caught my first ever leopard shark at the lagoon mouth maybe 4-5lbs and more than 24 in…read more amazing place to fish for leopards, hali, bat eagle rays, and basically anything in the surf. first time coming. only got that one leopard but hali and rays love the mud flats in the lagoon. I can't wait to go back probably in the summer.

Great place to visit, good motorcycle parking. You also get a beautiful coast view on the way.read more

Wow--absolutely spectacular, magical, and truly epic!…read more Alamere Falls is one of the most breathtaking hidden gems along the California coast, tucked inside Point Reyes National Seashore. What makes it so special is that it's a rare "tidefall," where the waterfall flows directly into the ocean--something you can only see in a couple of places in California, including McWay Falls. Watching the water cascade over the rugged shale cliffs onto the beach below is simply unforgettable. The surrounding landscape feels wild and untouched, adding to the sense of adventure. Upstream, the smaller cascades create a beautiful lead-up to the main falls, making the entire hike feel like a journey through nature's artwork. This spot is not just a destination--it's an experience. From the scenic hike to the dramatic ocean views, every moment feels rewarding. If you're looking for something unique, peaceful, and awe-inspiring, Alamere Falls absolutely delivers.

People who have never been to Oregon will tell you that this is one of only two tidefalls (a…read morewaterfall that flows into the ocean) on the entire West Coast. People who believe AllTrails will tell you that this is one of only two tidefalls in California. (If you use Alltrails, you aren't allowed to hike with me, by the way.) Neither of these statements are anywhere close to true. As a matter of fact, there are at least two tidefalls on this one beach, and there are many more in areas that are not easily accessible to the public. Tidefalls are common along the coasts of Oregon, Washington, and Canada. There are several tall tidefalls in Cape Perpetua alone. That being said, Alamere Falls might be the biggest, prettiest publicly accessible tidefall in Northern California. I recently hiked Alamere Falls for the first time in nearly ten years, and I couldn't believe how much had seemed to change. First of all, the road to the Palomarin trail was hell in a compact vehicle. Even going like two miles per hour, I got a little motion sickness from the thousands of deep potholes. The road is so bad that it almost seems beyond repair. At this point, it's probably only suitable for high clearance vehicles, although I did not notice any signs warning of such. Secondly, I'm pretty sure I was the only sober person on the trail. The vibes were so, so weird. Consider packing your (legal) weapon of choice. Thirdly, I was certainly the only person to take the 'legal' trail down, although I gained some new perspective on this. While the trail that I took is ostensibly the trail recommended by NPS, one does have to wonder why it is so overgrown. It feels like, "Obviously, no one ever really hikes this trail," because it's nowhere near clear or well-trodden. Certain areas of the trail were so overgrown that it was impossible to see my feet, and difficult to find my footing. These areas were chalk full of poison oak, stinging nettle, poison hemlock, and a wide variety of (harmless) snakes. By contrast, much of the "social" trail was four feet wide, flat, and clear. Which made me wonder-- which trail is really safer? The cliffs at the end of the social trail are constantly crumbling. The risk of falling, breaking a leg, or at least spraining an ankle, seems high. But by contrast, the risk of spraining an ankle on the recommended trail seems high, too. And the stinging nettle hurt a lot, but only for a few hours. My personal recommendation is to take the recommended trail, but wear solid boots, long pants, and tall, colorful socks. Tuck your pants into your socks, or wear gaiters. Use permethrin or your tick repellant of choice. While the official Palomarin Trail may be very long and difficult, it's also worth the trouble. The ocean views and wildlife were unbelievable. I actually saw a mother deer nursing two spotted fawns in the middle of the trail. On the beach, I found agates, fossils, shells, giant bull kelp, snowy plovers, and lots of by-the-wind-sailors jellyfish in multiple stages of life and decomposition. The waterfall itself is pretty-- but make sure to check the tide!! I never do, and I almost always get stranded. The first time I ever hiked this trail, I actually had to climb up a cliff in terror and wait 3 hours for the tide to recede. But that doesn't need to happen to you if you remember to check the tide before you come out, while you still have service.

Main trail is COMPLETELY overgrown. Heed the sign and don't take the main trail down. There is a…read moreshorter, steeper trail by the south parking lot but they both require the use of a rope ladder to get down the final 15 feet. Rather shaky on the way up. Just above the rope ladder there is another section of rope to help you ascend to where you can walk again. (Go right, not left.) The beach itself is very picturesque--lots of bluffs, a few small waterfalls, and a few sandy sections but mostly rocks. The tide pools I noticed were pretty small, probably not worth the journey especially if you have any gear with you (see above re: rope ladder). It is slow going walking along the rocks and seaweed, but it is a rather long beach. In my two hours there I saw NOBODY.

Simply put, I just love this beach! It's an amazing reward to be graced with the shallow waves of…read morePalomarin Beach after embarking on a 4.5 mile hike and a short rock climb down the embankment. I've been to this beach a few times now so far, and its' beautiful views and calming waves never cease to amaze me. Palomarin Beach is located within Alamere Falls Park which is a subsidiary of Point Reyes National Seashore. This beach is only accessible through a few hiking trails within Alamere Falls Park. The shortest way to get to this beach is to take the Palomarin Beach Trail via the Palomarin/Coast Trail. This trail measures .6 miles one way, and will lead you directly down to the beach. If taking this trail, you'll have to scale down some steep rocks and cliffs. It's not impossible, but you'll need to have some upper body strength to climb up and down the rocks. If you've never been here before, I would suggest coming with someone just in case you need help getting up and down the steep cliffs. If you're not into rock climbing but don't mind the trek of a long hike, you can take the Palomarin (Coast) Trail all the way down to the beach. There's no rock climbing involved on this trail, however it's 6.5 miles one way. My favorite way to get down to this beach is via the Alamere Falls Trails. Not only does this trail take you down to the beach, but it also leads to the beautiful Alamere Falls! The hike to Alamere Falls is about 4.5 miles one way. You'll take the Palomarin Trail to Alamere Falls trail and it will lead you right down the beach. Like the Palomarin Beach Trail, this trail will involve some rock climbing down steep cliffs and rocks and you'll also have to hike through a short narrow path that contains poison oak and poison ivy. Totally doable as long as you're prepared for it. What's so great about this beach is that since it's located below the cliffs, it provides an amazing view of the California coastline, Every view will be picture worthy. The tides were low during my last visit, but they change depending on the season. You can put your feet in, but the waves can be pretty ferocious, so I wouldn't recommend swimming. The water is so white and clear and the sand is soft on your feet, so walking along the beach is perfect. There are a couple of flat rocks beneath the cliffs that are shaded. It's a nice place to sit and have lunch if you bring it with you. I will warn that the trail to the beach is a very popular one. So, if you want to beat the crowd, coming early is your best bet. Either way, this beach is totally worth a visit, especially if you're planning on hiking to Alamere Falls.

Beautiful stretch of beach and convenient to the center of "town" where you can gather…read morerefreshments, beer, wine, or stop for food. Note, visited during the federal shutdown and the lot was closed. Locals informed me it would NOT be opened for so long as the government shutdown is ongoing. Made for a rather quiet and pleasant day at the beach.

This beach has been on my bucket list for "25"/"26" I finally made it & it ws gorgeous. The views…read morewere amazing as I drove along the windy roads to reach this destination. I passed all the shops, storefronts and rental places on my way. I was so excited once I arrived I couldn't help but take a few photos. There's plenty of near by parking, accessible bathrooms, and BBQ pits for barbecuing. I'm so glad I decided to come this day.

Beautiful hidden gem needs more parking.Has a restroom and a Taco Bell which is convenient.read more

Great beach! Please note that this is a NUDE beach. (If you're not down with that, I'd recommend…read moregoing to Stinson Beach) People are super friendly though, and I felt comfortable even though I went by myself. I didn't feel self conscious after striping down as everyone else was naked or partially naked. It is a bit of a hike to get from the small parking lots on the sides of Highway 1 down to the beach.

This place was definitely hard to find. We had to drive past the fire station on the right side and…read moreshortly after passing the fire station, you turn "left" into a residential street. The street signs aren't your traditional signs. It is small and creatively marked with colorful paint. It's not a paved road to get to the reef. There were ample parking at the lot. There are porta potties. Easy access to the reef for a 2 year old. There are some steps and then you are there. I personally think the wildlife is more interesting at Bean Hollow in Pescadero.

This isn't easy to find but well worth a stop if you've got some extra time near Point Reyes. We…read morecame by after spending most of the day in other areas of the park and didn't check on the tides before visiting. Sadly, we missed the minus tide which is necessary for any tide pool adventures. Still, it's a lovely spot and on a clear day, had some wonderful views. I could tell from the rocks that this would be a marvelous spot for spending more time, when the tide is right. Dramatic cliffs, unique rocks along the beach and just all around lovely. Now that I've scouted it out, I'll plan accordingly for my next visit.

OK. So you are driving up Route One just past Stinson Beach, and there is this huge lagoon on the…read moreleft, hills to the right as the highway snakes along the limited shore. The road seems to be trying to keep its skirts out of the water. I love this place because there are no trails, few markers and absolutely no crowds. Unless you count sea lion herds as crowds which I do not. It is a great place to watch nature. Sea life to be exact, with shore birds, waders, ducks and geese, and gulls. But the main attraction for me is the sea lions. The lagoon is broad and shallow with many large sand bars out in the middle. That is where 20 to 200 sea lions will be loafing and snoozing during the day. Splendid I say. The tides move in and out rather quick, so there are interesting dynamics to watch as the birds fish and mammals play here fishy fishy. There are no set places to look. Just some places where you can park by the road, and then adventure across to see what there is to see. You will need binoculars, because the expanse is wide and far, and the sea lions and bird life are completely uninterested in coming close. No amenities, go before you get here. Good place to spend a few hours in the warm sun loafing with the wildlife.

Its a peaceful lagoon on a beautiful drive from Stinson beach towards Point Reyes…read more I did not see sea lions, but was in a hurry to continue my drive onwards

I had forgotten just how gorgeous this hike is--the scenery is incredible the entire way. Be…read moreprepared for a steady climb through most of the route, with plenty of wooden stairs, gnarly roots, and rock steps, but the stunning views make every bit of effort worth it. There are many great spots to stop for photos, take a break, or enjoy a picnic--we did all three. Thanks to the recent rain, there was still plenty of water flowing, which made the trail even more beautiful. The picnic area at Laurel Dell is especially serene, with a babbling brook nearby. There's even an outhouse, which is always a welcome sight. I actually found climbing up much easier than descending as one has to really pay attention to their footing. We were happy seeing Alpine Lake again knowing we were close to end of hike.

Went here with a friend and her dog and had such a great time. Such a beautiful, peaceful hike and…read moredefinitely one of my favorites on Mount Tam. The drive in was beautiful too, the views of Alpine Lake along the way made the whole trip feel extra special before we even got to the trail. Be prepared for a lot of stairs, so it can definitely get your legs working, but the waterfalls make it completely worth it. Hearing the water and being surrounded by all the greenery made the whole hike feel so calm and relaxing. The views throughout the hike are gorgeous, and it's such a nice escape if you're looking for something peaceful and scenic. Definitely recommend checking out Cataract Falls if you're up for a little workout with a really rewarding payoff. Definitely will be coming back :)

Great place to go if you like noisy, trashy hicks who scatter their trash everywhere and try to…read moreoutdo each other on the obnoxiousness level. Stayed here once and can't see any reason to ever, ever, come back.

Super crowded -- usually no parking in the lot. Many day trippers who are excessively loud and…read morescare off all the birds and other fauna with conversation, portable music and loud voices. The place is full of garbage and crap left by people who don't want to carry back their inflatables and dump them for other people to "use" (or haul out). People SMOKING on the trail (totally forbidden in the parks). Since this place has gotten so much publicity - I've just gotten tired of hauling out people's garbage, beer cans and wine bottles. Give Bass Lake a break - it's overrun.

We decided to go up to Alamere Falls this Saturday morning. Parking lot was not that full yet at…read more8am, maybe about 8-10 cars. There are lots of parking at this trail but by afternoon, good luck!! I would definitely come here super early to beat the crowd like we did! The road going here is very zigzag roads and some may get sick. Also, the road is very narrow and lots of loose gravel and lots of potholes so drive with caution. The trails are very well maintained. Lots of people traffic though. We got there early so there was barely anyone there but by the time we started going back, I stopped counting after a hundred people! Very popular trail as everyone wanted to go to Alamere Beach Waterfalls! We didn't go to the campgrounds as it was too far. Just going to Alamere Falls and back was already over eight miles! Alamere trails is another different review! I really enjoyed this trail as it goes along the coast and see the ocean views! Just beware there is a lot of poison oak! I saw a lot along the trail! It's part shade so wear a hat. Some parts of the trails goes up and down and lots of loose rocks so you can sleep. I would rate this trail moderate to hard as it's a long trail! Good workout!! I totally enjoyed this trail but recommend to come really early if you come on the weekend!! [31st R]

Can I go back to last Thursday when I hiked this trail?! I couldn't have asked for better weather,…read moresunny, light breeze, mid-70s, and best of all, pretty empty! I'm not sure how anyone can find this place because there are no marked signs or paved roads to get to the parking lot or base of the trail. As a passenger, I was oblivious to driving directions. I must say that all the twists and turns left me a bit car-sick and thankfully that quickly passed. There are about 4 restroom stalls in the parking lot that stunk badly. Now onto the positive aspects of Palomarin. Many reviewers have mentioned that this trail to the falls is about 8 miles round-trip. I think I finished in about 4.5 hours with stops here and there at a leisurely pace. I bet the sunset would have been beautiful, but I left around 6:30pm. What I love about this hike is that there's a little of everything in terms of views and things to see. I saw the ocean, a lake, a fox, waterfalls, nature, and fresh air. I wonder if the waterfalls are always flowing, even a few years ago during the drought... A great pit-stop before coming to Palomarin is to stop in Stinson Beach for lunch or dinner. I'm glad lunch was eaten before the hike. Next time I'll bring snacks. Luckily I had brought lots of water. Still having Palomarin withdraws... #53/2018