AlertsLast updated: September 22, 2022 Temporary facilities closures are in effect until further noticeThe following areas, buildings, areas, trails, and roads are closed until further notice:
Park RoadsAll Park Roads are currently open. Bridge ClosureThe Old Tocaloma/Platform Bridge is closed to all vehicular traffic until further notice. The Old Tocaloma/Platform Bridge is the old concrete bridge paralleling Sir Francis Drake Boulevard near its junction with Platform Bridge Road ~two miles east of Olema. 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. Additional Sources for Road ConditionsAfter wind and/or rain storms, many roads to and from and within Point Reyes National Seashore may be blocked due to flooding, mud slides, downed trees, and/or power lines. Reports of closures and re-openings of roads are received too frequently to keep this page up-to-date. For emergency road and weather conditions in West Marin, visit Point Reyes National Seashore's Twitter feed, the County of Marin's Public Emergency Portal, the National Weather Service San Francisco Bay Area's Twitter feed, the Marin County Department of Public Works' Twitter feed, the Marin Sheriff Department's Twitter feed, the Marin Fire Department's Twitter feed, the California Highway Patrol: Marin's Twitter feed, or tune in to KWMR, 90.5 FM. For more information on road closures in Marin County and the Bay Area, check the Marin Sheriff Current Emergency Information, the California Department of Transportation's Current Highway Conditions, and CHP Traffic Incident Information (select "Golden Gate" from the "Communication Centers" drop-down menu in the upper left corner, then look for "Marin" in the "Location" and/or "Area" columns) websites. Park TrailsVisit our Trail Advisories and Closures page for the latest trail updates. Notice to Horse Riders: Mount Wittenberg trail is closed to horses until further notice due to damage from the Woodward Fire. Caution: Many trails in the park are overgrown with grass and annuals. The park's trail crew is working to address the trail conditions as quickly as possible, but please anticipate wading through vegetation as you hike, and check yourself for ticks during and after your hike. Warning: Hazardous conditions near the north end of the Tomales Point Trail. In January 2017, part of the bluff at the north end of Tomales Point collapsed. The bluff top may be unstable & another collapse could occur. Please don't attempt to reach the northern end of Tomales Point by going off-trail to the east of the collapse. More... Warning: Fissures reported near the Chimney Rock Trail. Cracks were reported on a portion of the bluff near the Chimney Rock Trail on December 21, 2015. These fissures could indicate the possibility of a weakening cliff face in the area. The land may be unstable and a collapse or erosion could occur. Visitors are reminded to stay on designated trails. More... Warning: The Arch Rock trail has been closed until further notice. New hazardous conditions on Arch Rock were reported to the park on Thursday, March 19, 2015. On Saturday, March 21, 2015, a portion of the land at the Arch Rock overlook collapsed into the waters 70 feet below. More... Health and Safety Warnings/AdvisoriesCOVID-19 PandemicThe NPS has updated its masking guidance based on the CDC's COVID-19 Community Levels tool, which helps communities decide what prevention steps to take. Masking requirements will vary by park based on local conditions, however masks are still required on all forms of enclosed public transportation. Updates will be posted on individual park websites and in parks to help you plan your visit. In areas that the CDC identifies as high COVID-19 community level, masks are required for everyone in all NPS buildings, regardless of vaccination status. In most low and medium COVID-19 community level areas, masks are optional, and you are welcome to wear a mask if it makes you more comfortable. Additional details are available at www.nps.gov/coronavirus. At Point ReyesAs of September 22, 2022, Marin County's COVID-19 Community Level is low, so mask wearing is optional at Point Reyes National Seashore. While masks are no longer required indoors in California, with a few exceptions, they are still strongly recommended to be worn in indoors public settings, such as within visitor centers and shared restrooms, to keep from spreading the virus to those with no defense, like the immune-compromised and children under 5. Please continue to practice physical (aka, social) distancing consistent with CDC guidance inside of visitor centers and shared restrooms. Put six feet of distance between yourself and people who don't live in your household. Some people without symptoms may be able to spread virus. Visit our Recreate Responsibly page for guidelines for responsible recreation in the outdoors at Point Reyes and other park lands during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Annual Seasonal Health and Safety Warnings/AdvisoriesAnnual Quarantine of Sport-Harvested Mussels - May 1 through October 31Every year, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announces an annual quarantine of sport-harvested mussels gathered along the California coast. The quarantine is in effect from May 1 until October 31 and applies to all species of mussels that are recreationally harvested along the California coast, including all bays and estuaries. The quarantine is in place to protect the public against poisoning that can lead to serious illness, including coma and death.
WildlifeIn summer, many species of birds raise their newly hatched young at Point Reyes, offering bird watchers many opportunities to see chicks, fledgling, juvenile, and adult birds. Thousands of common murres struggle to protect their incubating eggs while perched on the surf-pounded rocks below the Point Reyes Lighthouse. Visitors to the Lighthouse may also witness peregrine falcons chasing marauding ravens from their nests and territory. Female harbor seals haul out on sandbars and beaches in Drakes Estero, Estero de Limantour, Tomales Bay, and Bolinas Lagoon to give birth and raise their pups. Please note that when seals and other pinnipeds haul out, they are extremely vulnerable to human disturbance, with the pupping and molting seasons being an especially vulnerable time for harbor seals. Please read the "How You Can Help" section on our Harbor Seals page for more information. Tule elk begin rutting (mating activity) by early August. Tule elk may be viewed on Tomales Point and near Limantour and Drakes Beaches. Please visit our Wildlife Viewing page for more information. Closures to Protect Western Snowy PloversAnnual Pet Restrictions on Point Reyes Beach - March 1 through September 30NOTICE: From March 1 through September 30, pets are not allowed on the Point Reyes Beach from the north end of the North Beach parking lot north to the intersection of Kehoe Beach Trail at Kehoe Beach to better protect the threatened western snowy plover during its nesting season. Closures to Protect Elephant SealsNOTICE: Drakes Beach Elephant Seal Colony - year-round Where to See Elephant SealsThe Elephant Seal Overlook at Chimney Rock is open. Drakes Beach is open. Access may change based upon elephant seal activity. Interactive Map Illustrating the Locations of the Elephant Seal-related Closures Referenced Above(Scroll past the first image in the StoryMap below and click on the "Beach Closures" header. Or scroll almost all the way through the Story Map to the "Beach Closures" section.) Sturgeon Carcass ReportingResearchers studying the causes of death of adult sturgeon (142 KB PDF) request that any observations of sturgeon carcasses be reported to them by email. Visitor ServicesVisitor CentersThe Bear Valley Visitor Center and the Lighthouse Visitor Center are usually open throughout the year. The Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center at Drakes Beach is open on weekends and federal holidays until further notice.
Visit our Visitor Centers page to learn what hours these visitor centers are open. Ranger ProgramsVisitors are invited to join a park ranger to learn more about Point Reyes and its history, wildlife, and/or geology during Ranger's Choice Programs. Consult our Calendar to see what programs and activities are being offered. BookstoresStop by one of the three bookstores within the national seashore, all of which are operated by the Point Reyes National Seashore Association (PRNSA). They offer many educational and convenience items, including books, maps, snacks, and, at Drakes Beach, coffee. Visit PRNSA's Park Store page for specific hours. Drakes Beach Café is indefinitely closed. Weather & TidesBefore traveling, check weather forecasts and advisories for Point Reyes at our Weather & Tides page or the National Weather Service. Latest NewsIf you're looking for more information about what is happening at Point Reyes National Seashore, visit our News Releases page, our Facebook page, and/or Twitter feed for the most up-to-date news. |
Last updated: September 23, 2022