Escape To Point Reyes National Seashore
No doubt San Francisco is a beautiful city, but Northern California has a lot more to offer than this world famous city. There are some of the most amazing nature scenery of California here, and it offers a complete different adventure style compared to Los Angeles and its surroundings.
We flew to Northern California for a weekend escape to Point Reyes National Seashore, an area that is about 2 hour drive from San Francisco city and a perfect place to indulge in nature.
Point Reyes Shipwreck
Our first stop along the way is to see the shipwreck that gained popularity only in the recent years. This fishing boat probably expected no fame when it was left here for repair, but its rusting beauty was then discovered by many photographers and tourists, and slowly became a must see of the area.
The shipwreck is only steps away from the main street, less than a few minutes one way, but depending on time and season of the visit, you might get a little wet even from a this short hike. During low-tide times, you can physically reach the abandoned ship and even get on it, though given it’s rotting status it may not be recommended so much. However when the tide is high, you will not likely be able to reach the ship without getting quite soaked.
Cypress Tree Tunnel
Chances are, you’re probably seen photos of this tree tunnel sometime on Instagram given how widely photographed this place is. It is no doubt a scenic masterpiece, going through the tunnel is such a magical experience with those giant Monterey Cypress Trees hugging each other over your head from each side of the road. And when the sunlight shines through from the branches, it is like everything you’ve seen in a movie and more!
The tunnel is about 0.25 miles, an easy walk if you prefer not to drive. At the end of the tunnel, you will see the historic building of Marconi RCA Wireless Stations, and in front of the building there is also a decent sized parking lot. We went early in the morning so parking was abundant, however we do hear that this place is usually more than packed during sunset hours.
Chimney Rock Trail
The trip isn’t complete without a hike with the famous coastal view. Though there are many hiking trails within the area, we opted for a relatively easy one that is famous for its iconic scenery.
The geography of the area is quite unique, the trail is based on a long and narrow ridge that extends into the ocean, so stay on trail and keep your distance as both sides will be cliffs. As you hike further in, you’ll see that on one side the ocean is so calm and peaceful, but on the other side the waves are heavy and rough.
We also came to find many wild life animals along our way, a bonus find on top of the coastal view.
Point Reyes Lighthouse
One of the main reasons for us to visit this area is to see the famous Point Reyes Lighthouse. As our hopes were so high, it was somewhat disappointing that the weather was against our will. It was so foggy during our visit that we could barely see 10 ft away, so it was almost impossible to see the lighthouse from afar.
The Lighthouse, on the opposite direction but similar to the Chimney Rock Trail, is built on the end of a narrow ridge that extends into the ocean. From the Visitor Center, it takes 313 descending steps to reach the Point Reyes Lighthouse. Before you head down the stairs, there are clear warning signs indicating that climbing back up from the where the lighthouse is located at is equivalent to climbing 25 stories, think twice or even 3 times before you head down your way. Here’s a view from the end (bottom) of the stairway - where the lighthouse is at:
As it’s entirely impossible to see the lighthouse without walking down to it, we of course chose to challenge ourselves and headed down on the steep and narrow stairway. Though visibility was super limited, we could hear the sound of the waves became more clear as we walked down further, until finally we were able to spot the lighthouse through the mist. Not the most perfect view, but the perfect excuse for us to come back again in the future!
Below photo of the lighthouse was taken by Matt during his visit back in 2013, definitely a less foggy day we’d day.
Hotel of our stay: Best Western Plus Novato Oaks Inn
It still required about an hour drive from the hotel to the closest stop, but it was the hotel itself was nicely maintained and it was probably one of the closest options available in the area. There maybe closer places to rent from Airbnb, but during our visit we didn’t find anything that could work for us.
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