Abbotts Lagoon, on the northwest side of Point Reyes National Seashore, is one of the easier ways to reach the open Pacific in West Marin. The National Park Service says it is known for great birding, especially in fall and winter, and for wildflowers in spring.

The trail

The hike is 2.8 miles round trip and takes about an hour to an hour and a half. It starts with an easy walk past pastures and coastal scrub, then runs along the south edge of the middle lagoon. After 0.9 miles you reach a footbridge over the short stream between the middle and lower lagoons. Another half mile through the dunes brings you to Point Reyes Beach, also called the Great Beach.

Abbotts Lagoon is really three lagoons, the Park Service says. The upper one is the smallest and freshest, and the lower one is the largest and saltiest. Past the footbridge the trail enters the Phillip Burton Wilderness and is not maintained, so note landmarks for the walk back.

History

Coast Miwok people lived here before Europeans arrived. The lagoon is named for brothers Carlisle and John Abbott, Canadians who came west in the Gold Rush and ran dairy ranches on land around the lagoon in the mid-1800s, according to Wikipedia. Carlisle Abbott later founded the town of Salinas. From 1941 to 1952, Navy pilots from Alameda and Santa Rosa used the lagoon for dive-bomber practice. It became part of the national seashore in 1962.

What you might see

Wikipedia lists dozens of bird species seen here, from grebes and ducks to peregrine falcons, ospreys and golden eagles. River otters have returned to the lagoon, and deer, rabbits and muskrats are common. Wikipedia also cites a 2021 to 2022 study that found high E. coli levels in several Point Reyes waters, including Abbotts Lagoon, so this is not a swimming spot.

Know before you go

  • The trailhead is on Pierce Point Road, about 25 minutes by car from the Bear Valley Visitor Center.
  • Pets are not allowed on the trail.
  • From Memorial Day to Labor Day, walking south of the lagoon on the Great Beach is banned on weekends and holidays to protect nesting western snowy plovers.
  • Watch for sneaker waves and strong surf at the beach.