Point Reyes Car Camping: Nature Camp

Point Reyes Car Camping is the best way to see Point Reyes National Seashore's incredibly diverse life, from cows and milk to Tule elk. Point Reyes Nature Camp gives you five glorious days for short hikes all over Point Reyes to experience its natural and historic wonders. We'll learn by observing birds, wildflowers, wildlife, marine mammals, habitats, edible plants, an oyster farm, a historic dairy, and more -- and have fun doing it! A nature-lover's delight and great for families -- half price for kids ages 8 - 15!

Point Reyes Car Camping + Day Hikes

DAY 1. Point Reyes Nature Camp begins at the Park's Bear Valley Visitor Center, where we'll take a short walk to Kule Loklo, the re-created Miwok Indian Village, and learn how they lived off the land. After a picnic lunch, we'll take a short walk on the Earthquake Trail, which shows how the Great San Francisco Earthquake of 1906 shoved the entire Point Reyes Peninsula six feet northward along the San Andreas Fault! After this, we'll set up camp along Olema Creek at the nearby Olema Ranch Campground.


DAY 2. Everyone wants to see the park's largest animal, the Tule Elk -- so we'll car caravan to Tomales Point where there are dozens of these animals, and learn how they came back from near-extinction. At Tomales Point we'll also tour a historic dairy built in the 1860s, which even has its own one-room school because it was so isolated from the nearest town! After lunch, we'll go bird-watching at Abbott's Lagoon, and look for a rare mint plant that only grows in sand dunes.


DAY 3. We'll car caravan to the historic Point Reyes Lighthouse, and stop in at the Light House Visitor Center on our way down the many steps to the cliffside lighthouse. Then we'll head to the Drakes Beach picnic area for lunch. After that, we'll walk on the beach to see what life forms we can find. On our drive back to camp, we'll stop at the Johnson Oyster Co., to learn how they grow oysters in Drakes Estero, and get some fresh oysters to fry for dinner!


DAY 4. We go to Tomales Bay State Park, where a short hike takes us from Heart's Desire Beach to Indian Beach. Along the way, we look for evidence that Indians once lived here, as well as watching for all kinds of wildlife, insect life, and wildflowers After a picnic at Indian Beach, we'll head back to Heart's Desire Beach for a quick dip in the water before heading back to camp.


DAY 5.This morning we pack up after breakfast and check out of the campground, but we've still got a full day to experience the park's crown jewel: A deep, clear, natural lake surrounded by forest, that's perfect for swimming. We'll caravan to the trailhead, then hike 2.5 miles (4k) on a clifftop trail with gorgeous ocean views. The trail turns inland and through a cool forest before reaching this lovely lake for a swim and a picnic lunch. You won't want to leave! But Nature Camp ends when we return to the trailhead.

Bear Valley Visitor Center, Bear Valley Road, Point Reyes National Seashore CA ("H" on map). ALERT! "H" is the correct map location.
M-F 7/7/08-7/11, 10:30am

FAQ, Contact David

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