We started at the Bear Valley Visitors center and headed up the Meadow Trail and then down to Coast Camp and then up the Fire Lane Trail to Sky Camp Trail to spend night 1 at Sky Camp. I would not recommend the Fire Lane Trail. It is steep and rutted and very overgrown.
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Took shortcut at 5 mile mark down the Palomarin trail. The upper falls are remarkable. The scramble down the scree through a steep slot to the beach at the end is the reason the. Park service doesn’t sanction this route. Spectacular views from the edges. Walk through wooded copses and grassy fields on the return from wildcat camp.
Today was 55-60•f , overcast. The walk is long and could be hot on a sunny day.
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Good hike and rainy day! Couldn’t see much. Very hazy throughout the entire hike, seemed to be walking inside a cloud. Poured for 15/20 minutes. Better visibility at the point.
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Here is how the National Park Service describes this hike:
“Please take note! There is NO park-sanctioned "Alamere Falls Trail." Many social media posts, websites, and guide books reference an "Alamere Falls Trail" (sometimes referred to as a "shortcut"). This is NOT a maintained trail, and poses many hazards to off-trail hikers—crumbling and eroding cliffs and lots of poison oak. Visitors who use this unmaintained trail may endanger themselves and rescuers, and damage park resources. On an almost weekly basis, visitors get hurt scrambling down the route leading to the top of the falls or sliding down the crumbly cliff-face to get to the beach, sometimes requiring the efforts of search and rescue teams. The National Park Service strongly advises visitors against using this unmaintained route. Please use the recommended route through Wildcat Beach to visit the falls.”
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Well worth the trip. A nice car trip through beautiful ranches and past a herd of tule elk followed by a windy walk and a stroll on the beach.
Glorious and very windy. The wildflowers were amazing. The beach was wonderful. The path down to the beach leads through a small canyon along a creek. The wind tunnel effect was breathtaking. The wind on the beach was too strong for kites. Spectacular scenery.
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Ted hike! Hiked at low tide to reach a secluded beach with cows! Gorgeous day! I offered a car pool.
Jason-sf was on this hike but didn’t know him at the time!!
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Beautiful trail and incredible scenery. Be sure and take plenty of food and water if you do the full 12 miles.
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Here in February 2022, after the fire that burned this area in August of 2020. Burning the tall brush really improved the views from Sky Camp and on Woodward Valley. There was tons of blooming, newly grown lupine. Beautiful sweeping views of the ocean for the whole lower portion. We did this clockwise and the hike up Fire Lane trail was a steady slog. I might try it counter clockwise next time.
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This was a great backpacking loop! Began by parking at Sky Trailhead and heading up to Sky Camp. It is an easy fire road the whole trail up. Sky Camp offers great ocean views from above and epic sunsets!
Stop 2 was down the mountain to Coast Camp by way of Sky, Meadow, and Coast trails. The views on the way down are panoramic and expansive! Trails are a mix of wooded and unshaded so bring plenty of water! Coast Camp offers access to the ocean and both private or open style sites. You can also take a dip or have a beach fire (w/permit only)
The final leg of loop is back up the Mountain by way of Fire Lane trail - this trail is well graded, but still steep in some parts. It’s a mix of coastal foliage to start then dense forest as you climb. You’ll be breathing hard on the way out!
Celebrate your adventure!
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Sadly lots of trash and poop. Please learn how to dispose of waste before backpacking...
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Absolutely beautiful trail with stunning scenery and views. We saw so much wildlife! We saw hawks, an owl, a coyote, deer and so many elk. The elk were numerous, big and beautiful. We even saw some males sparring, clashing antlers and everything. It was incredible.
I would rate this hike on the east side of moderate, though there are some sections that will get your blood pumping.
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This hike was beautiful. We saw an abundance of wild flowers, Tule Elk, Deer, wild Turkeys and a pod of Gray Whales feeding off the point. Although long, it was not a difficult hike.
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A great hike with plenty of shade. It had just rained so the falls were beautiful, but at some points the trail was very muddy, especially the Palomarin trail, and the falls were very crowded because it was a Saturday.
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This was a pretty fun hike. There was so much elk which was fun for me to watch along the trail.
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Great hike. Beautiful trail along the ocean with lakes and nature. A bit busy on a holiday but still lovely.
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The hike wasn’t very hard, but was very long. Parts of it were very sandy, as if you were climbing up and down small sand dunes. The views were stunning. There were also some cool rock outcrops to rest at. Surprised there were no bathrooms at the trailhead, especially considering how popular the trail was and the homesteads. Would do again, but maybe not after a day of 10 mile hiking.
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OAC group. We saw a ton of wild elk roaming, running, grazing, etc.
The 10 mile hike was epic. Went bush whacking to a private beach for lunch before hiking to the end of the cliff/point. Warm, sunny, blue sky day!!
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Beautiful hike with coastal views only when there is no fog. Great place to see Elk in their natural habitat.
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Trail to falls is unmarked on main map—you’ll need to take a left about 100 yards past where map shows a trail going around nw side of pelican lake (that trail is now overgrown i guess)
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This is a great hike for all skill levels. It takes you on the well established Bear Valley Trail past Divide Meadow and through the lush green forest of Point Reyes. Along the way you are met with the sounds of birds chirping and many places where the flow of water lays a soundtrack to your steps. After just over 4 miles you are at Coast Trail, where you can take the left fork and soon be at the Coast with breathtaking views. Bring binoculars, you may spot a whale beyond Arch Rock which is packed with seabirds diving for fish. Stop for lunch as you gaze upon the coastline. After your rest, it is an easy walk back out to the parking lot the same way you came. This is a lovely way to spend 4-5 hours at Point Reyes that isn’t too strenuous and is mixed with plenty of rest along the way.
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This is a wonderful hike that takes you through the deep, lush forests of Point Reyes. Ocean views are minimal, but this hike is great to do and stop for a lunch at Sky Camp overlooking the ocean before you hike back down to Bear Valley Trailhead parking. This hike will get your heart pumping when you get to Pine Trail and work up through Sky Trail. The trails are mostly all shaded, so that is a plus on hotter days. On the way back, it is a nice easy decent on Mt. Wittenberg Trail. This is a nice, moderate, longer loop hike, and a great way to spend a day at Point Reyes!
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Dozens of Tule Elks and deers close to the trail. Very foggy on the way to the point but cleared later so I had gorgeous views of the scenery. No people on the way out but a few on the way back.
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This is an absolutely delightful hike, and also really easy on the body on the way up, the way down is steeper. It is however more about ferns, and light moving through the trees, discovering a grand old oak or pine here and there, then about views overall. There is one awesome view at the top of the hike, before it rejoins with the Mt Wittenberg Trail.
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