TRAVEL BASICS

Operating Hours, Seasons
The park is open daily (with overnight camping available by permit only) from sunrise to sunset throughout the year. Visitor center hours are as follows: Bear Valley Visitor Center, weekdays, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., weekends and holidays 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Lighthouse Visitor Center, Thursday through Monday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Lighthouse stairs and exhibits (weather permitting), 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Lens Room open as weather & staffing permit, all Lighthouse facilities closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays; Ken Patrick Visitor Center, weekends and holidays, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. All visitor centers are closed December 25.

Getting There
PLANE - The closest major airports are San Francisco International and Oakland Airport. You will most likely need to rent a car to reach the park.

CAR - Point Reyes is located approximately 35 miles north of San Francisco on Highway 1 along the west coast of California. Travelers may approach the park from the winding scenic Highway 1, either northbound or southbound. You can also reach the park via Sir Francis Drake Boulevard or Point Reyes/Petaluma Road.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - Limited public transportation is provided by Golden Gate Transit (GGT) and the West Marin Stagecoach. For more information on GGT and to access GGT schedules and maps, check http://www.transitinfo.org/GGT/ or call 415-923-2000 from San Francisco, 415-455-2000 from Marin County or 707-541-2000 from Sonoma County. To reach Point Reyes National Seashore by GGT bus, you will want to take the #65 bus from the San Rafael Transit Center at 3rd and Hetherton. The bus runs only on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. The West Marin Stagecoach runs on weekdays between Inverness and San Anselmo. For more information, check http://www.marin-stagecoach.org/ or call 415-499-6099.

Weather & Climate
Point Reyes Peninsula's climate is characterized by warm, dry summers and cool, rainy winters, similar to the type of climate that prevails on the Mediterranean. Usually, there are constant winds of moderate to strong velocity on the exposed headlands and outer beaches. Headlands and beaches on the Pacific Coast are subjected to frequent heavy fogs. Such heavy fogs are most common in the months of July, August and September. Sunshine and higher temperatures occur inland. The east side of Inverness Ridge and the beaches of Tomales Bay are sheltered from the summit of the ridge westward to the ocean, leaving sunny areas for picnicking and swimming. Inland temperatures in the summer are often 20 degrees warmer than temperatures on the Headlands and outer coast. The rainy season is December through March. Dressing in layered clothing is recommended.

Getting Around
To visit attractions beyond Bear Valley, such as the Lighthouse, the beaches or Tomales Point, most visitors tour Point Reyes by private automobile. Due to limited parking at the Lighthouse and Chimney Rock areas, on good-weather weekends during the whale-watching season (usually the last weekend of December through early April), Sir Francis Drake Blvd. is closed to private automobiles beyond South Beach from 9 am to 5:15 pm. To visit these locations, visitors must park at the Drake’s Beach parking lot and ride the buses provided. Bus tickets may be purchased inside the Ken Patrick Visitor Center at Drake’s Beach between 9 am and 3 pm. Buses leave every 15 –20 minutes between 9 am and 3:30 pm. Tickets are $5/person, children 12 years or younger ride free.

FEES/PERMITS
Activity Fee
SHUTTLE BUS
$4.00 per person over 12yr for Day
On weekends from late December to mid-April when the weather is good, the west end of Sir Francis Drake Blvd is closed to vehicle traffic. Shuttle buses transport visitors to the lighthouse and Chimney Rock areas. Shuttle tickets may be purchased at Drakes Beach. The shuttle buses run approximately every 20 minutes and service the headlands area from Drakes Beach to the Lighthouse parking lot to Chimney Rock parking lot back to Drakes Beach. Children 12 years and under ride free. Shuttles are cancelled if weather is poor.
Permits
BACKCOUNTRY CAMPING ($10 INDIVIDUAL SITE, 1-6 PEOPLE) ($12 AS OF MARCH 1, 2003)
$10.00 per site, per night for Day
There are four hike-in campgrounds with individual sites. Boat-in only camping is permitted on Tomales Bay. Backcountry permits are available at the Bear Valley Visitor Center or by reservation. Reservations are strongly recommended (especially for weekends) and may be made Monday through Friday 9 am to 2 pm by calling(415) 663-8054. Fees will increase as of March 1, 2003.
BACKCOUNTRY CAMPING ($20 SMALL GROUP SITE, 7-14 PEOPLE)($25 AS OF MARCH 1, 2003)
$20.00 per site, per night for Day
There are three hike-in campgrounds with groups sites. Boat-in only camping is permitted on Tomales Bay. Backcountry permits are available at the Bear Valley Visitor Center or by reservation. Reservations are strongly recommended (especially for weekends) and may be made Monday through Friday 9 am to 2 pm by calling(415) 663-8054. Fees will increase as of March 1, 2003.
BACKCOUNTRY CAMPING ($30 LARGE GROUP SITE, 15-25 PEOPLE)($35 AS OF MARCH 1, 2003)
$30.00 per site, per night for Day
There are three hike-in campgrounds with group sites. Boat-in only camping is permitted on Tomales Bay. Backcountry permits are available at the Bear Valley Visitor Center or by reservation. Reservations are strongly recommended (especially for weekends) and may be made Monday through Friday 9 am to 2 pm by calling(415) 663-8054. Fees will increase as of March 1, 2003.
CAMPING
Backpacking Camps - General Information
Open All Year
Point Reyes offers backpackers four campgrounds from which to choose. (There is no car camping at Point Reyes National Seashore. Dogs are not allowed on any trail or in the designated campgrounds.) Each campground has designated sites. As of March 1, 2003 camping fees increased to: $12/site/night for sites of up to 6 people, $25/site/night for group sites for 7-14 people, and $35/site/night for group sites for 15-25 people. A credit card is required for phone reservations. Payment is due at the time the reservation is made. There are no refunds given for weather, illness, etc. Once the payment has been made, the site is guaranteed for your stay. However, a permit must still be picked up before beginning your trip. Those arriving after the Bear Valley Visitor Center has closed (usually after 5 pm) should look for their permit in the after hours box on the information board in front of the building. Each campsite has a picnic table, food storage locker and a charcoal brazier. (Only charcoal may be burned in the grill, not wood.) Each campground has pit toilets and a water faucet. Water may need to be treated using iodine tablets, boiling for one minute or filtering with a commercial filter. Do not drink water from streams without treating.
For More Information on this campground please call 415-663-8054, 9-2, M-F

Boat-in Beach Camping on Tomales Bay
Open All Year
BOAT-IN CAMPING ONLY (no hiking). No dogs allowed. Boat-in camping is allowed on national seashore beaches on the west side of Tomales Bay, beginning north of Indian Beach in Tomales Bay State Park. Disposing of human waste in the bay or onto park beaches is prohibited, so campers must bring portable facilities or limit camping to Marshall Beach or Tomales Beach, where pit toilets are available. There is no potable water available. There are seasonal closures on some beaches. Check with the seashore reservation office for updates. As of March 1, 2003 camping fees increased to: $12/site/night for sites of up to 6 people, $25/site/night for group sites for 7-14 people, and $35/site/night for group sites for 15-25 people. A credit card is required for phone reservations. Payment is due at the time the reservation is made. There are no refunds given for weather, illness, etc. Once the payment has been made, your site is guaranteed for your stay. However, a permit must still be picked up before beginning your trip. Those arriving after the visitor center has closed (usually after 5 pm), should look for their permit in the after hours box on the information board in front of the building.
For More Information on this campground please call 415-663-8054, 9-2 M-F

Coast Camp
Open All Year
Backpack or bicycle only. No dogs allowed. Coast Camp is nestled within a small coastal valley with easy access to the beach and tidepools. It includes one of the easiest hikes of all routes to Point Reyes campgrounds. The shortest hike to this camp is 1.8 miles. The beach is within easy access from the camp.
For More Information on this campground please call 415-663-8054, 9-2 M-F

Glen Camp
Open All Year
Backpack or bicycle only. No groups, horses or pack animals allowed. No dogs allowed. Glen Camp is a quiet and secluded camp deep within the Douglas fir forest. The shortest hike to this camp is a moderate 4.6 miles by foot or bicycle. It is a 2.5 mile strenuous hike to the beach.
For More Information on this campground please call 415-663-8054, 9-2 M-F

Sky Camp
Open All Year
Backpack or bicycle only. No dogs allowed. Sky Camp lies on the western slope of Mt. Wittenberg overlooking the Pacific Ocean. In clear weather, this area has wonderful ocean views. The shortest hike for this camp is 1.3 miles on foot or bicycle. It is a 4.5 mile moderately strenuous to hike to the beach.
For More Information on this campground please call 415-663-8054, 9-2 M-F

Wildcat Camp
Open All Year
Backpack or bicycle only. No dogs allowed. Wildcat Camp is located on the coast near the the southern end of the Seashore. The shortest hiking route is a moderate 5.5 mile hike along the Coast Trail from Palomarin. The only biking route is 6.7 miles from Five Brooks on the strenuous Stewart Trail. The beach is a short walk from camp.
For More Information on this campground please call 415-663-8054, 9-2 M-F

LODGING
Hostelling International - Point Reyes
Open All Year
The only lodging within Point Reyes National Seashore (other than backcountry camping) is the Hostelling International-Point Reyes. They offer dormitory style accommodations, as well as one private room for parents with children 5 years of age or younger. Please call for more information between 7:30 am to 10:00 am or 4:30 pm - 9:30 pm. Or visit their website at http://www.norcalhostels.org/pointreyes.html.
For More Information on this lodging please call 415-663-8811

Surrounding communities offer lodging
There are other lodging opportunities in the surrounding communities. Please see our expanded website at http://www.nps.gov/pore/visit_services.htm for a listing of lodging networks in the area.

FACILITIES
BEAR VALLEY VISITOR CENTER
Open All Year Mon. - Fri. 9 am - 5 pm, Sat. - Sun. 8 am - 5 pm
Phone - (415) 464-5100
Location - Bear Valley Road in Olema, CA.
Closures - Closed December 25.
Exhibits - The Bear Valley Visitor Center was designed to blend in with its natural surroundings and with the historically significant ranching culture of this area. It is located in the heart of the Olema Valley. The interior exhibit space provides a glimpse into the diverse ecosystems and cultural heritage of the park and includes a weather station, seismograph, touch table, auditorium, and book sales area.
Available Facilities - The park's primary visitor center provides an orientation to the park's roads, trails and general history. A dramatic slide program is available upon request. Restrooms are available 24 hours a day. Reservations and permits for backcountry camping, as well as beach fire permits can be obtained here.

KENNETH C. PATRICK VISITOR CENTER
Open All Year Weekends and Holidays, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Memorial Day to Labor Day Friday - Tuesday, 10 am - 5 pm
Phone - (415) 669-1250
Location - 30 minutes from Bear Valley on Drakes Beach off Sir Frances Drake Blvd.
Closures - Closed Monday through Friday and December 25.
Special Programs - Labor Day Sunday Sand Sculpture Contest each year.
Exhibits - Located at beautiful Drakes Beach, exhibits in this facility focus on 16th century maritime exploration, marine fossils and marine environments. A 250 gallon salt water aquarium highlights life from Drakes Bay. A minke whale skeleton is suspended from the ceiling.
Available Facilities - Restrooms and outdoor shower are available. There is a pay phone, picnic tables, and bar-b-que grills nearby. Drakes Beach Cafe is located next door.

LIGHTHOUSE VISITOR CENTER
Open All Year Thursday through Monday, 10:00 am - 4:30 pm
Phone - (415) 669-1534
Location - 45 minutes from Bear Valley on the Point Reyes Headlands, at the end of Sir Frances Drake Blvd. There is a .5 mile walk (mostly uphill) from the parking lot to the Lighthouse Visitor Center.
Closures - Closed Tuesday and Wednesday every week. Closed December 25.
Exhibits - The visitor center offers exhibits on whales, wildflowers, birds and maritime history.
Available Facilities - Restrooms are available.

POINT REYES HISTORIC LIGHTHOUSE
Open All Year Thur. - Mon. 10:00 am - 4:30 pm Weather permitting
Phone - (415) 669-1534
Location - The lighthouse itself is a short 0.5 miles from the parking area down some 300 steps - the equivalent of 30 stories.
Closures - Closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Closed when wind speeds exceed 40 miles per hour.
Special Programs - The lens room and clockwork area are open as staffing and weather conditions permit. Evening programs illuminating the historic light occurs on the first and third Saturday each month, April through December. There is no fee. However, reservations are required. Please Call (415) 669-1534 10:00 am - 4:30 pm.
Exhibits - The equipment building exhibits the fog signal used at Point Reyes. The historic lighthouse has exhibits panels on the history of the light and the keepers. The lens room includes the original clockworks and the 130 year old first order Fresnel lens in working condition.

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