If you wish to make this an overnight adventure and camp at Wildcat Camp, you will need to get permits online or visit a Point Reyes National Seashore Visitor's Center.

There may be poison oak and ticks along the route, so long pants are preferable.

A large portion of this trail is unshaded, so you'll want to bring a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen.

Make sure you have enough water for a day hike: 2-3 Liters as well as enough snacks.

Once you get to the falls, take in the scenery, snap a few photos, and refuel, then you'll have to scramble back up to the Coast Trail and head back the way you came. Keep in mind that to help maintain the natural area around the falls and to ensure a safer hike for you and anyone with you, the National Park service recommends that you hike to Wildcat Camp and then take the beach south back toward the waterfall. This last descent is slippery with loose gravel and can get very crowded at times making this a very challenging area. From here, head further down the trail to get to the beach this is where the main waterfall is located. The first takes you just above the main part of the falls, where there are a few smaller waterfalls. There is an optional shortcut to this hike, but it is NOT sanctioned or maintained by the National Park Service. There is a small trail off the left of the Coast Trail when heading to the falls. with shrubbery and potential for contact with poison oak. As you get to the top of the falls, there are two steep parts that require some scrambling. To get back the parking lot, simply head back to Wildcat Camp and then hike back along the Coast Trail. Visit for current tide projection for Point Reyes National Seashore.

It's important that you check the tide levels before heading out on this trail to make sure that you're going while the tide is heading out and is sufficiently low. Keep this place in mind as you may want to jump in to cool off on the way back! From here, you'll continue on the Coast Trail until you pass Wildcat Lake and arrive at Wildcat Camp for a total of 5.5 miles.įrom Wildcat, you'll hike south for approximately 1.25 miles along the beach back the way you came.

This is a great spot to stop for a second and get drink or snack. The second half of the hike prior to reaching the coast is covered and wooded.Īpproximately 3 miles into the hike you'll see signs for Bass Lake. For the first couple of miles, the trail is fairly exposed and can get warm on sunny days. From there, the trail continues on the Coast Trail and is pretty straight forward as you head to the falls. Don't be afraid to take a picture of the map if you're worried about getting lost or bring a copy of the map from the NPS website (it's never a bad idea to have a paper reference). After about 2 minutes on the trail, you'll see a map on your right that lays out the trail to the falls as well as a few campground (Sky, Wildcat, etc.). Start at the Palomarin Trailhead located in the parking lot near the restrooms and head out on the Coast Trail. Please note, dogs and drones are NOT permitted on this. The trailhead is located in Bolinas, California just about an hour north of San Francisco over the Golden Gate Bridge. The hike to Alamere falls is a 13.5 mile out-and-back trail through the Point Reyes National Seashore. The parking area can get very crowded, especially on weekends, so best to get there before 8am (and on a weekday) if possible. The trail is open year-round unless closed due to special restrictions (see nps.gov). If you hike to falls during the summer, take a swim in Bass Lake on the way back to the trailhead. Enjoy stunning views of the pacific combined with varying terrain through forests, tall brush, and exposed dirt trails. This is extremely unique because there are only 34 tide falls in the world and two in California, the other being McWay Falls in Big Sur. It is known as a tide fall because it empties directly into the Pacific Ocean. This trail will take you to a 40’ waterfall (tidefall) on the coast of Point Reyes National Seashore.Īlamere Falls is the tallest waterfall in the bay area. Head out to Alamere Falls via Palomarin Trailhead located near Bolinas, California.

Bolinas waterfall hike