Tomales Point is the northwest tip of the Point Reyes peninsula, with Bodega Bay to the north, Tomales Bay to the east and the Pacific to the west. According to Wikipedia, the only way to reach it is the 9.5-mile out-and-back Tomales Point Trail. The area is home to tule elk.
Pick your distance
Since the trail is out and back, you decide how far to go. The National Park Service lists three natural turnaround points:
- Windy Gap, 2 miles round trip: The first mile is broad and fairly flat, with ocean views. It then drops into a saddle at the head of White Gulch, where elk often gather at a spring below. Allow 40 to 60 minutes.
- Lower Pierce Ranch site, 6 miles round trip: The trail climbs to its high point about 2.25 miles out, then drops steeply to a stock pond where elk, herons and ducks are often seen. Allow two to three hours.
- Tomales Point, 9.5 miles round trip: The last 1.7 miles are unmaintained, sandy and often overgrown, so long pants and sleeves are recommended. Allow four to five hours.
Safety
Stay on the main trail and back from the cliff edges. The park service notes that in January 2017 part of the bluff at the north end of Tomales Point collapsed without warning and took a section of trail with it. Fog and wind can make the far end hard to follow.
Pets are not allowed on the trail or anywhere on Tomales Point beyond Pierce Point Road and the parking lots. Most of the trail lies inside the Phillip Burton Wilderness, so follow Leave No Trace practices.
Getting there
The trailhead is at the north end of Pierce Point Road, about 35 minutes' drive from Bear Valley. The first mile faces west, which makes it a good place to watch the sunset and still walk back before dark. For more on the season, see our late-fall Point Reyes wildlife guide.