Overview
Tomales Point Trail is one of the best hikes in California. It is 9.4 miles (15 km) long, leads through an Elk reserve and is an amazing opportunity for wildlife and wildflower (spring) watching. It is an out and back trip to the end of the peninsula. While you can turn back any time, you will receive your sweet reward if you make it to the end. The trail is very popular, so if you can, visit it off-season or early morning. I visited in early October, weekday and morning, so had the wild life all to myself. Please do not leave the designated trail, the elks can get agressive if you leave the trail and go close to their territory.
The first part
My trip started early in the day and for the first 20 minutes I have not seen any other person/animal. I started to feel a bit bored walking up and down on the hills when I saw some movement. They were 2 hunting coyotes. I need to admit, I was a bit scared but continued my trip while the coyotes moved around. One of them crossed the path in front of me. He ended up going to a group of elks – maybe feeling lucky and hoping for a bigger dinner. The elk bull chased him away.
As I continued on the path, it revealed the Pacific ocean on one side and Tomales Bay on the other side. Elks were grazing on both sides, providing amazing views from this close up.
The sandy trail
After 3 miles, there is a new set of cypress trees, marking the end of the official trail. The path from this point on is going through sand and overgrown bushes. A lot harder to progress forward and a lot more tiring but it is worth the trip.
The reward of reaching the end of the trail is an amazing ocean view with cormorants and pelicans. It is also a perfect place to eat the snack what you have brought for the trip.
The way back
From here on the path is the same going back but the feeling will be very different. If you started early, you have covered the first part in fog, its should clear put for the way back, if the first part was clear, the second will have the fog.
My clear weather lasted a bit further then the cypress trees, giving me perfect opportunity to enjoy the sight of a few deers as well as the small lake of the elk bulls.
As I got closer to the end, the fog was getting thicker, the landscape more dramatic and the animals seemed to be a bit more scary. Overall a very good hike! I would love to do it in spring
If you can, start your hike early in the day. The first part of the trail can get crowded and starting early offers you the opportunity to discover the path on your own before wildlife retreats further away.
Getting there
Tomales Point Trail (or Pierce Point) starts close to Inverness (about 1.5 hours North from San Francisco) at the northern end of Point Reyes National Seashore. Please consult the following link for more info
