When to go
Weather, crowds, and what the season changes about the trip.
Spring
Green hills, wildflowers, and variable weather, with wind and fog on the headlands.
Pack Wind shell, layers, and footwear for muddy coastal trails.
Summer
Cool and famously foggy on the coast, often gray and breezy even when inland is hot.
Pack Warm layers, a wind shell, and low expectations for sun on the headlands.
Fall
Often the clearest, calmest season, with mild days and the best chance of sun.
Pack Layers, a wind shell, and early reservations for the popular trails.
Winter
Cool, green, and wet, with prime gray-whale watching from the lighthouse on clear days.
Pack Rain shell, warm layers, and traction for steep, slick lighthouse stairs.
Top things to do
Point Reyes Lighthouse
The classic windswept lighthouse, reached by a long staircase. One of the best land-based gray-whale watching spots in winter.
Tomales Point Trail
A coastal ridge hike through the tule-elk reserve, with ocean on both sides and big chances to see elk.
Chimney Rock and the elephant seals
A short headland walk with wildflowers in spring and an elephant-seal overlook in winter breeding season.
Alamere Falls
A rare tidefall that drops onto the beach, reached by a long coastal hike from the Palomarin trailhead.
Anchor the day around Point Reyes Lighthouse
Put the access rule first: shuttle, parking, timed-entry, or reservation windows should decide the order of the day. For one day in Point Reyes National Seashore, make Point Reyes Lighthouse the non-negotiable, add Tomales Point Trail only if the first stop runs clean, and keep Chimney Rock and the elephant seals as the flexible finish.
- 1Start with Point Reyes Lighthouse: The classic windswept lighthouse, reached by a long staircase. One of the best land-based gray-whale watching spots in winter.
- 2Add Tomales Point Trail: A coastal ridge hike through the tule-elk reserve, with ocean on both sides and big chances to see elk.
- 3Use Chimney Rock and the elephant seals as the optional finish, not as a reason to rush the whole day.
Plan your trip
Turn Point Reyes's conditions into water, pack, and sleep-system decisions.
Build around access
Plan the transfer before the trail list.
Plan your trip
4 quick tools, already seeded for Point Reyes National Seashore. Tune the route, pack weight, weather margin, and overnight setup after the access plan is real.
What to pack
Start with the gear decisions this park changes: footing, weather, camping, and water.
Kit Authority
Point Reyes National Seashore packing list
0 of 22 packed. Check items as you pack, then take this list to the store, trailhead, or campsite.
Pack planning
Decide what Point Reyes National Seashore asks of your kit before you start checking boxes.
Use this as a constraint check while you are still shaping the trip. The active checklist becomes useful once your route, dates, and sleep plan are set.
- First constraintHydration and exposureWater, Electrolyte mix, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, 4 more
- Route realityFooting and tractionHiking boots, Hiking socks, Trekking poles
- Load choicePack and carry systemBackpacking pack
- If overnightSleep and shelterBackpacking tent, Sleeping bag, Sleeping pad, 1 more
Checklist mode
22 items, grouped for the trip you are actually taking.
- Dates and season are set.
- Primary route, campground, or lodge is chosen.
- Water, footwear, and overnight needs are sized.
One researched pick
The first gear decision for Point Reyes National Seashore
A stable daypack is the one purchase that organizes water, layers, food, first aid, and the small safety margin.
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THE DAY-HIKE PICK
Osprey Talon 22
- Volume
- 22 L
- Weight
- 2 lb 1 oz (945 g)
- Back Panel
- AirScape foam with ventilation channels
- Hipbelt Pockets
- 2 zippered
- Hydration
- Compatible up to 3 L reservoir (sold separately)
- Warranty
- All Mighty Guarantee (lifetime repair or replace)
The Talon 22 is the daypack you see on the trail more than any other for good reason: it packs in a padded hipbelt, adjustable torso harness, and dual hipbelt pockets into a 22-liter package that handles loads up to 20 lb without complaint. Owners across hundreds of Amazon ratings consistently cite its adjustability and durability as standouts.
- Adjustable torso fit covers a wide range of body sizes
- Padded hipbelt and dual hipbelt pockets at this size are rare
- At 2 lb 1 oz it runs heavier than ultralight rivals for the same volume
Best for
Hikers who want a proven all-around daypack with solid load support, plenty of adjustment, and a warranty they can actually use.
Gear for Point Reyes
The buying guides that match what Point Reyes asks of your kit, with our current top picks across budget and use case.
Where to stay
If you want to camp in the park, you backpack to one of the four hike-in campgrounds (Sky, Coast, Glen, Wildcat) or paddle to a Tomales Bay boat-in site, all by permit on Recreation.gov. For lodging, the gateway towns of Point Reyes Station, Olema, and Inverness sit at the edge of the seashore, with inns and rentals; the broader Marin and San Francisco area is within easy reach for day trips.
Camping reservations
Camping reservations
Point Reyes camping is hike-in or boat-in only, reserved on Recreation.gov.
There is no drive-up campground at Point Reyes. The seashore has four backcountry hike-in campgrounds and a set of Tomales Bay boat-in sites, all by reservation. Permits go fast, so book the day your window opens.
Reviewed June 11, 2026
Booking window
Reserve a backcountry permit on Recreation.gov in advance, often three months to the day ahead. Camping is limited to four nights per visit and 30 nights per year. Sites are about $30 per night for up to six people.
- The four hike-in campgrounds are Sky, Coast, Glen, and Wildcat. There are also boat-in sites on Tomales Bay.
- No vehicle camping is available inside the seashore; every site requires hiking or paddling in.
- Permits are competitive and frequently reserved the moment the three-month window opens.
Where to book or verify
Official NPS page on the hike-in and boat-in campgrounds and permit rules.
Recreation.gov listing for the seashore's backcountry permits.
Check for federal campground, backcountry, tour, and permit inventory tied to this park.
All Point Reyes camping requires a reserved permit on Recreation.gov.
Campgrounds to know
Coast Campground
Details- Booking
- Reserve on Recreation.gov, up to three months ahead.
- Season
- Year-round.
- Sites
- Hike-in sites near the coast, a relatively short and popular walk in.
- One of the easier backcountry campgrounds to reach, which makes it competitive. About $30 per night.
Wildcat Campground
Details- Booking
- Reserve on Recreation.gov, up to three months ahead.
- Season
- Year-round.
- Sites
- Hike-in sites above the beach, near the Alamere Falls area.
- A longer hike in, well placed for the Alamere Falls and southern coast. About $30 per night.
Sky and Glen campgrounds
Details- Booking
- Reserve on Recreation.gov, up to three months ahead.
- Season
- Year-round.
- Sites
- Inland hike-in sites in the forested hills.
- Quieter, more sheltered options away from the immediate coast. About $30 per night.
Getting there and practical info
Make the transfer plan before the trail plan.
Weather windows, boat schedules, flight buffers, and backup days shape what is realistic.
Getting there
Get to Point Reyes National Seashore by solving the transfer first.
- Nearest airport
- San Francisco International (SFO) about 1.5 to 2 hours
- Access rhythm
- Park once, ride in
- Region
- California
Car strategy
Drive about 1.5 to 2 hours north from San Francisco through Marin County, then out winding roads to the headlands and trailheads.
Car strategy
A car is essential: the park is large, distances between trailheads are long, and there is no public transit to most sights.
Shuttle access
In winter, a seasonal shuttle sometimes serves the lighthouse and Chimney Rock area on busy weekends.
Pair this with lodging: the best base is the one that protects the departure window, pickup point, or weather buffer.
Can you photograph here? Permit and drone rules
California is the exception: the California Film Commission itself issues free permits for all state property, including state parks, beaches, and highways.
- Permit
- Usually fine for personal shoots; commercial or large productions can need a permit
- Drones
- Commercial drone work requires FAA Part 107
- Land
- Yes: you can photograph what is visible from public space in the US
From our photography sister site, Aperture Authority. Verified 2026-07-01.
Frequently asked questions
Can you camp at Point Reyes National Seashore?
Yes, but only by hiking or paddling in. There is no drive-up campground. The four hike-in campgrounds (Sky, Coast, Glen, Wildcat) and the Tomales Bay boat-in sites all require a reserved permit on Recreation.gov, about $30 per night, often booked three months ahead.
Is there an entrance fee for Point Reyes National Seashore?
No. Point Reyes charges no entrance fee. The only camping cost is the backcountry permit fee for the hike-in or boat-in sites.
When is the best time to visit Point Reyes?
Late summer and fall are often clearest, since the coast is famously foggy in midsummer. Winter and spring bring gray-whale watching from the lighthouse, elephant seals at Chimney Rock, and green hills with wildflowers.
Where can you see the tule elk at Point Reyes?
The Tomales Point Trail runs through the tule-elk reserve at the north end of the peninsula and is the most reliable place to see the herd, with the ocean on both sides of the ridge.