Coastal Waterfalls in Point Reyes
After a rather lazy start to our Sunday morning, Tara and I decided to hop in the car and head for Point Reyes National Seashore. A friend of ours had posted a beautiful photo of Alamere Falls on Instagram the day before, so naturally we wanted to go check it out.
We drove the scenic route along the coast which took about an hour from Mill Valley with a little traffic. The parking lot at the Palomarin Trail Head was full, so the rangers had us park a half mile down on the side of the road. This made the hike just over 9 miles round trip, but we didn’t mind the added distance (#ultrarunners). We arrived around noon, so for those wanting a spot in the main lot, then plan to get there early in the morning or go on a weekday. There are bathrooms at the trail entrance which is nice, especially if you’re driving in from the city. But there is no running water, so come prepared.
It was quite cool and overcast at the beginning of the hike, but we quickly ditched our long sleeves as the sun started to burn away the fog. We took Palomarin Trail from the parking lot and continued onto Coastal Trail after a tenth of a mile. The hike down to the falls features coastal views, eucalyptus groves, exposed bluffs, lush vegetation, and a couple of lakes.
We almost missed the entrance to the Alamere Falls Trail shortly after we passed the second lake on our left (Pelican Lake). The park website actually says the trail is closed due to erosion which we didn’t know until we got back home. The website suggests taking “the Coast Trail to Wildcat Camp, then hiking south down the beach until you see the falls.” The trail we took was much more direct, but it was so overgrown that it was difficult for even just one person to fit through. We’ll probably just take the longer route next time.
Once we made it to the creek, we climbed down a series of extremely steep paths winding in and out of the falls and cliffs.
The numerous smaller falls were a nice surprise, so we spent some time exploring the area and taking it all in. Then we made our way onto the beach for the main attraction — a beautiful 40 foot water drop right onto the beach.
We hung out in the sand for a while, mainly due to the amount of people making it difficult to get a clean photo of the falls. We’ll definitely head out earlier next time. The trek back was pleasant as it had warmed up quite a bit, and we even saw a few people cooling off in the lake. We really enjoyed this hike and are already discussing a return trip, maybe with some running involved!
Data/Maps
- 9 miles, 1500 ft elevation, 2 1/2 hours
- Strava activity (GPS)
- Point Reyes Trail Maps (look for South District Trail Map)
Heading home…
Stopping in Stinson Beach on the way back is highly recommended. There is free parking all day in the lots along the beach, and you should have no problem getting a spot in the afternoon, even on a busy weekend.
We ate dinner at the Siren Canteen (open Friday through Monday) which is located right on the beach, at the base of the lifeguard tower. And of course we both had milkshakes :)
