Backpack Trail Guide

Trails / California / California Coast

Point Reyes Coast Trail to Wildcat Camp

Phillip Burton Wilderness, Point Reyes National Seashore (Palomarin Trailhead, near Bolinas)

Alamere Falls pouring onto Wildcat Beach
“Alamere Falls pouring onto Wildcat Beach” by NPS / A. Kopshever , Public domain · Source

Wildcat Camp sits on a grassy bluff above the beach in Point Reyes National Seashore. The hike in follows the Coast Trail from the Palomarin Trailhead past freshwater lakes and ocean overlooks, and from camp, a mile-long beach walk at low tide leads to Alamere Falls. Outbound calls it a great backpacking trip for novice and experienced backpackers alike.

Reservations are required, and the falls are reachable only when the tide allows.

The hike

The NPS describes the Palomarin Trailhead as the southern end of the extremely popular Coast Trail, at the northwest end of Mesa Road about 5 miles northwest of Bolinas. Avid Backpackers says the last 1.2 miles of road are gravel, not rough but narrow. The NPS warns that the trailhead parking lot fills very early on weekends year-round and on many summer weekdays, so arrive early or come midweek.

From the trailhead, the Coast Trail heads north. Avid Backpackers passed the junction for the Palomarin Beach Trail early on and continued straight on the Coast Trail. The NPS says that 0.6-mile beach trail is closed until further notice because of failing sections, but that the closure doesn’t affect the Coast Trail. The NPS describes the Coast Trail heading inland, dropping into a small valley, and switchbacking up the other side. Avid Backpackers describes the trail opening up past Pelican Lake.

Along the way, the NPS says, the Coast Trail connects with the Lake Ranch, Ocean Lake Loop, Old Out Road, and Stewart Trails, which see much less use and offer a quieter wilderness experience. Vanessa Richter recommends starting at Palomarin and following the Coast Trail and the Ocean Lake Loop.

Before camp, you’ll pass a signed junction for the use trail to Alamere Falls. The NPS is emphatic that there is no park-sanctioned “Alamere Falls Trail.” It says the shortcut poses many hazards, including crumbling, eroding cliffs, heavy poison oak, ticks, and no cell service. It recommends reaching the falls by hiking to Wildcat Campground and walking about a mile south on the beach at low tide.

Wildcat Camp is about 5.8 miles from Palomarin, according to Avid Backpackers. Outbound describes the campground on an open meadow on a bluff overlooking the ocean, a five-minute walk from the beach. The writer at Avid Backpackers liked that camp is right on the water and that you can day hike to the falls after setting up.

From camp, the beach walk to the falls is the highlight. The NPS warns that the walk along Wildcat Beach may be impassable at high tide or during high surf. Outbound puts it at about 2 miles round trip.

The NPS puts the Palomarin Trailhead about 35 minutes by car from the Bear Valley Visitor Center. It says bikes aren’t permitted on trails leaving Palomarin, while horses and pack animals are allowed on the Coast Trail.

The NPS says Wildcat is also reachable from the Bear Valley and Five Brooks trailheads on longer routes. It suggests allowing at least 6.5 hours to hike from Palomarin to Alamere Falls.

For another California coast trip, see the Lost Coast Trail.

Tips

Camping

Camping at Point Reyes is by permit only, reserved through Recreation.gov. Outbound says each site at Wildcat has a picnic table, charcoal grill, and bear locker, and the campground has bathrooms, garbage cans, and potable water. It also says no campfires or dogs are allowed. The NPS lists Wildcat 1, 2, and 3 as group sites. One guide says the maximum stay is three nights.

Inside Intel: Use the afternoon. Avid Backpackers’ advice is to set up camp first and then day hike to Alamere Falls, and Vanessa Richter calls an overnight at Wildcat the best way to see the falls without feeling rushed or crowded. Store food in the bear locker: Avid Backpackers warns the local raccoons are bold.

Trail facts

The Lowdown

A night on the bluff at Wildcat:

Camping on an open ocean bluff calls for a sleeping bag you can count on. See which bags testers rate.

Read the full guide →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.