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

This was our first visit here. My daughter is obsessed with all things beaches and oceans. This…read morebeach is very easy access from the parking lot. I checked the time of low tide so we could arrive when she would get a chance to see all that is the tide pools. She had an absolute blast and I was so happy to just watch her go about her way exploring and creating more memories.

Bolinas is a strange little town. The downtown, what there is of it, looks like it hasn't been…read moreupdated in 80 years, except for a few newer buildings on Brighton. Go west, young man, and it has the feeling of Carmel with smaller trees. Its history is what makes it strange: in the late 1960s, the hippies moved in, the water supply got maxed out so no more new water permits have been granted since then, and residents started tearing down the signs on Highway 1 that pointed to this town. I've been told that, as the hippies are dying off, families and wealthy people are moving in, so it's slowly becoming more normal. But Bolinas is still a world apart, and intends to stay that way. It does have one unusual feature, though: Agate Beach Park. "Beach" is almost false advertising. The sand is a longish walk north. You don't come here to laze in the sun or barbecue some weenies. You come here to explore the tide pools, gaze in wonder at the cliffs, notice that you can see San Francisco from here, and enjoy the remoteness of the place. Marin County takes care of the place, but when you get to the bottom of the stairs, there is NO development at all. Any development would take away from the natural features. And, in a way, the unique flavor of Bolinas add to the charm. No signs point the way, just as no signs tell you to turn here to get to Bolinas. Agate Beach Park is the edge of town, as far away from tourists as you can get. Driving here is like getting immersed in Bolinas counter-culture. There are no crowds here, and not likely to ever be any. If that interest you, then you'll like this park a lot. By the way, you can also climb to the top of the bluff and get some good views and photos. Basically, Agate Beach Park is where you can explore another place where the Great Eternal Artist did some of His best handiwork, and not fight the crowds to do so.

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.

This is a bucket list hike if you are an outdoor enthusiast. Alamere Falls is one of 2 falls of…read moreits kind in California, one of 3 of its kind in the US and only one of 34 in the world. Yes bucket list if you are looking for a waterfall that dumps directly onto an Oceanside Beach. Pretty Amazing. For us we took the 13 mile RT hike in 6 hours total including about 20 minutes to eat lunch. We left San Francisco at 8am, arrived at the parking lot around 9:15am and hot back to the parking lot around 3:30pm. Our group ranged in age from 23-60. Trail was muddy and slippery in some parts. Some classify it as a moderate-difficult hike. I personally ride a bike about 5,000 miles a year and still had soreness in my ankles and at one point felt some shin splints that I worked through. We took the 5.3 long route down to Wildcat camp and walked the last mile along the beach south to the falls. Here is the catch. Probably the most dangerous part of the hike is if you want to see both the top tide pools as well as be on the beach at the bottom. There is a small eroding hillside just 20 yards to the North of the falls with eroding unsecure slippery rock that really allow only one person at a time climb up or down. It is a 50 foot ascent or descent. I saw two people coming down scrape their leg and/or back after a slip. We did not take the shortcut which is usually guarded by the ranger as the shortcut is full of poison oak, is a manmade path thar ruins the environment and is dangerous. That said, taking the long way along the beach and then climbing up the 50 ft cliff is the more ecologically friendly and safer, but longer way around. To give a sense, we saw nobody coming back on the legal path but tons of people on the illegal path which after a bit seemed like the traffic jams hou see at My Everest. So here is what they don't say that I would say. If you are overweight and out of shape don't do this hike. I'd say on average not to bring anyone younger than 12 or older than 65. Watch the tide times. We saw high tide was 12:30pm and got there just at noon when the tide was coming in. During high tide Wildcat Beach makes it difficult to get around the rocks without getting wet or stand in front of the falls for a picture. The last mile or so of road is filled with potholes and non-maintained road. Bring your higher clearance cars. Civics and Prius cars should stay at home. Wear good shoes. No tennis shoes or running shoes or sandals there is lots of poison oak especially on the shortcut so wear long sleeves and pants. I didn't get any but I was pricked by a stinging nettles plant! Ouchie! Last, really gauge you time right. We were leaving at 3:30 and people were asking how much further. They had two hours of hiking and by then sunset was going to hit. Even if they got there in time, that was going to be a dark and scary hike back in the dark for almost 6 miles. There is some elevation. Bring plenty of water and good snackable items

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