Alamere Falls Trail Description – hiking along the Coast Trail. Review Intro. However, it is not without its dangers. Best on a weekday when not so crowded. The hike can be a bit confusing, but experiencing the waterfall at the end and just being in nature a short distance from SF makes this hike worth it. The Alamere Falls Trail is really just an offshoot of the larger Coast Trail. Reyes National Seashore, Marin County. The most popular route to the falls starts at the Palomarin Trailhead, although you can also start at the Bear Valley or Five Brooks Trailheads. It's super chill and the breeze was nice, since we were walking mostly along the coast. Reyes National Seashore) leading to an amazing waterfall and ocean view. The hike to Alamere Falls from the Palomarin Trailhead is moderate and about seven miles. The wide doubletrack trail starts out nearly level, crossing small creeks and offering views of the ocean. Difficulty level: Easy, except for final (moderate) approach to Alamere Falls. Originally in 2018 we were going to backpack to Wildcat camp and enjoy Alamere Falls, but in that particularly wet year we had just spent a rainy weekend in Big Basin Redwoods State Park and when the forecast showed cold rain, we called it off. There is one long and steep hill, but you’ll get an amazing view of the coast the entire time. Alamere Falls is a “tidefall” (a waterfall directly into the ocean) located north of San Francisco in the Point Reyes National Seashore.The hike is approximately 9 miles round trip, with a few offshoots if you want to tack on some extra miles. The unique waterfall generates from Alamere Creek, which falls over the coastal bluffs right onto the beach, and is one of only two falls in the state like this. Alamere Falls pours from a rocky cliff onto a long, wide stretch of beach, and it is the perfect place to enjoy a lunch break or an afternoon stroll in the sand. The total mileage to Alamere Falls ranges from 7-8 miles there and back, depending on trail conditions. The Coast Trail - South begins from the Palomarin Trailhead and parking area in a eucalyptus grove. The Palomarin trail to Alamere Falls is one of those coveted beauties that will make you wish that it... Read more. Bass Lake can be accessed by a side trail that leads to a rope swing, and hikers often stop for a swim during summer months. To get to Alamere Falls, park at the Palomarin trailhead in the southern end of the park. Note: As of this writing, parts of Highway 1 are closed and a detour route along the Panoramic Highway is the primary way of getting to areas along Highway 1 north of Stinson beach. Just past the Alamere Falls trailhead is the Ocean Lake Loop Trail, which brings you to Wildcat Lake and Ocean Lake. Mar 21, 2016 - Explore Kaun So's board "Alamere falls" on Pinterest. The hike to Alamere falls is ~8.4 mile out-and-back. After 2.5 mi (4.0 km), the trail passes two small lakes (Bass Lake and Pelican Lake). Besides being a rather long hike, the trail is overgrown at parts with poison oak, ivy, and stinging nettles. About 9 miles overall, out-and-back, mainly flat, 1,500+ feet elevation gained. All the times we’ve hiked to Alamere Falls, we began at the Palomarin Trailhead on the southern end of Point Reyes National Seashore near the coastal town of Bolinas. The most direct route begins at Palomarin Trailhead and follows the Coast Trail to the falls. Alamere Falls can be reached by following the Coast Trail from the Palomarin Trailhead at the end of Mesa Road out of Bolinas, California. The three trails you can take start at: Palomarin Trailhead via Coast Trail: 6.5 miles one way; Bear Valley Visitor Center: 7.3 miles one way Alamere Falls Palomarin Trailhead. If you take the shortcut it will shave off a few miles. From the Palomarin Trailhead, the minimum hiking distance to Alamere Falls is 6.5 miles (10.4 km). Coastal Trail to Bass Lake and Alamere Falls Details. Alamere Falls is one of the coolest sights in Point Reyes National Seashore, and our hike starts at the least used trailhead in the entire park. Alamere Falls is is a spectacular waterfall that cascades onto a scenic beach. It features amazing views of the coast, plenty of wildlife, and a few lakes. Emily and I had Alamere Falls on a list for quite some time. We started the hike from the Palomarin Trailhead to Alamere Falls parking lot. The hike begins at the Palomarin Trailhead, about 5 miles north of the town of Bolinas. Please be aware that on weekends throughout the year and on many weekdays throughout the summer, the parking lot at the Palomarin Trailhead fills very early in the day. Visited: May 2016. Before starting out on this journey, I read that the hike to Alamere Falls was just over 8 miles. A shorter there-and-back hike than Alamere Falls (by about 3 miles), Bass Lake is a destination unto itself that boasts a picturesque lake as a reward and a tucked away swimming hole for those warm summer and fall Marin days. The hike was pretty chill, suitable for some kids but if your kid likes to running around aimlessly, the cliff at Alamere Falls is not ideal. Alamere falls is reached via the Palomarin Trailhead located in the Bolinas region of Point Reyes National Seashore. The Coast Trail - South begins from the Palomarin Trailhead and parking area in a eucalyptus grove. Alamere Falls is a dramatic 40-foot tidefall, a coastal waterfall which pours its waters into the waves of the Pacific Ocean. See more ideas about alamere falls, country roads, bass lake. It’s one of the Bay Area’s most popular hiking destinations: on a nice weekend afternoon the trail from the Palomarin trailhead is a nearly continuous stream of people. Alamere Falls in Point Reyes National Seashore is an essential bucket list hike in California. And on each of our visits, the trailhead had been full of cars. Start at the Palomarin Trailhead located in the parking lot near the restrooms. It is easy to see why, as the trail has a little bit of everything, from coastal views and shaded forest areas to a waterfall that lands directly on the beach at the end. In addition to the more secluded nature of the Palomarin trailhead, we’ll have fantastic views of the Farallon Islands, 30 miles out to sea! Why locals love it: Those views; wildlife; spring flowers. This hike starts out at the Palomarin Trailhead, which leads down to the Palomarin Beach; however, hikers will start at this trailhead and follow the Coast Trail the entire length of the hike. Timber reclaims the trail as it edges toward the coast and crosses Alamere Creek (4.0 miles : 140'). Easy peasy. You'll see some small rocks near the entry with overgrown brush. Alamere Falls is 34 miles North of San Francisco, which is approximately a 90-minute drive. Nice hike starting from Palomarin trailhead (Pt. It can be easily missed. The trail is located near Bolinas, California and offers stunning coastal views of Point Reyes National Seashore. Directions from the Bear Valley Visitor Center to the Palomarin Trailhead. Alamere Falls - 8.6 Miles Round-Trip Alamere Falls drops 40' from a steep bluff onto the south end of Wildcat Beach in Point Reyes National Seashore. Weekends may have groups of 30-40 waiting to attempt the scramble to the falls and back. See the sights and sounds on the Palomarin trail and at Alamere Falls. The fall is one of two tide-falls in California. The hike from Palomarin to Bass Lake along the Coast Trail is long enough to get your blood flowing, but it won’t take a full day or all your energy to complete. Then, upon arriving in Point Reyes, a sign at the Palomarin trailhead informed me that the hike … The trail rises over Bass Lake and bends west through dense forest past the Crystal Lake Trail split (3.15 miles : 482') to the Alamere Falls Trail split (3.75 miles : 270'). I’m 43 and fairly active but this was still somewhat difficult for me. The falls remain all year, but are best after winter and spring rains. 06/18/2018 Tiffany H. Tiffany H. Took this trail to hike to Alamere falls! There are two ways to reach there: - either hike all the way to the Wildcat campground and then walk back to the waterfall through the beach (be careful the … Location: Point Reyes National Seashore near Bolinas, CA Distance: ~7.5 miles Type: Day-hike; Out & Back Rating: Easy-Moderate Permits & Fees: None Preparation. This is a sampler of Alamere Falls via Coast Trail from Palomarin Trailhead in the Point Reyes National Seashore. There are two places to start this hike, we chose the Palomarin Trailhead. The hike to Alamere Falls via Coast Trail from Palomarin Trailhead is 8.4 miles out and back trail. Alamere Falls via Palomarin Trailhead. Palomarin Trailhead to Alamere Falls is an incredible hike! The Coast Trail from Palomarin to Wildcat Camp and on to Alamere Falls is one of the most beautiful hikes in the Point Reyes National Seashore. If you want the quick and dirty, here’s a map from National Park Services that outlines the 3 trails they recommend to get to Alamere Falls, the shortest one being from Palomarin Trailhead. This trail is perfect for backpackers who are looking for something to do while staying at Wildcat Campground. The wide doubletrack trail starts out nearly level, crossing small creeks and offering views of the ocean. The trail has an elevation gain of 1,335 feet and is popular for its wonderful unique waterfall. The Palomarin Trailhead parking lot is at the north-western end of Mesa Road. The trail leading down to Alamere Falls felt quite safe and well maintained. This multi-tier fall gushes year round and peaks after winter rains. Alamere Falls, Palomarin Trailhead, Pt. Be careful driving as you near the parking lot since the road is an unpaved dirt road with huge potholes. Another .5 mile and you are to the falls. Side trip to Palomarin Beach : About 0.5 miles along Coast Trail, you may turn left and visit Palomarin Beach in 0.6 miles, thereby adding 1.2 miles overall to the trip. The trail is normally marked by rocks and is about 4.7 miles into the hike. Getting to Alamere Falls . At the trailhead, there is a small parking lot that fills up quickly, so it’s best to get there early. Alamere Falls is one of California’s most beautiful waterfalls and one of the Bay Area’s most popular hiking trails. The falls, located within the Phillip Burton Wilderness on the south end of Wildcat Beach are 30+ feet high with several drops. Trail Map | Photo Gallery. 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