Wild for Wildcat

Backpacking and Camping at Wildcat Camp in Point Reyes

08.09.2018
Group of friends at the beach at sunset near Wildcat Camp in Point Reyes National Seashore

There’s a good reason why getting a reservation at Wildcat Camp in Point Reyes is so tough: With seven sites strewn along a coastal bluff adjacent to Wildcat Beach, it’s one of Northern California’s premier camping destinations. And the journey to reach it is as sweet as the destination!

The best way to access Wildcat Camp is via a 5.5-mile (one-way) hike. Get an early start at the Palomarin Trailhead near Bolinas, where Coast Trail weaves along the cusp of the continent. Bass Lake marks the halfway point; stop for a snack at this large deep-blue watering hole. From there it’s about another hour to camp.

Pitch your tent in the open meadow and spend the rest of the day collecting driftwood or playing Frisbee on the deserted beach (just a five-minute stroll from camp). Hungry for more hiking? Spectacular Alamere Falls is just 1 mile down the beach at low tide.

Backpackers overlooking the bluff and down to the Pacific ocean at Point Reyes National Seashore near Wildcat Camp

Two people sit around a campfire located at the beach near Wildcat Camp in Point Reyes National Seashore

Backpacker hiking on the Coast Trail surrounded by yellow wildflowers in Point Reyes National Seashore

Three friends on the bluff trail at Wildcat Camp overlooking the beach and ocean in Point Reyes National Seashore

Friends set up a group camp with multiple tents at Wildcat Camp in Point Reyes National Seashore

Beach goers wandering and relaxing on the sand near Alamere Falls in Point Reyes.

The 50-foot tumbler launches off a cliff into the sand (and is very popular with day hikers). At night make new friends around a beach bonfire, and be sure to pass the s’mores. In the morning, when the winds are usually calm, stand high on the bluffs, skimming the waters for gray whales. Eyes wild open.

PRO TIP: There’s one first-come, first-served spot that you can try to get by being at the Bear Valley Visitor Center when it opens at 8 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. No dogs.

Make reservations and plan your trip.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories

  1. Go, Tell It on the Mountain

    {NOTE: Due to atmospheric rivers that can come this time of year, always be sure to check ahead for trail closures and hazards. And of course, wait for better weather and drier con

    View

  2. Serene Las Gallinas

    A serene stroll alongside marshland, passing ponds and grasses frilled in seasonal wildflowers, with Mount Tam a beacon in the background … how nice. As part of the esteemed Bay Trail, San Rafael’s Las Gallinas Valley Birding Loop and Wildlife Ponds comprises about 3.5 miles of wide-open trail.

    View
  3. Sponsored

    Redding Lights and Silent Nights

    Give your holiday events calendar a major glow up this winter in California’s sunniest city. Redding is a revelation: Surrounded by iconic scenery like Mount Shasta, Lassen Volcanic National Park, and Whiskeytown National Recreation Area.

    View
  4. Hike at Olompali State Historic Park in Marin

    Historically Serene

    Olompali State Historic Park is a small park that packs big California history. Go on a mostly easy 3-mile loop hike where oak trees, big-leaf maples, and madrones are stunning in autumn.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Woman swimming in Carson Hotsprings natural thermal pool

    Hot Springs, Naturally

    Thermal spring waters are famous for their curative, relaxing elements, and Reno Tahoe is filled with them! Sink into these amazing thermal respites for a wellness super soak.

    View

  2. Dune It Right

    Want a beach that will really get you away from it all? Monterey's Fort Ord Dunes State Park is just the ticket. And it often glows golden toward sunset.

    View
  3. A woman walks the path next to the beach at sunset at Palisades Park in Los Angeles County

    Santa Monica’s Most Beautiful Walk

    With its sweeping views of Santa Monica Bay and the Santa Monica Pier, the 26-acre Palisades Park, perched along the beach bluffs, may be a tourist’s delight for its quintessential California vibes–but it’s just as beloved by locals. Follow this 2.5-mile loop to experience it like one.

    View

  4. The Undead Ghost Town

    Every Halloween, the worlds of the living and the dead blur together. In the “living ghost town” of Randsburg that condition is permanent. This strange gold-rush town near the El P

    View