Point Reyes National Seashore

Point Reyes National Seashore (rā`ĭs), 71,068 acres (28,772 hectares), W Calif.; est. 1962. Included in the area are steep bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, lagoons, and esteros enclosed by sand dunes, rolling hills, and forests. On offshore rocks are bird rookeries and sea-lion herds. The San Andreas fault passes through the park; there is a 15 to 20 ft (4.6–6.1 m) horizontal displacement of rock (a result of the 1906 earthquake). Sir Francis Drake probably stopped there (1579) to repair his ship, the Golden Hind, before crossing the Pacific Ocean. See National Parks and Monuments (table).

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Point Reyes National Seashore

Parks Directory of the United States / US National Parks / National Seashores

Address: 1 Bear Valley Rd
Point Reyes Station, CA 94956
Phone: 415-663-8522;
Fax: 415-663-8132;
Web: www.nps.gov/pore/
Size: 71,068 acres.
Established: Authorized on September 13, 1962; established on October 20, 1972. Wilderness designated on October 18, 1976. Designated a Biosphere Reserve in 1988.
Location: 22 miles north of San Francisco on CA 1 along the west coast of California. Travelers may approach the park from the winding, scenic CA 1, either northbound or southbound, or via Sir Francis Drake Blvd. or Point Reyes/Petaluma Rd.
Facilities: Campgrounds, picnic area, rest rooms (é), restaurant/snacks, bicycle trail, visitor centers (é), museum/exhibit, self-guided tour/trail.
Activities: Camping, hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, swimming, fishing, kayaking, auto touring, bird-watching, wildlife viewing, ranger-guided programs.
Special Features: This peninsula near San Francisco is noted for its long beaches backed by tall cliffs, lagoons and esteros, forested ridges, and offshore bird and sea lion colonies. Nearly 20% of the state's flowering plant species are represented on the peninsula and more than 45% of the bird species in North America have been sighted here. Located inside the park, the Point Reyes Lighthouse is one of the best places along the California Coast from which to observe California Gray Whales on their annual migration from Alaska to Mexico.

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See other parks in California.