Spit Shine

Hike Limantour Spit in Point Reyes

01.13.2021
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. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  2. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

    View

  3. Hike the Rainbow

    Catch all the colors of a rainbow at Calero County Park on this 10-mile hike currently showcasing the season’s best blooms.

    View
  4. Hike Purisima Creek Open Space Preserve

    Purisima Charisma

    Hundred-foot redwoods, a shaded canyon, and views overlooking Half Moon Bay. This 10-mile loop hike in Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve is a roller-coaster of uphill and downhill along with easygoing stretches through some of the Bay Area’s most beautiful landscape.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. People on a guided horseback tour with Central Coast Trailrides at Santa Margarita Ranch near Paso Robles

    Saddle Up with Central Coast Trailrides

    Untouched and sweeping, the mountainous scenery and deep valleys of Santa Margarita near Paso Robles are just begging to be explored. So saddle up for a scenic adventure with Central Coast Trailrides (CCT) at the 14,000-acre Santa Margarita Ranch.

    View
  2. A woman on a hiking trail with huge open space and yellow flowers around her at Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks

    Going Wildwood

    Consider this your invitation to get a little untamed. In just one walk through Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks, you can chase the sound of a cascading waterfall, duck into a shadowy cave, and soak in big hillside vistas. The mostly flat 4.25-mile loop makes wild feel wonderfully accessible.

    View
  3. Two people fly fishing on the Truckee River with guides from Reno Fly Shop

    Zen and the Art of Fly Fishing

    Learning to fly fish is one of the most fun and beautiful ways to connect with nature, family, friends, and yourself. It’s also a great way to truly experience the magic of a place. Make that place Reno Tahoe, where a fly fishing adventure with Reno Fly Shop is like being planted in a plein air painting of dreamy outdoors.

    View
  4. A woman on the overlook deck overlooking the Truckee River at Oxbow Nature Study Area in Reno

    This Way to Oxbow and Dickerson Road

    Just west of downtown Reno—tucked right alongside the Truckee River—is a nature haven for wildlife spotting and waterside relaxing. The 22-acre Oxbow Nature Study Area is ideal for those seeking solitude and a short hike. Afterwards, explore the creative hub of Dickerson Road.

    View