Spit Shine

Hike Limantour Spit in Point Reyes

Woman walking along Limantour Beach in Point Reyes National Seashore

Limantour Beach in Point Reyes National Seashore is a wild and beautiful south-facing coastline that just beckons to be explored. The beach is actually a long and narrow spit of sand flanked by the Pacific Ocean on one side and Drakes Estero on the other.

It’s a fantastic place to spot wildlife. Harbor seals riding the tides like to pop their heads up and check you out. And in the winter months, you might find a giant elephant seal lounging on the beach, soaking in the rays. These big boys (and girls) were absent from Point Reyes for more than 150 years. It wasn’t until the early 1980s that the elephant seal returned to this coastline.

Woman hiking at Limantour Beach in Point Reyes

Give them plenty of space (we had a zoom lens for the photo). Plus birds, birds, birds! Shorebirds love the rich tidal waters. In spring, this is an optimal spot for spying gray whales cruising near the shoreline with their calves.

We recommend hiking west along the beach all the way to the end of the spit and the entrance to Drakes Estero. Sandy bluffs make good spots for sheltering from the wind and watching the wildlife. Time your hike for a late afternoon return stroll and watch the sky filter the sun in moody or bright shades across the horizon.

PIZZA BONUS: After your hike, grab a fresh pizza pie at Cafe Reyes in Point Reyes Station. Their wood fired pizzas are delicious, and the dough is made fresh from scratch every day!

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST: In the episode "Wide Open 2021" Weekend Sherpa co-founders Brad and Holly talk about their New Year's Day hike at Limantour Beach as well as other wide open spaces to explore in Northern California.

Park at the Limantour Beach parking area (map). Walk 5 minutes to the beach, then make a right and head west as far as you can go. It's about 2 miles (one-way) to the end of Limantour Spit and the entrance of Drakes Estero. Please stay at least 25 feet away from elephant seals and 300 feet away from harbor seals. No dogs on this stretch of beach! (The southeast section of the beach is dog-friendly!)

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Man hiking up a trail at Montara Mountain, with a view of the Pacific and Grey Whale sand beach in the background

    From Beach to Summit

    No need to decide between a beach and a mountaintop—this hike includes both! Explore the stunning coastal scenery on this 6-mile out-and-back up Montara Mountain and into Rancho Corral de Tierra.

    View
  2. Picnic and a Pedal

    West Marin has all the right stuff for an afternoon getaway: bike paths, babbling brooks, canopy forests, and secluded picnic spots. Combine a picnic and a pedal at Samuel P. Taylor State Park by biking the easygoing Cross Marin Trail.

    View
  3. Most Peaceful Hike of All

    Is this the most peaceful one-hour hike in the Bay Area? It's got our vote! Lake Lagunitas is the smallest lake in a series of five found on the north side of Mount Tam, so it’s got that tiny but mighty charm. Do a 1.5-mile loop around the lake's shore-hugging trail.

    View
  4. Sebastopol Food & Wine Roll

    One apple farm, three charming towns, multiple wineries, and infinite natural beauty. Savor a perfect autumn day in Sonoma County by biking the West County Regional Trail from Sebastopol to Forestville via Graton. It’s a 17-mile (round-trip) adventure. 

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Woman walking in the Venice Canals of Los Angeles County

    Canal Contemplations

    With its incense-scented boardwalk, bohemian shops, skateparks, and abundance of body builders, Venice is happily eccentric, and artistic. Exhibit A: Its network of European-style canals with charming bridges, offering a tranquil tour of the town’s history.

    View
  2. Wine Down, Dine Out in Lake Chelan

    The fertile soil around Washington State's Lake Chelan is ripe for more than just the amazing apples. Vineyards here yield high quality grapes, and some of the country’s best less-discovered wineries. Locals know it, and you will too when you start choosing from the more than 30 wineries in the region.

    View
  3. What's Up, Winthrop!

    It’s not just its location close to Washington State’s spectacular and less visited national park (North Cascades) that makes Winthrop such a winsome mountain town. This lively enclave in the Methow Valley bristles with a whimsical blend of Wild West charms, contemporary culture, and a mosaic of outdoor adventures—from river to lake to waterfalls, and beyond.

    View
  4. Hike San Diego Volcan Mountain Wilderness

    Planet of the Oaks

    Let us count the number of oak tree species in the Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve near Julian: coast, scrub, canyon, black, and Engelmann. Five! The preserve’s Five Oaks Trail is a 3.2-mile hike that boasts all five.

    View