SUNDAY DRIVE
Palomarin’s Coast Trail
What you’ll see: Ten inches of rain this month have turned the hike on the Coast Trail out of Palomarin into a series of revelations. You’ll see three little freshwater lakes and, for the ambitious, Alamere Falls, all rejuvenated for spring. Pick a clear day and you also get spectacular coastal views.
Location: Palomarin is north of Bolinas, just past the Towers at the southern end of Point Reyes National Seashore in western Marin County.
Coast Trail to Bass Lake: The trailhead is perched near a cliff. Without taking a step you get pretty views of the Marin Coast. The trail ventures north for 2.2 miles, dropping down into and then climbing out of a series of short ravines, and then up to a junction at a sub ridge. Stay left (still Coast Trail) and you descend 0.6 miles along Bass Lake. For many, this is as far as they go. It’s a 5.6-mile round trip.
For the ambitious few: From Bass Lake, the Coast Trail continues north, skirting past Crystal Lake on your right and larger Pelican Lake on your left (just above Double Point). You then drop down to a wide bluff-top terrace above the ocean, 2.7 miles. This is the site of Wildcat Camp, one of the Bay Area’s most popular trail camps. In total, it’s an 11-mile round trip.
Alamere Falls: From Wildcat Camp, you’ll find a short route down to a wilderness beach. From there, pick a low tide and walk 1 mile south for a full frontal view of Alamere Falls. It flows over a cliff and to the beach below. The stream then cuts a mosaic through the sand a short distance into the ocean. It’s a 13-mile round trip.
Wildcat Camp: Reservations required, weekday availability for summer dates. $20 per night. Reserve at www.recreation.gov.
Palomarin Beach: From the parking area, hike a few minutes north on the Coast Trail to a spur trail on the left. Turn left and descend 0.6 miles to the beach.
Cost: Parking, access, map/ brochure, free.
Trail/park rules: No dogs or mountain bikes from Palomarin Trailhead. No fires on the beach.
Coastal route to get there: From San Francisco, take Highway 101 north over the Golden Gate Bridge and continue 4 miles to the exit for Highway 1/Stinson Beach. Take that exit and continue west for 1 mile to the stoplight at a T intersection for Shoreline Highway/Highway 1. Turn left on Shoreline Highway and drive 16 miles (just past Bolinas Lagoon) to FairfaxBolinas Road. Turn left and drive 1.8 miles to Mesa Road. Turn right and drive 4.6 miles to trailhead parking.
Inland route: From San Francisco, take Highway 101 over the Golden Gate Bridge and continue 9 miles to the exit for Sir Francis Drake Boulevard/San Anselmo. Take that exit, continue to Sir Francis Drake and drive 21 miles to Highway 1. Turn left and drive 9.1 miles to OlemaBolinas Road. Turn right and drive 1.8 miles to Mesa Road. Turn right and drive 4.6 miles to trailhead parking.
Distances: 5 miles from Bolinas, 30 miles from the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, 30 miles from San Rafael, 43 miles from Pacifica, 44 miles from Berkeley, 56 miles from Benicia, 64 miles from Concord, 81 miles from San Jose, 111 miles from Sacramento.
Contacts: Point Reyes National Seashore, (415) 464-5100, www.nps.gov/pore; lodging: www.ptreyes.com.