Pacific Coast Highway (Rte. 1)
Point Reyes National Seashore
South of Bodega, Highway 1 takes you inland for a little while, before
returning to the coast along Tomales Bay, a long, narrow inlet of water.
On the other side of the bay is the a huge, triangular land mass that's
mostly made up of the Point Reyes National Seashore, and underneath the
bay lies the infamous San Andreas Fault.
As I traveled along the water heading south on Highway 1, I debated on
whether to drive out to Point Reyes, which is on the southern end of
that triangle. I knew it would be a long drive, and for what? to
see another lighthouse? But, it was a beautiful day, and I didn't
need to be in San Francisco for a few more hours (and at this point I
was already in Marin County, which is just north of the city). So
when I reached Point Reyes Station, I took a right, and headed for the
point.
It turns out, it's a longer drive than I thought. After that right
turn at Pt. Reyes Station, you make another right once you're on the
peninsula, and travel north--across the water and parallel to Highway 1,
which you just traveled down. (Note the picture above. Hwy. 1 is
on the opposite shore). After about six miles, you reach a left
turn, which takes you into the heart of the peninsula. The road
arcs up, out, and eventually down to the end, stopping just short of the
Point Reyes lighthouse.
The final 15 miles or so to the point is simply a beautiful drive.
Along the way, you're passing through rolling hills and dairy farmland,
past several barns and silos that are still in use today. A side
road (which you see above) leads out to one of those farms, and beyond
it, one of the inlets that stretch out like a 3-fingered claw from the
Pacific.
All of the roads out here are narrow and bumpy, and there are dips and
unexpected turns everywhere. If all that doesn't slow down, the
occasional cow in the road or rough cattle guard crossing definitely
will.
After bumping along for what seemed like forever, I finally came to the
end. Or at least, almost to the end. Because I had arrived
later in the day, the last 1/4 mile of the road (which led to the
lighthouse) was closed. From the parking area at the gate, I
couldn't even see the lighthouse. For a moment, I considered
walking the final distance. I had, after all, driven so far, it
seemed a shame not to make it all the way. Then, I stepped out of
my car, and discovered the wind was howling across the point.
There was no way I was walking anywhere.
I did take shelter on the leeward side of the point for just a moment,
only to find I was not alone. Look closely in the picture above...
... and you'll see this family of deer, which had built a nest on the
slope, safe from that wind.
Again I braved the wind, just long enough to take this
picture. This beach stretches on for miles--as far as you can see.
And the best part is, it's almost completely untouched by man.
There are a couple of roads that provide access to park visitors, but on
a blustery day like this one, you'd likely have several miles of Pacific
coastline, all to yourself.
So that was it for Point Reyes. I drove back
around the arc, down the edge of Tomales Bay, and back across to the
mainland--all the while driving faster than I should have, negotiating
all those bumps and dips with a limited amount of caution. I was,
after all, in a race with the sun, hoping to make it to the Golden Gate
Bridge just after sunset.
Back On Highway 1
This section of Highway 1 is no different than any
other part. It twists and turns, with one curve after another.
Eventually it turns inland, and meets up with US 101 for the trip across
the Golden Gate Bridge. But just before I left the coast, I got to
watch the sun sink into the water, with the silhouette of the Marin
Headlands nearby. It was great.
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Also In This Area: Mattole Road,
Ferndale, Lost Coast, Cape Mendocino - Westernmost Point in the
US
Pacific Coast, Highway 1 - Fort Bragg,
Mendocino California
California Highway 1 - Point Arena
Lighthouse, Kruse Rhododendron Reserve
Point Reyes National Seashore, Tomales
Bay, California
San Francisco at Night, Almost Secret
Viewing Area for Golden Gate Bridge
San Francisco Road Trip - Coit Tower,
Lombard Crooked Street
Twin Peaks San Francisco Viewpoint,
Sutro Tower, Haight and Ashbury Streets
San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, Dutch
Windmill, Ponds
Golden Gate Bridge Views from Fort
Point, San Francisco |
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