Overview

Point Reyes National Seashore offers four backcountry hike in campgrounds and thirteen boat in campsites along Tomales Bay. 

Note: For reservation purposes, our campgrounds are organized under the "loop" column of the reservation grid.

For more information, visit the Back Country Camping page on the Point Reyes National Seashore website.

Facilities

BOOKING WINDOWS

3 month and 14-day windows. Sites release at 7AM Pacific Standard Time.

COAST CAMP

• 3 months = sites # 1, 4, 6, 8AB 10, 12, 13AB, 14. 
• 14 days = sites # 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11.

GLEN CAMP 

• 3 months = sites # 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 11. 
• 14 days = sites # 4, 6, 7 9, 10, 12.

SKY CAMP

• 3 months = site # 2AB, 3, 6, 8, 9, 11. 
• 14 days = site # 1, 4, 5, 7, 10, 12.

WILDCAT CAMP 

• 3 months = sites # 1AB, 2AB, 3AB, 5, 7. 
• 14 days = sites # 4, 6, 8.

TOMALES BAY BOAT-IN PERMITS: All Boat in permits including Marshall Beach and Tomales Beach group permits are available at 3 months prior to arrival date.

More facility information:

Camping facilities at Point Reyes National Seahsore include four hike-in/bike-in-only campgrounds in the southern area of the park and twenty boat-in-only campsites on Tomales Bay. Camping is allowed only in designated campgrounds and sites. Dispersed camping is not allowed. There is NO car or RV camping at Point Reyes National Seashore

Amenities at the hike-in/bike-in sites include picnic tables, and food storage lockers with centrally located vault toilets and drinking water. No pets permitted.

COAST CAMP - Coast Camp is nestled within a small coastal grassy valley with easy access to the beach and tide pools. The beach is within 200 meters (200 yards) of the campground. The shortest approach to Coast Camp is via the 3 km (2 miles) slightly uphill hike on the Laguna and Firelane Trails starting at the Laguna Trailhead just past the hostel. An alternate route following the Coast Trail starting near the hostel offers an easy, flat 4 km (3 miles) route and is open to bicycles. Twelve reservable sites for up to 6 people each and two reservable group sites for up to 25 people each are available. Sites 1 - 7 are in a small semi-protected canyon.

GLEN CAMP - Glen Camp is a quiet and secluded camp deep within a wooded valley protected from ocean breezes. The shortest hike to this camp is a moderate 7 km (5 miles) hike along the Bear Valley and Glen Trails. To access Glen Camp by bicycle, start at the Five Brooks Trailhead, follow the Stewart Trail to the Glen Trail, then north to the Glen Camp Loop, and finish by descending to Glen Camp. This is a strenuous 10 km (6 mile) bike ride. No groups, horses, or pack animals are allowed at Glen Camp. Twelve reservable sites for up to 6 people each are available.

SKY CAMP - Sky Camp is located on the western side of Mt. Wittenberg at an elevation of 310 meters (1025 feet). In clear weather, enjoy sweeping views of Point Reyes, Drakes Bay, and the Pacific Ocean. The easiest and shortest approach is a 2 km (2 miles) moderate uphill hike or bicycle ride from the Sky Trailhead (elevation 250 meters (840 feet)) on Limantour Road. It is a steep 6 km (4 miles) one-way hike down to the beach. Eleven reservable sites for up to 6 people each and one reservable group site for up to 25 people each are available.

WILDCAT CAMP - Wildcat Camp is located in an open meadow on a bluff overlooking the ocean with a short walk to the beach and a 3 km (2.0 miles) round-trip walk to Alamere Falls. It is a 10 km (6 mile) hike from Bear Valley or a 9 km (6 miles) hike on the Coast Trail from Palomarin with access to Bass Lake. The only bicycle route is via a strenuous 11 km (7 miles) ride along the Stewart Trail from the Five Brooks Trailhead. Two reservable site for up to 6 people, three reservable sites for up to 4 people, and three reservable group sites for up to 25 people each are available.

Boat-in Campground:

TOMALES BAY - Tomales Bay boat-in camping is allowed on west-side National Park beaches north of Tomales Bay State Park's Indian Beach. These beaches are tidally influenced and generally are small sandy coves backed against steep cliffs. Campers on Tomales Bay beaches must arrive by boat only and may not hike, bike, or ride horses to the beaches. Beaches are not assigned; campers choose available beaches on a first-come, first-served basis after launching. Overnight parking for boat-in campers is available at the Tomales Bay Resort and at the Miller Boat Launch and is othewise prohibited within Point Reyes National Seashore and Tomales Bay State Park. The beaches are primitive and without facilities with the exception of vault toilets at Marshall and Tomales Beaches and two picnic tables at Tomales Beach. Unless using the vault toilets at Marshall and Tomales Beaches, boat-in campers must bring portable toilets to remove human waste. In addition, all trash must be removed. Boat-in campers must their own bring water, racoon-proof food storage, and firewood. Permanent and seasonal closures exist on some beaches. Check the Point Reyes National Seashore website for the most up to date information. Point Reyes NPS Website 

Natural Features

• Peninsula
• Sandy Beaches
• Rocky Shorelines
• Coastal Strand
• Bishop Pine Forest
• Douglas Fir Forest
• Coastal Prairie
• Coastal Rangeland
• Marshlands
• Coastal Scrub
• Mixed Evergreen Forest
• San Andreas Fault 
• Lagoons
• Estuaries
• Mediterranean Climate

Recreation

Wildlife viewing 

Hiking

Birding

Backpacking

Kayaking

Mushroom hunting

Bike riding

Nearby Attractions

Important Notices

• PLEASE READ

  ! NO CAR OR RV CAMPING ANYWHERE IN POINT REYES NATIONAL SEASHORE.

  ! PETS ARE PROHIBITED (only trained service animals are allowed) IN CAMPGROUNDS, AND ON TOMALES BAY BEACHES FOR BOAT-IN CAMPING.

  ! PARKING PERMIT REQUIRED FOR OVER NIGHT PARKING AT ALL TRAILHEADS (a printout of your reservation confirmation face up on your dash serves as a valid parking permit.)

  ! ONLY ONE CAMPGROUND RESERVATION PER NIGHT PER PARTY OR GROUP. 

  ! DON’T BE A “NO SHOW”. Be kind and cancel reserved nights that you will not use.

  ! NOISE: AUDIBLE MUSIC OF ANY TYPE IS NOT ALLOWED. NO INSTRUMENTS OR AMPLIFIED MUSIC. 

  ! NO DISPERSED CAMPING ALLOWED. 

  ! LEAVE NO TRACE: Pack out all your trash. Do not leave trash at the campsite. 

  ! THERE ARE ABSOLUTELY NO CAMPGROUND FIRES ALLOWED, EVER

  ! BEACH FIRE PERMITS: If fire danger allows, beach fire permits may be downloaded on the Point Reyes National Seashore website. Beach Fire Permits 

  ! WASTEWATER DISPOSAL: Camping wastewater (dishwasher and cooking water) must be discharged at least 100 feet from streams or bodies of water.

• BACKCOUNTRY HIKE-IN SITE INFORMATION

  > All sites at Coast, Glen, Sky and Wildcat Camp are Hike-In backcountry sites that require hiking or biking in with camping gear for several miles. 

  > THERE ARE ABSOLUTELY NO CAMPGROUND FIRES ALLOWED.  

  > Charcoal use is prohibited, use only gas stoves for cooking.  

  > Always keep all food or scented items in the provided food lockers.

  > Possession of a glass container on the water or in a vessel or within 50 feet of any riverbank, lakeshore, beach, on the water or in a vessel is prohibited.

  > CHECK IN and CHECK OUT: NOON 

  > There is no need to check in at the visitor center. Keep a copy of your reservation number with you to present to a ranger if needed. 

  > All areas in the park are closed to visitor vehicle parking between the hours of midnight and 6 am with the exception of visitors holding backcountry camping permits may park at established trailheads. Leave a copy of your reservation on the dash of all vehicles associated with camping reservation to serve as a valid parking permit. 

• TOMALES BAY BOAT-IN INFORMATION

  > Boat-in sites are ONLY reachable by Boat. ALL Tomales Bay permits require use of a boat, including group sites on Marshall Beach and Tomales Beach. 

  > Boat Launch and vehicle parking for all Boat-In campsites are located outside of the boundaries of the Point Reyes National Seashore.  

  ! A Wag Bag or portable toilet is required to carry out human waste for all Boat A and Boat B permit holders.   

  > There is NO potable water on Tomales Bay for Boat-In camping- you must bring your own. 

  > Possession of a glass container on the water or in a vessel or within 50 feet of any riverbank, lakeshore, beach, on the water or in a vessel is prohibited.

  > Boat-in Amenities: NONE. Except for vault toilets on Marshall Beach and Tomales Beach.

  > Food Storage: Raccoon- and rodent-proof food storage, such as bear canisters or Kevlar food bags are required.     

  > Group Site Permit holders at Marshall Beach and Tomales Beach are required to camp only at Marshall or Tomales Beach.    

  > Marshall Beach allows for two group permits at any one time. Groups 1 and 2 must set up camp in a way that allows room for two parties to be able to share the beach.

  > Boat A and Boat B Permits are not assigned to specific campsite locations. These permits are authorized for dispersed minimum impact camping within 75 feet of the mean high tide level at any of these select beaches along the west shore of Tomales Bay: 

  • *North Blue Gum Beach

    *South Blue Gun Beach

    *Pita Beach

    *White Gulch Beach

    *Wall Beach

    *Pelican North Beach

    *Elk Fence North Beach

    *Elk Fence South Beach

    *Tomales Beach

    *No Name Beach

    *Marshall Beach

    *Long Cove Beach

    *Kilkenny Beach

  • BOAT-IN WEATHER AND SAFETY: Expect calm winds in the mornings with increasing winds from the northwest in the afternoon. Crossing Tomales Bay during Small Craft Advisories issued by the National Weather Service can be hazardous. You are responsible for checking safe weather and tide conditions. You should be an experienced kayaker or be going with an experienced group. ALWAYS WEAR A LIFE JACKET. 

Available Activities

• Visitor Center - Visitor Center
• Hiking - Hiking
• Camping - Camping
• Historic & Cultural Site - Historic & Cultural Site
• Boating - Boating
• Biking - Biking
• Photography - Photography
• Swimming - Swimming
• Whale Watching - Whale Watching
• Wildlife Viewing - Wildlife Viewing
• Backpacking - Backpacking
• Birding - Birding
• Horse Camping - Horse Camping
• Wilderness - Wilderness

Directions

<p>Point Reyes is located approximately 50 miles north of San Francisco and can be approached either northbound or southbound via Highway 101 and Exit 450A/B Sir Francis Drake Highway. Visitors can also reach the park via the longer and winding scenic Highway 1 or the Point Reyes-Petaluma Road. <br> <br><br>Public transportation to the Bear Valley Visitor Center from San Rafael along Sir Francis Drake Boulevard is available through the <a href="https://marintransit.org/routes/68" rel="nofollow">West Marin Stagecoach</a> . <br> <br><br>Directions <a href="http://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/directions.htm" rel="nofollow"> http://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/directions.htm </a> for the quickest routes to Point Reyes National Seashore's Bear Valley Visitor Center. <br> <br><strong>Bear Valley Visitor Center GPS: </strong><br>Latitude: North 38 degrees, 2 minutes and 27 seconds. Longitude: West 122 degrees, 48 Minutes and 1 second.</p>

Cancellation Policy

<p>Please remember that reservations at these facilities prevent other visitors from using these sites. Planned changes to your stay should be made as far in advance as possible. You can make changes to your reservation in My Reservations.</p> <p><strong>Changes</strong></p> <p>If your new stay dates are completely different from your original stay dates, there is a $10 change fee (per reserved site). There are no additional fees for:</p> <p>Adding or removing nights to your stay.</p> <p>Changing to a different campsite.</p> <p>Balances will adjust based on your new stay's nightly rate.</p> <p><strong>Cancellations</strong></p> <p>You can cancel the reservation any time before the date of your scheduled arrival. You will receive a refund for your stay, minus the following fees:</p> <p>$10 cancellation fee</p> <p>Any reservation fees (only if paid when booking)</p> <p>Any previous change fees</p> <p><strong>Group Site Cancellations and Modifications</strong> </p> <p>All Group sites must be cancelled or modified more than 14 days before your check-in date otherwise it will be considered a late cancellation.  </p> <p><strong>No Shows</strong></p> <p>$20 no show fee plus first night camping fee.</p> <p> </p> <p>Refer to <a href="https://www.recreation.gov/rules-reservation-policies" rel="nofollow">Recreation.gov's Rules and Reservation Policies</a>. To initiate a refund request more than 7 days after your reservation, call the recreation.gov call center at 877-444-6777.</p>

Contact Information

Phone: 415-464-5100 X2 X5

Rental Options

Learn more about gear rental options for your trip