Point Reyes National Seashore

Summary

Point Reyes National Seashore offers camping facilities including four hike-in/bike-in campgrounds and twenty boat-in-only sites. Amenities include picnic tables, food storage lockers, centrally located vault toilets and drinking water. Popular activities include hiking, bird watching, beach walking and whale watching. Charges vary based on size of the party and type of site.

Overview

Five campgrounds/loops are available for reservations - four hike-in/bike-in campground/loops and one boat-in loop along Tomales Bay. There is NO car or RV camping at Point Reyes National Seashore

For more information, visit the Back Country Camping page on the Point Reyes National Seashore website.

Recreation

Activities include hiking, limited bike riding along the borders of the Philip Burton Wilderness, bird watching, and beach walking. In the winter season whale watching and northern elephant seal populations may be viewed (though not in the backpacking or boat-in areas).

Facilities

BOOKING WINDOWS: 3 month and 14 day windows. Sites release at 7AM Pacific time

• COAST CAMP: At 3 months, site # 1, 4, 6, 8AB 10, 12, 13AB, 14. At 14 days, site # 2, 3, 5, 7, 11. At same day, site # 9
• GLEN CAMP: At 3 months, site # 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 11. At 14 days, site # 4, 6, 7 9, 12. At same day, site # 10
• SKY CAMP.......At 3 months, site # 2AB, 3, 6, 8, 9, 11. At 14 days, site # 4, 5, 7, 10, 12. At same day, site # 1
• WILDCAT CAMP.....At 3 months, site # 1AB, 2AB, 3AB, 5, 7. At 14 days, site # 4, 6.....At same day, site # 8
• SAME DAY SITES: We release four sites (Coast Camp #9 ,Glen Camp #10, Sky Camp site #1 and Wildcat Camp #8) on a daily basis (if available) at approximatley 9:30AM Pacific Time for same day booking. These sites are reservable for one night. Be ready to book these sites from the "Availability Grid" and refresh frequently. 9:30AM release time is approximate. These site are ONLY available on line.
• TOMALES BAY BOAT IN PERMITS: All Boat in permits including Marshall Beach and Tomales Beach group permits are available at 3 months before arrival date 

More facility information:

Camping facilities at Point Reyes National Seahsore include four hike-in/bike-in-only campgrounds in the southern area of the park and twenty boat-in-only campsites on Tomales Bay. Camping is allowed only in designated campgrounds and sites. Dispersed camping is not allowed. There is NO car or RV camping at Point Reyes National Seashore

Amenities at the hike-in/bike-in sites include picnic tables, and food storage lockers with centrally located vault toilets and drinking water. No pets permitted.

COAST CAMP - Coast Camp is nestled within a small coastal grassy valley with easy access to the beach and tide pools. The beach is within 200 meters (200 yards) of the campground. The shortest approach to Coast Camp is via the 3 km (2 miles) slightly uphill hike on the Laguna and Firelane Trails starting at the Laguna Trailhead just past the hostel. An alternate route following the Coast Trail starting near the hostel offers an easy, flat 4 km (3 miles) route and is open to bicycles. Eleven reservable sites for up to 6 people each and two reservable group sites for up to 25 people each are available. Sites 1 - 7 are in a small semi-protected canyon.

GLEN CAMP - Glen Camp is a quiet and secluded camp deep within a wooded valley protected from ocean breezes. The shortest hike to this camp is a moderate 7 km (5 miles) hike along the Bear Valley and Glen Trails. To access Glen Camp by bicycle, start at the Five Brooks Trailhead, follow the Stewart Trail to the Glen Trail, then north to the Glen Camp Loop, and finish by descending to Glen Camp. This is a strenuous 10 km (6 mile) bike ride. No groups, horses, or pack animals are allowed at Glen Camp. Eleven reservable sites for up to 6 people each are available.

SKY CAMP - Sky Camp is located on the western side of Mt. Wittenberg at an elevation of 310 meters (1025 feet). In clear weather, enjoy sweeping views of Point Reyes, Drakes Bay, and the Pacific Ocean. The easiest and shortest approach is a 2 km (2 miles) moderate uphill hike or bicycle ride from the Sky Trailhead (elevation 250 meters (840 feet)) on Limantour Road. It is a steep 6 km (4 miles) one-way hike down to the beach. Ten reservable sites for up to 6 people each and one reservable group site for up to 25 people each are available.

WILDCAT CAMP - Wildcat Camp is located in an open meadow on a bluff overlooking the ocean with a short walk to the beach and a 3 km (2.0 miles) round-trip walk to Alamere Falls. It is a 10 km (6 mile) hike from Bear Valley or a 9 km (6 miles) hike on the Coast Trail from Palomarin with access to Bass Lake. The only bicycle route is via a strenuous 11 km (7 miles) ride along the Stewart Trail from the Five Brooks Trailhead. One reservable site for up to 6 people, three reservable sites for up to 4 people, and three reservable group sites for up to 25 people each are available.
Boat-in Campground:

TOMALES BAY - Tomales Bay boat-in camping is allowed on west-side National Park beaches north of Tomales Bay State Park's Indian Beach. These beaches are tidally influenced and generally are small sandy coves backed against steep cliffs. Campers on Tomales Bay beaches must arrive by boat and may not hike, bike, or ride horses to the beaches. Beaches are not assigned; campers choose available beaches on a first-come, first-served basis after launching. Overnight parking for boat-in campers is availabe at the Tomales Bay Resort and at the Miller Boat Launch and is othewise prohibited within Point Reyes National Seashore and Tomales Bay State Park. The beaches are primitive and without facilities with the exception of vault toilets at Marshall and Tomales Beaches and two picnic tables at Tomales Beach. Unless using the vault toilets at Marshall and Tomales Beaches, boat-in campers must bring portable toilets to remove human waste. In addition, all trash must be removed. Boat-in campers must bring water, racoon-proof food storage, and firewood. Permanent and seasonal closures exisit on some beaches. Check with the Bear Valley Visitor Center for updates. Twenty permits are available each day - nine to parties of 1 to 6 people, eight to parties of 7 to 14 people, and three to parties of 15-25 people, located at Marshall Beach and Tomales Beach.

Natural Features

Point Reyes is a peninsula, one and half hours north of San Francisco providing a welcome respite for the surrounding urban area. Wooded hillsides give way to chaparral and grasslands with 150 miles of hiking trails and several beaches.

Nearby Attractions

The Seashore shares the peninsula with Tomales Bay State Park, a day-use area popular for swimming and picnicking.

Charges & Cancellations

There is no peak season at Point Reyes, rates are the same year round. An Individual or Standard site accomodates 1-6 people, and are $30 per night. A group site accomodates up to 25 people ( $60 per night 7-14 people and $90 per night for 15-25 people))