Ben and I did a 2-night backpacking trip in Point Reyes for 4th of July weekend in 2024. We took the bus from SF to San Rafael and then San Rafael to the Point Reyes visitor center. The bus service was nice, cheap, and easy – would recommend! After looking around the visitor center, we hiked the few miles to our first campsite, Sky campground, with the intention of hiking to the ocean in the afternoon. We were lured in by Sky campsite (super nice sites and view) and decided to hang out there during the afternoon and evening instead. We played cards, read, and made mac n cheese.
The next day, we had a slow morning and then followed the Ridge trail to Glen campsite. The trail was very overgrown with plants, including some berries, and had good climbing trees along the way. Our campsite in Glen lacked shade and smelled a little from the bathroom, so we left for a day hike after a quick lunch. We walked down to Wildcat campsite and along the beach to Alamere falls, a waterfall on the beach, where we admired the seabirds and swam in the waterfall pools.
Then we hiked back on the trail to Wildcat campsite, passing a few lakes, and then back to Glen campground. For dinner, we made cous cous which Ben was a big fan of. Ben had fun taking pictures of the stars once it got dark.
Late the next morning, we hiked along Bear Valley trail back to the visitor center, with a stop in a meadow. While we waited for the bus, we walked up to the recreated Miwok village where we tried and failed to mash up acorns. Our friend biked up from Mill Valley to meet us there, and we took the bus back to San Rafael together, where we got Puerto Rican food before boarding the bus back to SF.
Point Reyes is huge and so beautiful. There were so many plants and relatively few people walking on the trails. It’s a great place to go backpacking, especially the Sky campground. We hope to book the campgrounds close to the ocean, Coast and Wildcat, and spend more time near the coast next time.
The next day, we had a slow morning and then followed the Ridge trail to Glen campsite. The trail was very overgrown with plants, including some berries, and had good climbing trees along the way. Our campsite in Glen lacked shade and smelled a little from the bathroom, so we left for a day hike after a quick lunch. We walked down to Wildcat campsite and along the beach to Alamere falls, a waterfall on the beach, where we admired the seabirds and swam in the waterfall pools.
Then we hiked back on the trail to Wildcat campsite, passing a few lakes, and then back to Glen campground. For dinner, we made cous cous which Ben was a big fan of. Ben had fun taking pictures of the stars once it got dark.
Late the next morning, we hiked along Bear Valley trail back to the visitor center, with a stop in a meadow. While we waited for the bus, we walked up to the recreated Miwok village where we tried and failed to mash up acorns. Our friend biked up from Mill Valley to meet us there, and we took the bus back to San Rafael together, where we got Puerto Rican food before boarding the bus back to SF.
Point Reyes is huge and so beautiful. There were so many plants and relatively few people walking on the trails. It’s a great place to go backpacking, especially the Sky campground. We hope to book the campgrounds close to the ocean, Coast and Wildcat, and spend more time near the coast next time.