Point Reyes National Seashore
Point Reyes was one of the first “nearby” trips Andrew and I decided to take. It is about an hour out of San Francisco and only about a four-hour drive from Reno, Nevada (where I am from).
It is a beautiful location, that is often not known by many people. You can hit most of the popular locations in Point Reyes in a single day making it the perfect spot for a fun day trip or even better, a nice weekend trip! Andrew and I did a day trip here and we definitely want to go back and stay for a whole weekend.
Point Reyes is full of beautiful landscapes, great beaches, hiking trails, delicious food, and more! Just know that you won’t be able to do everything in one single day, but you will see and do plenty!
Here is how Andrew and I spent our day trip exploring…
Stop 1: The Cypress Tree Tunnels
Andrew and I set out from Reno around 6 AM to maximize our time in Point Reyes for the day. What initially drew me into the location was the Cypress Tree Tunnels. You have probably seen them all over Pinterest and TikTok and let me tell you, seeing them in person does not disappoint.
I was initially nervous that it was going to be packed upon arrival but when we got there, there were only a few other people there. I personally recommend going earlier in the morning if you want to avoid any crowds. We arrived a little bit before 10 AM and found this was perfect for us. We had the tunnels nearly to ourselves for about 40 minutes before more people started arriving.
Whether you just want to take in the beauty of the Cypress trees or get that perfect IG photo, this is a must-do stop. It’s free to visit. When we went, the gate was closed, but do not worry. You can still go in and walk the area and take your photos. The gate remains closed to protect the trees. We parked on the main road. I would carve 30 minutes to an hour at this location. More than likely, you’ll only need around 20-30 minutes.
Stop 2: The Point Reyes Lighthouse
After seeing the beautiful Cypress Tree Tunnels, we headed to the Point Reyes Lighthouse. I did do some research before we visited and there is limited parking on the way to the lighthouse. The parking lot is free but it only accommodates 38 cars with some additional road parking available. For this reason, we chose to make the lighthouse our second stop. Parking is harder to find later in the afternoon, according to their website (https://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/lighthouse.htm).
Once you park, you will have to walk a bit to actually get to the deck and then additionally climb downstairs to get to the actual lighthouse. The walk is mainly uphill but less than .5 a mile. I am not the biggest hiker and I found that it wasn’t too bad. Take your time on the walk! It is beautiful, there are several overlook points and cool trees along the way.
Unfortunately, when we went, we could only walk to the Observation Deck. The stairs leading down to the lighthouse were closed. When we visited, it was still closed due to COVID, but the stairs may also be closed when there are high winds.
Despite not being able to climb down the 313 steps to the lighthouse, standing at the Observation Deck was an absolutely beautiful view. You are able to see the lighthouse from above and looking out you are also able to see Point Reyes Beach and Tomales Point. On super clear days, there is, even more, to be seen. It is a popular location for watching the sunset and whale watching. For these reasons, I recommend going even if the stairs down to the lighthouse are closed. The Observation Deck is open until around 9:45 pm every day.
If you do get the chance to go down the stairs, I recommend checking out the website I linked above to get information about the visitor center, the hours the stairs are open, and just some general tips for the stairs! We were bummed we didn’t make it down there but we will be back!
The walk up to the lighthouse
Stop 3: Point Reyes Shipwreck
If you’re looking to check out the famous Point Reyes shipwreck, GPS actually makes it quite easy. Type in Point Reyes Shipwreck and it will route you to a parking lot that is right next to the shipwreck. At first, it may be a little confusing because the parking lot appears to be for a convenience store, but I promise you are in the right place!
If you look out, you’ll quickly see the S.S Point Reyes and the walk is not far at all. Funny story, that the shipwreck is a pretty average story. It was purchased by a resident who meant to fix it up and just never got around to it. However, it quickly became a landmark for the town because of how often it was photographed.
The fishing boat is incredibly old and should be visited with great care. We walked up close to the boat but did not touch it or climb on it. It was actually damaged a few years ago by a fire, so it is not safe to climb. The city asks that the landmark be respected and admired without causing further damage.
We took some quick photos at the location and then we were off! We were probably only there for about 15-20 minutes (it started raining so we did a quick stop). The location was relatively empty with only two other people leaving as we arrived. When we did go, there was some water leading up the boat. Depending on the time of year you go, there may be more water preventing you from getting closer. In January, when we went, there was some water but we could still walk right up to the ship.
A blurry screenshot from a video we took while it was starting to rain
The remainder of the day…
After the shipwreck, it was only about 3 PM, however, with the heavy downpour, it cut out our last 2 stops of the trip. We were going to end our day with a late lunch at an oyster place. The oysters are said to be some of the best and we were really eager to try them (we were recommended Hog Island Oyster Bar). After lunch, we were going to spend the last hour or so exploring the town of Point Reyes Station. Small towns often have hidden gyms and we always like to support local restauraunts. We used this link (https://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/restaurants.htm) for reference to where we could eat or get a snack in the town.
Other stop recommendations
Like we said, you won’t get to everything in one day and there are plenty of other options if one of the above stops isn’t for you. You can go whale watching depending on the season, head to the beach, or go on one of their many hiking trails.
If you are spending the weekend there, Bolinas, a nearby coastal town is a great option for something a little more “cool and carefree vibes”
Where to stay for a weekend trip
Although we only did a day trip, originally, I was considering a weekend trip and looked into a few hotels. Here are a few that I had on my list that had great reviews.
Olema House
Point Reyes Vineyard Inn
Nicks Cove
There are also plenty of Airbnbs available if that is more your speed
What to wear
Lastly and probably one of the most important is, what do you wear? You never know what to expect in Point Reyes.
When Andrew and I went, we went in January. Naturally, we figured it would be a bit colder during that time of the year especially near the water. I wore jeans, a long sleeve and I brought a puffer jacket with me. My boyfriend wore jeans, a sweater and had a windbreaker. It was still cold but we found this worked for us with the wind at least until it started raining.
My biggest advice is to prepare for any kind of weather. If you are going in the warmer months, I still advise bringing some sort of sweater or something to throw over. Their weather can be unpredictable so layer, layer, layer.
I also recommend a good sturdy pair of shoes. I was in pink sneakers, which probably wasn’t the best option, especially if you plan to hike. Bring an extra pair of shoes if you need them for photos and of course, don’t forget the sunscreen!
Point Reyes truly is a hidden gem and you should visit it at some point in your life! I hope this blog post helps you plan your day or stay there a little bit better. Immerse yourself in the quaint town, take in the stunning views and enjoy the beautiful and unique nature. It will definitely be a visit you’ll remember.
P.S. If you want some footage of how the day looked for us, I did film a vlog!
