the way!
Limantour Beach
Point Reyes isn’t known for its beaches, but Limantour Beach is still worth checking out. You’ll find people sunbathing, playing soccer, and some crazies swimming in the freezing water. I really enjoyed just walking along the shore, enjoying the view of the Limantour Spit and Drake’s Bay.
You should bring sunscreen. This beach is very windy, giving you the illusion that its cold and not sunny. However, you will still burn up without it.
Point Reyes Shipwreck
One of the attractions at Point Reyes that drew me in as a photographer was the Point Reyes Shipwreck. I knew I wanted to get a photo of it myself. The ship was once used to transport soldiers in WWII. It then became a fishing boat that ended up getting washed ashore after a storm 30 years ago. Read the full story here.
The boat was NOTHING like what I saw in the photos. In just 4 years, the boat had rot and collapsed. It now looks like a pile of rubble and no longer has its shipwreck charm, leaving me somewhat disappointed.
Cypress Tree Tunnel
If you’re looking for great photos to post on instagram, the Cypress Tree Tunnel is a must visit. It is a row of massive Monterrey Cyprus trees alongside a long road, creating a tree tunnel. At the end of the tunnel is the Maritime Radio Station that supports ship to land radio communications. The tunnel commemorates 90 years of radio and communications history in Point Reyes.
The Cypress Tree Tunnel is truly charming. What I love is that the road is completely blocked off and there are no cars. It’s truly a special place to take a pretty shot.
Chimney Rock
We ended our day hiking Chimney Rock. Chimney Rock is at the very tip of the Point Reyes Peninsula. The trail 1.9 miles round trip and will take you less than an hour to complete. There is barely any elevation change, and you can totally hike this in sneakers. In the spring, you’ll find wildflowers along the path. If you’re lucky, you might be able see seals on the bottom of the cliff. The views are gorgeous, and you’ll be able to get the best pictures of the Peninsula’s landscape.
It is windy, so be careful around the cliffs!
