Directions to Park Destinations via Sir Francis Drake Boulevard

 

Tip: There are road signs at all major intersections along the way indicating which way to turn to get to the Lighthouse. Follow the signs for "Lighthouse" until you see a sign for your destination.

Tip: Some of the park's roads and parking lots are closed to or do not have space for recreational vehicles (RVs) and vehicles pulling trailers. If you are traveling with a trailer or are driving an RV towing a passenger vehicle, consider unhitching at the bus/RV/trailer-only parking lot at Bear Valley and taking only the passenger vehicle as you travel park roads. more...

 

Directions to Cross Marin Trailhead

Allow 10 minutes for the drive from the Bear Valley Visitor Center.

  • From the Bear Valley Visitor Center, head north 0.2 miles (0.3 km) to Bear Valley Road.
  • Turn right and follow Bear Valley Road 0.5 miles (0.8 km) east to Highway 1.
  • Turn right and head south on Highway 1 for 0.1 mile (0.2 km) to the flashing stop light in Olema.
  • Turn left and head up and over the ridge for 1.8 miles (2.9 km). Parking is available along the old road alignment to the north of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard west of the bridge across Lagunitas Creek, or along the western shoulder of Platform Bridge Road, which heads north just east of the bridge. Do not park in such a way that your vehicle blocks any part of the road. The Old Tocaloma/Platform Bridge is closed to all vehicular traffic.
 

Directions to Bolinas Ridge Trailhead

Allow 10 minutes for the drive from the Bear Valley Visitor Center.

  • From the Bear Valley Visitor Center, head north 0.2 miles (0.3 km) to Bear Valley Road.
  • Turn right and follow Bear Valley Road 0.5 miles (0.8 km) east to Highway 1.
  • Turn right and head south on Highway 1 for 0.1 mile (0.2 km) to the flashing stop light in Olema.
  • Turn left and head uphill and just over the ridge crest for 1.1 miles (1.7 km). Parallel park along the paved shoulder on the south side of the road. Do not park in such a way that your vehicle blocks any part of the road.

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Directions to Olema Marsh

Allow 5 minutes for the drive from the Bear Valley Visitor Center.

  • From the Bear Valley Visitor Center, head north 0.2 miles (0.3 km) to Bear Valley Road.
  • Turn left and follow Bear Valley Road 1.2 miles (1.9 km) northwest to the Olema Marsh Road.
  • Turn right and follow this gravel road 0.1 mile (0.2 km) north to a small parking area on the east/right-hand side of the road. Olema Marsh is to the west.

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Directions to White House Pool

Allow 7 minutes for the drive from the Bear Valley Visitor Center.

  • From the Bear Valley Visitor Center, head north 0.2 miles (0.3 km) to Bear Valley Road.
  • Turn left and follow Bear Valley Road 1.75 miles (2.8 km) northwest to Sir Francis Drake Boulevard.
  • Turn right and follow Sir Francis Drake Boulevard 330 feet (100 m) east. Turn left into the White House Pool parking lot. The trail along Lagunitas Creek is at the north end of the parking lot.

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Directions to Giacomini Wetlands West Pasture Viewing Area

Allow 10 minutes for the drive from the Bear Valley Visitor Center.

  • From the Bear Valley Visitor Center, head north 0.2 miles (0.3 km) to Bear Valley Road.
  • Turn left and follow Bear Valley Road 1.75 miles (2.8 km) northwest to Sir Francis Drake Boulevard.
  • Turn left and follow Sir Francis Drake Boulevard 1.45 miles (2.3 km) northwest. Look for a relatively small gravel turnout with a split rail fence and an interpretive sign on the east/right side of the road about 0.2 miles (0.3 km) north of the Drakes View Drive junction.

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Directions to Mount Vision Road and Point Reyes Hill Trailhead

Allow 30 minutes for the drive from the Bear Valley Visitor Center.

  • From the Bear Valley Visitor Center, head north 0.2 miles (0.3 km) to Bear Valley Road.
  • Turn left and follow Bear Valley Road 1.75 miles (2.8 km) northwest to Sir Francis Drake Boulevard.
  • Turn left and follow Sir Francis Drake Boulevard 6.7 miles (10.7 km) northwest to Mount Vision Road. Tip: Follow road signs for "Lighthouse" until you see a sign for "Mt. Vision Road."
  • Turn left and follow Mount Vision Road about 3.8 miles (6.1 km) south to the Point Reyes Hill Trailhead parking lot. Please drive slowly and carefully along this windy, narrow road.

Note: Vehicles more than 24 feet long and vehicles pulling trailers are not permitted on Mount Vision Road.

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Directions to the Estero Trailhead

Allow 20 minutes for the drive from the Bear Valley Visitor Center.

  • From the Bear Valley Visitor Center, head north 0.2 miles (0.3 km) to Bear Valley Road.
  • Turn left and follow Bear Valley Road 1.75 miles (2.8 km) northwest to Sir Francis Drake Boulevard.
  • Turn left and follow Sir Francis Drake Boulevard 7.6 miles (12.2 km) northwest to the Home Ranch Road (aka Estero Trailhead Road). Tip: Follow road signs for "Lighthouse" until you see a sign for "Estero Trail."
  • Turn left and follow the Home Ranch Road 1 mile (1.6 km) south to the Estero Trailhead parking lot.

Note: The Home Ranch Road is only one lane wide and does not have many good places to pull off. Drive slowly and cautiously. Recreational vehicles and vehicles pulling trailers are discouraged from using this road.

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Directions to the Drakes Estero Kayak Launch Site

Allow 20 minutes for the drive from the Bear Valley Visitor Center.

  • From the Bear Valley Visitor Center, head north 0.2 miles (0.3 km) to Bear Valley Road.
  • Turn left and follow Bear Valley Road 1.75 miles (2.8 km) northwest to Sir Francis Drake Boulevard.
  • Turn left and follow Sir Francis Drake Boulevard 8.4 miles (13.4 km) west. Tip: Follow road signs for "Lighthouse" until you see a sign for "Drakes Estero" located just before Schooner Creek.
  • Turn left and proceed 0.7 miles (1.1 km) south on a dirt/gravel road to the small parking area adjacent to the kayak launch site's vault toilets.

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Directions to the Historic Life-saving Service and Historic G Ranch Cemetery

Allow 20 minutes for the drive from the Bear Valley Visitor Center.

  • From the Bear Valley Visitor Center, head north 0.2 miles (0.3 km) to Bear Valley Road.
  • Turn left and follow Bear Valley Road 1.75 miles (2.8 km) northwest to Sir Francis Drake Boulevard.
  • Turn left and follow Sir Francis Drake Boulevard 8.55 miles (13.7 km) west. Tip: Follow road signs for "Lighthouse" until you see a sign for "Historic Life-saving Station Cemetery" just past Schooner Creek.
  • Turn right and proceed 0.2 miles (0.3 km) north to the small parking area on the right side of the road. The trail to the cemetery starts on the left side of the road and leads up a short hill into the trees.

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Directions to the North District Operation Center, Historic RCA Coast Receiving Station KPH, and Cypress Tree Tunnel

Allow 25 minutes for the drive from the Bear Valley Visitor Center.

  • From the Bear Valley Visitor Center, head north 0.2 miles (0.3 km) to Bear Valley Road.
  • Turn left and follow Bear Valley Road 1.75 miles (2.8 km) northwest to Sir Francis Drake Boulevard.
  • Turn left and follow Sir Francis Drake Boulevard 9.5 miles (15.2 km) west.
  • Follow road signs for "Lighthouse" until you see a sign for "North District Operation Center."
  • Parallel park on the shoulder along Sir Francis Drake Boulevard.
  • On foot, follow the driveway 0.25 miles (0.4 km) north to the Historic RCA Coast Receiving Station.

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Directions to the Bull Point Trailhead

Allow 25 minutes for the drive from the Bear Valley Visitor Center.

  • From the Bear Valley Visitor Center, head north 0.2 miles (0.3 km) to Bear Valley Road.
  • Turn left and follow Bear Valley Road 1.75 miles (2.8 km) northwest to Sir Francis Drake Boulevard.
  • Turn left and follow Sir Francis Drake Boulevard 5 miles (8 km) west to the Bull Point Trailhead. Tip: Follow road signs for "Lighthouse" until you see a sign for "Bull Point Trail."

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Directions to the North Beach parking lot

Allow 25 minutes for the drive from the Bear Valley Visitor Center.

  • From the Bear Valley Visitor Center, head north 0.2 miles (0.3 km) to Bear Valley Road.
  • Turn left and follow Bear Valley Road 1.75 miles (2.8 km) northwest to Sir Francis Drake Boulevard.
  • Turn left and follow Sir Francis Drake Boulevard 11.3 miles (18.1 km) west to North Beach Road. Tip: Follow road signs for "Lighthouse" until you see a sign for North Beach.
  • Turn right and follow North Beach Road 0.6 miles (1 km) west to the North Beach parking lot.

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Directions to the Drakes Beach and the Kenneth Patrick Visitor Center

Allow 30 minutes for the drive from the Bear Valley Visitor Center.

  • From the Bear Valley Visitor Center, head north 0.2 miles (0.3 km) to Bear Valley Road.
  • Turn left and follow Bear Valley Road 1.75 miles (2.8 km) northwest to Sir Francis Drake Boulevard.
  • Turn left and follow Sir Francis Drake Boulevard 13.4 miles (21.4 km) west to Drakes Beach Road. Tip: Follow road signs for "Lighthouse" until you see a sign for "Drakes Beach."
  • Turn left and follow Drakes Beach Road 1.6 miles (2.6 km) south to the Drakes Beach parking lot.

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Directions to the South Beach parking lot

Allow 30 minutes for the drive from the Bear Valley Visitor Center.

  • From the Bear Valley Visitor Center, head north 0.2 miles (0.3 km) to Bear Valley Road.
  • Turn left and follow Bear Valley Road 1.75 miles (2.8 km) northwest to Sir Francis Drake Boulevard.
  • Turn left and follow Sir Francis Drake Boulevard 13.9 miles (22.2 km) west to South Beach Road. Tip: Follow road signs for "Lighthouse" until you see a sign for "South Beach."
  • Turn right and follow South Beach Road 0.7 miles (1.1 km) west to the South Beach parking lot.
  • To get to the beach, walk south to the restroom building, then follow the pathway leading down to the beach located just north of the restroom building. Please stay out of the dune restoration area west of the parking lot.

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Directions to the Chimney Rock Trailhead, Elephant Seal Overlook, and the Historic Point Reyes Lifeboat Station

Allow 45 minutes for the drive from the Bear Valley Visitor Center.

  • From the Bear Valley Visitor Center, head north 0.2 miles (0.3 km) to Bear Valley Road.
  • Turn left and follow Bear Valley Road 1.75 miles (2.8 km) northwest to Sir Francis Drake Boulevard.
  • Turn left and follow Sir Francis Drake Boulevard 17.6 miles (28.2 km) west to Chimney Rock Road, just south of the Historic “A” Ranch. Tip: Follow road signs for "Lighthouse" until you see a sign for "Chimney Rock."
  • Turn left and follow Chimney Rock Road 0.9 miles (1.5 km) east to the Chimney Rock Trailhead. Please drive slowly and carefully along this one-lane wide road.

Check out our Chimney Rock page for more information about visiting this beautiful location.

Note: Vehicles more than 24 feet long are not permitted on Chimney Rock Road.

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Directions to the Sea Lion Overlook

Allow 45 minutes for the drive from the Bear Valley Visitor Center.

  • From the Bear Valley Visitor Center, head north 0.2 miles (0.3 km) to Bear Valley Road.
  • Turn left and follow Bear Valley Road 1.75 miles (2.8 km) northwest to Sir Francis Drake Boulevard.
  • Turn left and follow Sir Francis Drake Boulevard 18.4 miles (29.4 km) west. The Sea Lion Overlook is on the south/left-hand side of the road 0.8 miles (1.3 km) west of the Chimney Rock Road junction (just beyond where sand frequently drifts across the road). If you reach the lighthouse visitors' parking lot, you've driven 0.2 miles (350 m) too far.

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Directions to the Point Reyes Lighthouse visitor parking lot

Allow 45 minutes for the drive from the Bear Valley Visitor Center.

  • From the Bear Valley Visitor Center, head north 0.2 miles (0.3 km) to Bear Valley Road.
  • Turn left and follow Bear Valley Road 1.75 miles (2.8 km) northwest to Sir Francis Drake Boulevard.
  • Turn left and follow Sir Francis Drake Boulevard 18.7 miles (29.9 km) west to the Point Reyes Lighthouse visitors' parking lot.
  • To get to the Lighthouse and Visitor Center from the visitors' parking lot, walk past the gate at the west end of the round-about and continue west 0.45 miles (0.7 km).

Note: The Lighthouse Visitor Center and the stairs leading down to the lighthouse are only open as staffing availability allows. Visit our Visitor Centers page for current days and hours of operation.

Accessibility

The path from the main visitors' parking lot to the Visitor Center and the observation deck at the top of the stairs is steep and is not wheelchair-accessible. Visit the Accessibility section on our Visit the Point Reyes Lighthouse page for additional information on how individuals in handicap parking placards can drive their personal vehicles an additional 0.3 miles (0.5 km) beyond the main visitors' parking lot to an accessible parking area.

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Last updated: September 12, 2022

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

1 Bear Valley Road
Point Reyes Station, CA 94956

Phone:

415-464-5100
This number will initially be answered by an automated attendant, from which one can opt to access a name directory, listen to recorded information about the park (e.g., directions to the park; visitor center hours of operation; fire danger information; wildlife updates; ranger-led programs; seasonal events; etc.), or speak with a ranger. Please note that if you are calling between 4:30 pm and 10 am, park staff may not be available to answer your call.

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