Point Reyes National Seashore is a beautiful place! It is less than a couple of hours away from San Francisco. Abbotts Lagoon is one of the easiest and most rewarding hikes at Point Reyes, which makes it perfect for families with young children. Unfortunately, dogs and other pets are not allowed on this trail.
The lagoon is great for birdwatching and the beach is a wonderful place to have a picnic. Although it is a short hike from the parking lot, we felt like we had the lagoon to ourselves. We could not see the parking lot from the lagoon, and there were only a few others there.
How much does it cost?
Free! There are no entry fees to Point Reyes National Seashore.
What should I bring?
Check the weather before you head to Point Reyes. It is normally cold and windy but there may also be fog and rain. Dress appropriately.
- Insulated Jacket or Windbreaker
- Sweater, Sweatshirt or Long Sleeve Shirt
- Long pants
- Gloves (for kids or others who get cold easily)
- Wool socks
- Hiking shoes or walking shoes with a good grip
- Sunglasses
- Hat
- Hiking book and/or trail map
- Water
- Food and snacks
- Sanitizing Gel or Wipes
- Backpack
- Picnic blanket
- Facial sunblock
- Trash bag (to haul your trash back to the trailhead trash bins)
- Binoculars
- Camera
- Good bird watching book
How do I get there?
We did not have cell phone service at Point Reyes National Seashore. The Bear Valley Visitor Center normally has free park maps, but it is currently closed due to the pandemic so you can download a trail map or bring your hiking book with you.
Plan on spending about 20 minutes to drive from the Bear Valley Visitor Center to the Abbotts Lagoon Trailhead.
Directions from Bear Valley Visitor Center:
- Turn left on Bear Valley Road and follow the road northwest.
- Turn left at Sir Francis Drake Boulevard and continue to drive northwest.
- You will pass by some restaurants and places to stay. You should see Tomales Bay on your right side.
- Keep right at the fork to Pierce Point Road.
- Follow Pierce Point Road 3.2 miles north to the Abbotts Lagoon parking lot. This dirt parking lot is on the left side of the road. Toilets and trash bins are here.
60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: San Francisco: Including North Bay, East Bay, Peninsula, and South Bay
Hike to Abbotts Lagoon & Great Beach
Distance: 3.0 miles roundtrip
Duration: 1-2 hours
This is a short and relatively flat hike, which makes it great for children. You start at the trailhead and walk through lush green land. Keep an eye out for wildlife. We saw cows in the distance, quails and a bobcat!
Continue on the dirt path and you will eventually come across a worn down wooden bench where you can sit down and observe the lagoon. Continue down the trail where you will cross a wooden bridge that takes you over a small stream. Take a moment to look for otters. We saw a couple of otters swimming in the lagoon!
After you cross the bridge, you will walk on sand. The water is gently lapping at the edges of the lagoon, and birds are playing in the water and flying overhead.
This would be a great time to take out your binoculars and California bird guide. We went in the spring, but the best time to go birdwatching at the lagoon is in fall and winter. You can see shorebirds, waterfowl, sparrows, quail, hawks, osprey, ducks and perhaps even a golden eagle or a peregrine falcon! The sand dunes are also a nesting ground to the threatened western snowy plovers so tread carefully.
We kept walking to the sand dunes. My husband and daughter loved exploring this area. The sand was so soft and we saw some wild beach strawberries.
Walk a little further and you will arrive at Great Beach. The Great Beach is very clean but windy.
We had the whole beach to ourselves! It was the perfect place to have a private picnic. Setup your picnic blanket, and enjoy some yummy foods and drinks. Lay down and soak in some rays while you listen to the serene sounds of the ocean waves.
Personalized Outdoor Picnic Blanket
Beware of Sneaker Waves
Please be aware of sneaker waves (also known as rogue waves). Every now and then I hear about a sneaker wave taking another life. It is really something that can be avoided so I am hoping that by bringing awareness to this it will prevent more deaths.
Sneaker waves (or rogue waves) are waves that are much larger than normal waves and they can appear out of nowhere. They can travel far up the beach, and are so powerful that they can pick up driftwood and other debris that can hurt or pin down unsuspecting beachgoers.
The waters at Point Reyes can also be as cold as 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Being swept away in that water can lead to hypothermia in a matter of minutes. Point Reyes waters are also known for rip currents, strong undertows and sharks. I do not recommend swimming in the ocean.
Tips: When you first arrive at a beach, watch the waves for about 20 minutes to get a feel of the waves. Also, do not turn your back to the waves so that you are not taken by surprise. Keep an eye on small children and remain within reach of them. The common theme I have heard over the years involves someone dying trying to save their child or pet being swept away by a sneaker wave.
Sources
- National Park Service (NPS), https://www.nps.gov/
- “County of Marin – News Releases – Beach Water Quality”, County of Marin, accessed July 17, 2021, https://www.marincounty.org/main/county-press-releases/press-releases/2021/cda-beachbacteria-031921
- “Sneaker/High Waves and Log Rolls Can Be Deadly,” National Weather Service, accessed July 17, 2021, https://www.weather.gov/safety/ripcurrent-waves#:~:text=Sneaker%20waves%20strike%20people%20who,for%2010%20to%2020%20minutes.
