7. Lighthouse and Chimney Rock Trails at Point Reyes

Distance: 1.2 and 1.6 miles
Shaded: 0%
Elevation Change: 400' and 100'
Hiking: 10
Difficulty: 3 Wind and fog likely.
When to Go: Best in early January for whales and again in March-April for everything.
These are three short exhilarating hikes. The lighthouse offers whale watching. Chimney Rock has the best wildflowers on the coast and a short hike to an elephant seal overlook. Great views in all locations (if it's not foggy). For the latest trail information, call the Bear Valley Visitor Center 415-464-5100.
This map looks best on a high-resolution monitor displaying 256 shades of grey. The map and hike description are excerpts from the book, Hiking Marin, 141 Great Hikes in Marin County, ©2006 by Don and Kay Martin.
 
These 3 short hikes start at the end of Sir Francis Drake Hwy in Point Reyes National Seashore.
 
Getting there from Hwy 101:
In Greenbrae, W on Sir Francis Drake to Olema R on Hwy 1 for 200 yds. L on Bear Valley Rd. L on Sir Francis Drake past Inverness to the Headlands.

Note: During peak whale watching and wildflower times, usually January to April, the park service restricts traffic to the lighthouse and Chimney Rock, and runs a bus shuttle (fee) from the South Beach parking lot during the hours 10 am to 2 pm. Call 464-5100 for information.
To the PR Lighthouse and Back - 1.2 miles and 400' Change.
0.0 Start at the lighthouse parking lot and head uphill past the gate. The view north along Point Reyes Beach, which runs 11 miles, offers a classic picture-taking spot.
0.5 Visitor Center. The center is open Thursday to Monday, 10 am to 5 pm. The lighthouse stairs, all 308 of them, are open from 10 am to 4:30 pm Th-M, weather permitting. Check the Visitor Center for tours of the lighthouse itself. The lighthouse platform is the best place in Marin to watch grey whales migrating from Alaska to Baja California.
To Elephant Seal Overlook and Back Ð 0.4 miles and 50' Change
0.0 From the Chimney Rock trailhead, head downhill on the paved road 50' and pick up the trail heading towards Drakes Beach.
0.2 Overlook. On weekends, docents may be available to describe elephant seal breeding habits. Bring binoculars.
To Chimney Rock and Back - 1.6 miles and 100' Change
0.0 From the Chimney Rock trailhead, follow the trail as it skirts the hillside above the cypress trees and ranger residence.
0.3 Junction with Underhill road. Continue straight. The US Coast Guard Lifeboat Station, below, operated between 1927 and 1968. Dozens of people were saved after shipwrecks near here.
0.4 Junction #1. Take the Overlook trail to the right.
0.5 Overlook and views. Towering 500' cliffs provide spectacular coastline scenery. Head back, then right towards Chimney Rock.
0.9 Chimney Rock and wildflowers. Expert observers have counted over 60 species of flowers along the trail including hairy cat's-ears, Johnny-tuck, paintbrush, lupine, iris and checkerbloom.

Disclaimer: The information provided on this web site is only a general guide. We do not accept liability or legal responsibility for trail conditions, trail information, errors or omissions.

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