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Field Trip: Members Only Point Reyes National Seashore

  • Bear Valley Visitor Center (map)

Please take a moment to read our field trip policies here.

Field Trip: Members Only Point Reyes National Seashore

This all-day field trip will visit various locations at Point Reyes National Seashore, primarily exploring the Outer Point: the Lighthouse, Fish Docks, the major ranches, Drake's Beach, and the RCA station. We hope to encounter a variety of fall migrants, especially those hard-to-identify basic plumaged warblers.

Trip Type: Standard

Age Limit:  All Ages; Young birders, ages 18 and under, must be accompanied by a parent or guardian

Participant Limitation: Members Only

Capacity: 12

Price: $100

Trip Difficulty: 2 miles, paved trails, gravel trails, packed-dirt trails, muddy or possibly muddy after rain, some hills (less than 300 ft elevation gain), steep in some sections, little to no shade

Other Trip Notes: This trip will occur regardless of weather conditions, which, in the worst case, could be cool, rainy, windy, and foggy. Because of the varied terrain this trip is not for ADA-constrained members. Spotting scopes will be useful. We will break at mid-day for lunch: bring your own -- there are no eating establishments where we will lunch.

Driving/Caravaning Requirements:  Due to both the distance to Point Reyes and extended traveling within the park we strongly encourage carpooling.

Beginner Friendly, Intermediate Level Birding, Advanced Birding

Meet: Bear Valley Visitor Center parking lot, Point Reyes National Seashore, Point Reyes Station

Directions: From Santa Clara County take either I-280 or US-101 north towards San Francisco, making your way to the Golden Gate Bridge. Cross the Golden Gate Bridge north towards Marin. Continue north on US-101, taking the Sir Francis Drake Boulevard exit (450-B) northwest towards Ross and San Anselmo. At Olema turn briefly north onto CA-1 north, then turn left onto Bear Valley Road to the Bear Valley Visitor Center parking lot. From most locations in central Santa Clara County the trip should take on the order of 2 hours. Latitude/Longitude: 38.0396, -122.7998

Facilities: bathroom, porta-potty, cell coverage may be intermittent or non-existent

Parking Type and Fees: There are no entrance or parking fees at Point Reyes National Seashore.

Leaders: Sheila Raymond (408) 887-4854; Andy Melnick (650) 823-4117, Matthew Dodder (650) 868-4922.

Banner Photo: Rose-breasted Grosbeak by John Scharpen

Questions? Email general questions to centennialevents@scvas.org or contact the trip leader for questions regarding the event.