Laws & Policies

 

On this page, you will find the legislation establishing Point Reyes National Seashore and designating Wilderness within the National Seashore, along with documents detailing the Rules and Regulations for the National Seashore. Check out our Park Regulations page in the Plan Your Visit section for an overview of the rules that apply to most visitor activities.

 

Legislation Establishing the National Seashore and Wilderness

Public Law 87-657 (S.476) - An Act to establish the Point Reyes National Seashore in the State of California, and for other purposes - signed into law on September 13, 1962

Enabling Legislation and Amendments U.S. Code Title 16, Chapter 1, Subchapter LXIII, Sec. 459c. (35 KB PDF)

An Act to designate certain lands in the Point Reyes National Seashore as Wilderness - Public Law 94-544 - Oct. 18, 1976 (16 KB PDF)

[An Act] To designate certain lands within units of the National Park System as wilderness: to revise the boundaries of certain of those units; and for other purposes. Designation of the Clem Miller Environmental Education Center. - Public Law 94-567 - October 20, 1976 (36 KB PDF)

An Act to designate the wilderness in the Point Reyes National Seashore in California as the Phillip Burton Wilderness. - Public Law 99-68 - July 19, 1985 (13 KB PDF)

Notice of Designation of Potential Wilderness as Wilderness, Point Reyes National Seashore - Federal Register Document 99-29779 - November 18, 1999

Top of Page

 

General Agreements

On Monday, August 9, 2021, a General Agreement for a Government-to-Government Partnership (235 KB PDF) was signed between the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria and the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Interior Regions 8, 9, 10, and 12, which specifically includes the Point Reyes National Seashore and those sections of Marin County which are administrated by the Superintendent of Point Reyes National Seashore.

Management efforts will focus on designations of Native American Traditional Cultural Properties eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places and ensure Tribal views and traditional ecological knowledge are part of the management of tule elk and the ranching lands in Point Reyes National Seashore.

 

Park Regulations

Code of Federal Regulations 36 Chapter 1: National Park Service, Department of the Interior

Superintendent's Compendium - updated May 30, 2023

Compendium Exhibit A: Hog Island Use Restrictions (98 PDF)
Compendium Exhibit B: Areas Closed to Horses (140 PDF)
Compendium Exhibit D: Map of Designated First Amendment Areas (306 KB PDF)
Ranch Operation Public Closure Area Maps (4,630 KB PDF)
Elephant Seal Protection Closures Map (2,078 KB PDF)

Changes to the 2014 Superintendent's Compendium
Changes to the 2013 Superintendent's Compendium

Annual Seasonal Closures

Map of Elephant Seal Protection Closures in the Chimney Rock Fish Dock Area - December 15–March 31 (301 KB PDF)
Map of Harbor Seal Protection Closures at the western end of Limantour Spit - March 1–June 30 (148 KB PDF)
Map of Snowy Plover Protection Closure between Abbotts Lagoon and the North Beach Parking Lot - the Saturday immediately before Memorial Day through Labor Day (322 KB PDF)

Firearms

 

Current Administrative Orders

There are no administrative orders currently in effect.

---

Visit our Administrative Orders Archive for information about Point Reyes National Seashore administrative orders that have been rescinded and/or are no longer in effect.

 

Current Temporary Closures

Mount Wittenberg Trail Temporary Closure to Equestrians - March 15, 2022, until further notice
A temporary closure of Mount Wittenberg Trail to all equestrians is in effect until further notice. This closure is due to a failed retaining wall that was damaged during the Woodward Fire and needs repair. It is necessary to keep equestrians off the trail because the weight of stock will cause further damage to the area of the failed structure.
Determination of Temporary Closure - March 15, 2022, until further notice - signed on March 15, 2022 (112 KB PDF)

Temporary Closure of Palomarin Beach Trail - Thursday, September 24, 2020, until further notice
The Palomarin Beach Trail has been determined to be unsafe due to unstable and failing sections of the trail and is closed to all visitors, employees and residents until further notice.
Determination of Temporary Closure - September 24, 2020, until further notice - signed on September 24, 2020 (27 KB PDF)

Tocaloma or Old Platform Bridge Closure - January 13, 2020, until further notice
A temporary closure of the bridge known as Tocaloma or Old Platform Bridge, which runs parallel to Sir Francis Drake Boulevard at its intersection with Platform Bridge Road, is in effect to all vehicular traffic due until further notice. The bridge is being closed to vehicular traffic due to structural deficiencies that make the weight of a vehicle unsafe to cross over the bridge.
Determination of Temporary Closure - January 13, 2020, until further notice - signed on January 13, 2020 (49 KB PDF)

---

The Determinations of Temporary Closures Archive page contains information about temporary closures that are no longer in effect.

 

Marine Life Protection Act

Marine Protected Areas are marine or estuarine areas set aside to protect or conserve marine life and habitat. Marine protected areas in the waters adjacent to Point Reyes National Seashore went into effect on May 1, 2010. Visit our Marine Life Protection Act page for more information.

 

Adobe® Acrobat Reader® may be needed to view PDF documents.

Top of Page