- State: CA
- NPCA Region: Pacific
- Est. Date: 1972
Air Quality Conditions
View the Polluted Parks ReportVisibility
Unsatisfactory
Health
Low Concern
Nature
Unsatisfactory
Climate Change Threats
This seashore, established in 1962, is the only national seashore on the West Coast. It features windswept beaches, coastal cliffs and headlands, marine terraces, coastal uplands, salt marshes, estuaries, and coniferous forests. Located on the Point Reyes Peninsula, 40 miles northwest of San Francisco, the park encompasses about 71,070 acres, stretched across more than 80 miles of undeveloped coastline. Within the park, 32,730 acres are designated wilderness or potential wilderness, constituting one of the most accessible wilderness areas in the country, and the only marine wilderness (Drakes Estero) on the West Coast south of Alaska. The park harbors an astonishingly rich array of wildlife species, some found nowhere else on Earth.
More about Point Reyes
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Read more about Get Your Binoculars: The 25 Best National Parks for Birding
Blog Post Get Your Binoculars: The 25 Best National Parks for Birding Find out which national park sites have the most bird species, with a highlight of what you might see at each place.
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Read more about 5 Wild Places for a Beach Vacation
Blog Post 5 Wild Places for a Beach Vacation An advocate for vehicle-free beaches praises some of the last undeveloped places along America’s coasts — and why protecting these untamed lands is so important.
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Read more about Water You Waiting For? 10 Perfect Parks for Paddling
Blog Post Water You Waiting For? 10 Perfect Parks for Paddling Go beyond the hiking trail and enjoy parks from a refreshing vantage point: water. Rivers and lakes offer adventurous routes through some of the country’s most remarkable landscapes, including views you just can’t see from land. From lazy float trips to exhilarating whitewater, national parks have fun options for visitors of every experience level—sometimes even on different stretches of the same river.
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Read more about The Land of Fog and Sea
Magazine Article The Land of Fog and Sea A one-time Californian returns to Point Reyes.
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they offer every human being the opportunity to experience the beauty of the outdoors in their own way. — Angel
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Read more about Wilderness Wins on the West Coast
Blog Post Wilderness Wins on the West Coast Thanks to persistent support from thousands of advocates, the National Park Service will honor its promise to Americans to preserve Drakes Estero.
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Read more about Legal Settlement Allows National Park Marine Wilderness Restoration to Begin in Point Reyes National Seashore
Press Release Legal Settlement Allows National Park Marine Wilderness Restoration to Begin in Point Reyes National Seashore Settlement agreement protects the West Coast’s first marine wilderness at Drakes Estero
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Read more about Wild American Beauty: 10 Wilderness Areas to Explore
Blog Post Wild American Beauty: 10 Wilderness Areas to Explore Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act by exploring some of America’s wildest places, from remote windswept tundras to cactus-dotted mountains to serene rock-strewn beaches. Several spots are surprisingly close to major cities.
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Read more about Sea Change
Magazine Article Sea Change New research shows how rising sea levels will affect national parks—and helps managers prepare for the worst.
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Read more about Shifting Tides
Magazine Article Shifting Tides Once nearly extinct, sea otters have staged a remarkable comeback, but some coastal parks still struggle to retain these curious, sensitive mammals.
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Read more about Wilderness Victory for National Parks
Press Release Wilderness Victory for National Parks Interior Secretary Salazar Protects West Coast's First Marine Wilderness Area at Drakes Estero in Point Reyes National Seashore
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Read more about Research Regarding Drakes Estero Wilderness
Report Research Regarding Drakes Estero Wilderness Oyster mariculture in Drake’s Estero causes a number of environmental impacts.
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Read more about Center for State of the Parks: Point Reyes National Seashore Reassessment
Report Center for State of the Parks: Point Reyes National Seashore Reassessment In 2002, the National Parks Conservation Association's Center for State of the Parks assessed the conditions of the natural and cultural resources within Point Reyes National Seashore.
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