Wildlife galore!
Days/Nights - Day Hike
Miles - 9.1
Elevation Gain - 1070
Starting Elevation - 305
Ending Elevation - 305
Highest Elevation - 542
Trail Type - Out & Back Dirt/Sand See AllTrails here
This is a fairly popular weekend warrior hike, well known in the Bay Area, and one that was not really on my radar as it is an in/out hike (vs loop), and it is busy (versus solitude). While I have hiked most of the trails in Point Reyes, I was quite surprised that in all my years locally, I had not yet done this one. It didn't disappoint.
We set our alarms early to make the one hour drive out to Point Reyes, preferring to avoid the crowds and parking issues. When we arrived at Davis Ranch, there were 2 other cars there. Perfect! Actually, we didn't pass a single person on the 4.5 mile hike out to the point which took about 1.5 hours. We started around 8.30 and we had the place to ourselves. On the hike back however, the weekend warriors were out in full force and we passed hikers every few minutes. Not a problem!
The hike starts at the historic Davis Ranch - once considered the "best" dairy ranch in California, dating back to the mid 1800's. It passes an old shed, through a small eucalyptus grove, and starts a short sandy climb up to the bluff where the panoramic ocean views open up.
Once on the bluff you hill have constant views of either the Pacific Ocean, and/or glimpses of the Tomales Bay along the way to the point, including views of Dillon Beach and Bodega Bay, with distant views of the Jenner area. The trail undulates up and down and while I would term this as an easy hike, there are enough gains in there to break a sweat. Most of the trail is typical hardened dirt, with the last couple of miles being true single-track where you are making your way through brush, so be careful of ticks, and I would recommend wearing long pants. The final mile the trail turns to sand, so it is a little more difficult to walk, but at no point are there any significant challenges on this terrain.
While the views alone make this a worthwhile hike, the added bonus of wildlife makes this an extra special outing. We saw rabbits, moles, a coyote, eagles, and the majestic Tule Elk who call this place home. The entire area is designated as a Tule Elk preserve, and there are approximately 500 elk roaming. They are magnificent creatures seen up close. The males can weigh up to 800 lbs, and their backs sit at about 5 feet, putting the tips of their antlers at an estimated 9 feet off the ground. They look prehistoric almost. They were passive as we walked through the preserve, noticing us and watching us, but in a calm manner. There appeared to be several males designated to accompany the females, while the rest of the males appeared to group together and stay well away from the alpha males. My wife described this hike as her favorite hike ever, and she has done quite a few. I would rank it highly and would most definitely do it again at a moments notice. There is nothing not to like about it except it's popularity (for me). Tips:
No shade, no water Get there early to beat the crowds and before the wildlife scatters
Bring layers & raincoat
