Last updated: Friday, April 9, 2021
Woodward Fire-Related ClosuresOn Monday, August 17, 2020, lightning started a wildfire, which was named the 4-5 Fire, north of the junction of Woodward Valley Trail and the Coast Trail. On Tuesday, August 18, a second fire, initially named the 4-6 Fire and later renamed the Woodward Fire, was found nearby and, aided by gusty winds, quickly grew in size. By Thursday, October 1, 2020, the Woodward Fire was 100% contained at 4,929 acres in size. The Woodward Fire was declared out on Tuesday, January 12, 2021. Ecologists consider the Woodward Fire to be ecologically beneficial because it had a mix of burn severity. That means it burned with high intensity in some places, and other places it burned lightly. This type of burn is in contrast with some of our larger, hotter fires that consume everything in its path. Even though the fire was 100% contained by October 1, 2020, fuels in the interior area of the fire continued to burn until January 12, 2021. The fuels that continued to burn were large tree trunks, stump holes, and other areas with smoldering fuels that are very difficult to access. These areas occasionally produced light smoke, but posed no threat to the containment lines. Even after the fire was declared out, the park has continued to keep areas that are within and close to the fire footprint closed to visitation. There are several reasons why this area is closed. First, the area has yet to be thoroughly assessed for hazard trees. These are trees that have been burned and pose a falling threat to hikers. Second, trails have yet to be completely cleared of debris and rehabilitated. Park staff are currently working to repair trails and fix drainage structures on the trails within the burn area. These repairs leave fresh disturbed soils on the trails with minimal compaction. Any foot, bicycle, or equestrian traffic at this time damages—or can even destroy—these newly rebuilt drainage structures. Natural wetting and drying out of the soil will give us the compaction we need for long-term durability, but the soils need to remain undisturbed after park staff finish their work so that natural compaction process can happen. We ask for your patience as we work to improve the trails within the Woodward Fire zone. The park remains hopeful that the closed area will be opened to the public in late spring or early summer. That is, if hazard trees have been removed and the hiking trails are safe for travel and have sufficiently hardened. Safety reminder: Park visitors and area residents are asked to be mindful of park closures described below that remain in effect. While it might not look dangerous, if you were to go into a closed area, and something were to happen to you and you required assistance, everyone entering the area to assist you might be put in harm's way. Thank you for your continued patience during this extraordinary time! 
Areas closed to all visitors due to the Woodward Fire.Most of the area and most trails south of Limantour Road and Bear Valley Road, west of Bear Valley Access Road and Rift Zone Trail, and north of Stewart Trail are closed to all visitor access until further notice. (Exceptions are listed below.) These areas and trails include, but are not limited to: Bear Valley Area
Sky Campground
Trails in the Burn Zone
ExceptionsVisitors are welcome to walk southeast on Limantour Beach. Be aware that all areas above the beach's vegetation line from Coast Campground to Wildcat Campground are closed to all access until further notice, including Sculptured Beach Trail, Kelham Beach Trail, and Kelham Beach. The following roads and trails south of Limantour Road and Bear Valley Road, west of Bear Valley Access Road and Rift Zone Trail, and north of Stewart Trail are open:
Reopened AreasOn Friday, October 23, 2020, the Bear Valley parking lot, Bear Valley Picnic Area, the Earthquake Trail, and the Rift Zone Trail were reopened. Respect the ClosuresBurned Area Emergency Recovery (BAER) activity continues. Hazardous conditions exist. Conditions can change rapidly. Please visit these areas of Point Reyes National Seashore at a later, safer time in the future. MapsDownload a map indicating the areas and trails that are closed until further notice due to the Woodward Fire. (4,145 KB PDF) Visit our Woodward Fire - August 2020 page for more information. Temporary facilities closures are in effect until further notice due to the COVID-19 pandemic.In addition to the areas listed above, following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local public health officials, the following areas, buildings, and roads are closed until further notice:
More information and details may be found below. Status of frequently used visitor facilities and services
Travel AdvisoryOn April 2, 2021, the California Department of Public Health updated its Travel Advisory for Non-Essential Travel, which includes travel that is considered tourism or recreational in nature. Non-essential travelers from other states or countries are strongly discouraged from entering California. All persons arriving in or returning to California from other states or countries should follow CDC travel guidance and adhere to the quarantine procedures set forth in the travel advisory. Avoiding travel reduces the risk of virus transmission, including by reducing the risk that new sources of infection and, potentially, new virus strains will be introduced to California. If you do decide to visit Point ReyesPlease practice caution in deciding when to leave your home and for what purpose. The virus is present in our community, and even people without symptoms can have COVID-19 and give it to others. We can all help protect the people we live, work, and interact with so they don't get the virus. If you are feeling sick, please stay home. When coming to the park:
Visit our Recreate Responsibly page for guidelines for responsible recreation in the outdoors at Point Reyes and other park lands during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Updates will be posted to this park website and social media channels. For more information, please see Marin County's current public health orders and Frequently Asked Questions and California's Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response website. Carry out what you carry in.Please help us protect public health by taking your trash home. Leave No Trace. Sir Francis Drake Boulevard Managed AccessSir Francis Drake Boulevard is open. However, on weekends and federal holidays, access to the Lighthouse and Chimney Rock areas (aka, the Headlands) will be managed beyond the intersection of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard and Drakes Beach Road in an effort to ensure visitor and staff safety by reducing the number of people at these otherwise crowded locations. During your visit, please read any and all advisory signs you may encounter along the way. We request your patience. Our goal is to help you have a safe visit, so please stay physically distant from anyone outside of your household and wear a face covering. Sir Francis Drake Boulevard Road WorkOn Monday, April 20, 2020, contractors began work on a major two-year road improvement project in Point Reyes National Seashore. To better ensure the safety of road crew and visitors, time-limited delays and some road and/or area closures are expected through the duration of the project. Update: Friday, February 12, 2021 
Limantour Road WorkUpdate: Friday, April 9, 2021 Drake Beach Parking LotAs part of the on-going road project in the park, Drakes Beach Road and Parking Lot will be closed between May 1, 2021, and August 31, 2021. The contractor will begin preparatory work at the site as early as April 1, 2021. The work consists of a reconfiguration of the parking lot and the restoration of historic wetlands. The park has requested that the contractor schedule work in a way to avoid concurrent impacts to Limantour and Drakes beaches. More information about these projects will be provided here and above as it becomes available. Bridge ClosureThe Old Tocaloma/Platform Bridge is closed to all vehicular traffic until further notice. The Old Tocaloma/Platform Bridge is the old concrete bridge paralleling Sir Francis Drake Boulevard near its junction with Platform Bridge Road ~two miles east of Olema. The bridge is being closed to vehicular traffic due to structural deficiencies that make the weight of a vehicle unsafe to cross over the bridge. Additional Sources for Road ConditionsAfter wind and/or rain storms, many roads to and from and within Point Reyes National Seashore may be blocked due to flooding, mud slides, downed trees, and/or power lines. Reports of closures and re-openings of roads are received too frequently to keep this page up-to-date. For emergency road and weather conditions in West Marin, visit Point Reyes National Seashore's Twitter feed, the National Weather Service San Francisco Bay Area's Twitter feed, the Marin County Department of Public Works' Twitter feed, the Marin Sheriff Department's Twitter feed, the Marin Fire Department's Twitter feed, the California Highway Patrol: Marin's Twitter feed, or tune in to KWMR, 90.5 FM. For more information on road closures in Marin County and the Bay Area, check the Marin Sheriff Current Emergency Information, the California Department of Transportation's Current Highway Conditions, and CHP Traffic Incident Information (select "Golden Gate" from the "Communication Centers" drop-down menu in the upper left corner, then look for "Marin" in the "Location" and/or "Area" columns) websites. Park TrailsVisit our Trail Advisories and Closures page for the latest trail updates. Notice: Most of the area and most trails south of Limantour Road and Bear Valley Road, west of Bear Valley Access Road and Rift Zone Trail, and north of Stewart Trail are closed to all visitor access until further notice due to the Woodward Fire. Please consult the Woodward Fire section above on this page for specific details. Caution: Many trails in the park are overgrown with grass and annuals. The park's trail crew is working to address the trail conditions as quickly as possible, but please anticipate wading through vegetation as you hike, and check yourself for ticks during and after your hike. Warning: Hazardous conditions near north end of the Tomales Point Trail. In January 2017, part of the bluff at the north end of Tomales Point collapsed. The bluff top may be unstable & another collapse could occur. Please don't attempt to reach the northern end of Tomales Point by going off-trail to the east of the collapse. More... Warning: Fissures reported near the Chimney Rock Trail. Cracks were reported on a portion of the bluff near the Chimney Rock Trail on December 21, 2015. These fissures could indicate the possibility of a weakening cliff face in the area. The land may be unstable and a collapse or erosion could occur. Visitors are reminded to stay on designated trails. More... Warning: The Arch Rock trail has been closed until further notice. New hazardous conditions on Arch Rock were reported to the park on Thursday, March 19, 2015. On Saturday, March 21, 2015, a portion of the land at the Arch Rock overlook collapsed into the waters 70 feet below. More... Health and Safety Warnings/AdvisoriesCOVID-19 PandemicA Risk Reduction Order is in place for Marin County until further notice. Please help do your part to slow the spread of the coronavirus by staying close to home; if you do visit Point Reyes, please maintain at least six feet of physical distance. Individuals engaged in outdoor exercise, such as walking, hiking, running, or bicycling, are not required to wear a face covering, but should carry one with them and must wear a facial covering when interacting with others who are not members of their household in public and private spaces if they cannot practice physical distancing. There are a number of areas where individuals over the age of two years are required to wear masks, except when actively eating or drinking, when others are present. Visit our Recreate Responsibly page for guidelines for responsible recreation in the outdoors at Point Reyes and other park lands during the COVID-19 Pandemic. WildlifeIn spring, there are plenty of opportunities to see a wide range of animals. Elephant seal pups are still hauled out on beaches near Chimney Rock through April, and adult females return later in spring to molt their skin. Gray whales are migrating past the Point on their way to the Bering and Chukchi seas. Female harbor seals haul out on sandbars and beaches in Drakes Estero, Estero de Limantour, Tomales Bay, and Bolinas Lagoon to give birth and raise their pups. Please note that when seals and other pinnipeds haul out, they are extremely vulnerable to human disturbance, with the pupping and molting seasons being an especially vulnerable time for harbor seals. Please read the "How You Can Help" section on our Harbor Seals page for more information. Many species of birds migrate from, to, or past Point Reyes during the spring. Tule elk can be seen year-round on Tomales Point. Please visit our Wildlife Viewing page for more information. Closures to Protect Western Snowy PloversAnnual Pet Restrictions on Point Reyes Beach - March 1 through September 30NOTICE: From March 1 through September 30, pets are not allowed on the Point Reyes Beach from the north end of the North Beach parking lot north to the intersection of Kehoe Beach Trail at Kehoe Beach to better protect the threatened western snowy plover during its nesting season. Closures to Protect Harbor SealsNOTICE: From March 1 through June 30, an annual recreational closure of Drakes Estero is implemented to protect the harbor seals during their pupping season, a very sensitive time of the year for these pinnipeds. The closure applies to kayak and canoe usage but is applicable to surfers, windsurfers, abalone divers, recreational fishing, and other water sport users around harbor seal colonies in the area. Double Point and the western most point of Limantour Spit are also closed to all human activity during the pupping season. Closures to Protect Seabird Colony SitesNOTICE:From March 1 to July 30, Miller Rocks, Stormy Stack, Hog Island, and Duck Island are closed to the public. This closure is necessary to ensure that no damage occurs to nesting burrows of storm petrels and rhinoceros aucklets, both of which are species of concern under California state law. These sites are also well-used by common murres, pigeon guillemots, pelagic cormorants, and double-crested cormorants, which are easily disturbed during nesting season. Nothing other than a full closure during nesting season would be sufficient to protect the birds. Closures to Protect Elephant SealsNOTICE: Drakes Beach Elephant Seal Colony - year-round NOTICE: The following areas are closed to all entry in order to better protect nursing elephant seal pups: From December 15 to March 31:
Interactive Map Illustrating the Locations of the Elephant Seal-related Closures Referenced AboveVisitor ServicesFollowing guidance from the CDC and public health officials, and to comply with county-wide public health legal orders, all park visitor centers and bookstores are closed and all ranger programs are cancelled until further notice. Visitor Centers
Visit our Operating Hours and Seasons to learn what hours these visitor centers are normally open. Ranger ProgramsVisitors are invited to join a park ranger to learn more about Point Reyes and its history, wildlife, and/or geology during Ranger's Choice Programs. Bookstores - Closed until further noticeStop by one of the three bookstores within the national seashore, all of which are operated by the Point Reyes National Seashore Association (PRNSA). They offer many educational and convenience items, including books, maps, snacks, and, at Drakes Beach, coffee. The Bear Valley Visitor Center and Lighthouse Visitor Center bookstores share the same hours of operations as the visitor centers. The PRNSA Bookstore at Drakes Beach is open Saturdays and Sundays, some Fridays, and most federal holidays (except for Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day) from 11 am to 4:30 pm; closed Mondays through Thursdays, some Fridays, and on Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Visit our Operating Hours & Seasons page for specific hours. Drakes Beach Café is indefinitely closed. Weather & TidesBefore traveling, check weather forecasts and advisories for Point Reyes at our Weather & Tides page or the National Weather Service. Latest NewsIf you're looking for more information about what is happening at Point Reyes National Seashore, visit our News Releases page, our Facebook page, and/or Twitter feed for the most up-to-date news. |
Last updated: April 11, 2021