Palomarin Trailhead to Alamere Falls is one of the most popular hikes in Northern California for good reason. The hike is gorgeous, passing two lakes with tons of opportunity to see wildlife. And it all ends at a spectacular waterfall on a secluded beach! What’s not to love?
Here, you will find everything you need to know to find Palomarin Trailhead and hike to Alamere Falls. Find out how to get there, alternative routes, and dangers to look out for.
Many search-and-rescue missions are conducted in this area every year…don’t let this happen to you! Pay special attention to the warnings and advisories mentioned here.
Palomarin Trailhead At a Glance:
- Hiking distance: 8.8 miles there and back (4.4 each way)
- Hiking difficulty: Moderate
- There are two scrambles down cliff-sides that some find difficult, so use caution!
- Parking is sometimes closed: Click here to check the NPS website for alerts before you go!
- The most common complaint is that there are too many people
- No dogs allowed or bikes allowed (but see alternative route below for bike route)
- Watch out for poison oak, poison ivy, and stinging nettles (see pictures below if you don’t know what they look like)
- Despite all of the above, the hike is AMAZING and totally worth it
Getting To Palomarin Trailhead
Palomarin Trailhead is about an hour and a half drive from San Francisco.
Here is a link to its location on Google Maps for your convenience.
Driving Directions from San Francisco:
Head north on 101 and exit CA 1/Mill Valley/Stinson Beach, about 5 miles past the Golden Gate Bridge. Make sure to stay on the windy Highway 1 until you get to Olema-Bolinas Road which is an unsigned junction. This is the turn many people miss so here is a screenshot of what it looks like:
In about 0.1 miles, you’ll have to turn left to stay on Olema-Bolinas Road. Continue for a mile then take another left onto Horseshoe Hill Road. Finally, take a right onto Mesa Road at the next stop sign.
Palomarin Trailhead is about 5 miles further, at the end of Mesa Road. The last mile is a bumpy, gravel road.
Depending on when you go, you might have to (or be told to) park along the road, far from the actual Palomarin trailhead parking area. The Palomarin trailhead parking lot fills up quickly as this is a very popular hike.
The park service has even closed the trailhead before due to Elephant Seal activity.
Be sure to check for alerts on closures at the National Park Service Point Reyes website (the alerts should show up at the top) as things tend to change on a weekly basis.
There are restrooms at the trailhead but they are just vault toilets (a step up from a porta john but with no running water). There is no drinking water at the trailhead so make sure you bring your own.
The Hike
It’s about 4.4 miles each way to Alamere falls (8.8 miles total to get there and back) and there are a few tough scrambles down the side of a cliff to get to the actual falls.
So this hike is only recommended for able-bodied people in decent physical shape.
After passing a eucalyptus grove with gorgeous eucalyptus trees, the trail quickly meets up with the Coast Trail which you will follow almost all the way to Alamere Falls. Stay to the right to get to Alamere Falls (sometimes called the Alamere Falls trail) or go left to get to Palomarin beach.
On a clear day, you can see San Francisco and Montara Mountain to the south as well as the Farallon Islands to the west. There are multiple places for panoramic coastal views of the Pacific Ocean along the trail. If you keep your eyes peeled as you hike, you might be able to see deer, fox, quail, rabbits, waterfowl, and maybe even a bobcat.
After following the coast for a short time, the trail turns inland and shrubs give way to douglas fir forests. At about 2.5 miles, you will pass Bass Lake that is a popular swimming spot in the summer. If you’re interested in a side trip, there is a spur trail that takes you along the north side of Bass Lake.
But if going to Alamere Falls, continue following the Coastal Trail. Around 2.75 miles in, there is a sign for the Crystal Lake trail but don’t take it, just continue on the Coast Trail. You should be able to see Pelican Lake on your left around 3.25 miles and then around 3.7 miles, there is a path that splits off to the left. This path is the shortcut to get to Alamere Falls.
The Shortcut
The shortcut is an unmaintained trail to Alamere Falls. It is NOT an official trail of the Park Service so they don’t recommend taking it (although they are aware most people do). This is what it looks like:
In this area, you really have to be careful of poison oak. Because the trail is unmaintained, it will be overgrown so be conscious of the plants you brush up against. Here are the three plants to watch out for:
After a short distance, the trail turns tough. You will come to a short, but very steep, scramble which actually marks the top of the falls. This is the first of two and the first waterfall is at the bottom when you look back.
The stream leads into a series of smaller waterfalls and you will have to cross the stream just above the second waterfall.
Shortly after crossing the stream, you will be at the top of the main waterfall.
Be careful! This area can be unstable with loose rock so stay away from the cliff edge. Remember that this trail is not sanctioned by the Park Service so they don’t have railings, warning signs, or check the cliff for stability!
To get to the beach:
Head up the coast (north) from the main waterfall and slightly away from the cliff and you’ll find a steep but well worn path leading down. This is the main cliff scramble that many people complain about. Also, people have trouble coming back up and there are many search-and-rescue operations in this area every year.
The main point is to use your judgement here. If this kind of descent doesn’t scare you, then by all means go for it. If you’re unsure if you can do it or get back up, consider taking the alternative way to the beach (see below).
Before you head down to the beach, be aware of the tide. At high tide, the water makes the shale rock slippery and rogue waves have been known to come in out of nowhere. It’s safest to go down at low tide.
Alternative Way to the Beach (longer):
As the “Alamere Trail” that leads to the falls from the Coast Trail is not a real trail sanctioned by the Park Service, they recommend accessing Alamere Falls by continuing up the Coast Trail to Wildcat Campground. To take this safer route, just stay on the Coast Trail (don’t take the unmarked, overgrown trail around 3.7 miles) and stay left when the trail splits about a quarter mile after Alamere creek. If you go right, you will end up at the Five Brooks Trailheads, an alternate route way into the area but miles from where you want to go.
Follow the Coast Trail until you get to Wildcat Campground. Then head south along the beach for about a mile.
It is 5.5 miles from Palomarin Trailhead to Wildcat Campground and then another mile along the beach to get to Alamere Falls. That is a total of 13 miles if you choose to take this route both ways so be prepared for a long hike.
Alamere Falls
The main waterfall at Alamere Falls is over 30 feet high. It is a “tidefall” which means it falls directly into the sea at high tide (see warning above about going down to the bottom during high tide).
It is on the south end of Wildcat Beach on Point Reyes National Seashore which is within the Phillip Burton Wilderness Area. Further south is Double Point.
If you go to the bottom, you will feel like this:
And for some fun drone footage:
Alternate Route to Alamere Falls for Bikes
Bikes are not allowed on the hike from Palomarin Trailhead to Alamere Falls. But you can reach Alamere Falls with a bike using the the Stewart Trail. The trail starts at Five Brooks Trailhead and is 15.8 miles round trip.
Conclusion
Palomarin Trailhead to Alamere Falls is an incredible hike! It features amazing views of the coast, plenty of wildlife, and a few lakes. However, it is not without its dangers. Besides being a rather long hike, the trail is overgrown at parts with poison oak, ivy, and stinging nettles. The hike finishes with a steep and rocky descent to the beach and the bottom of the falls.
If you are comfortable with these steep descents and pesky plants, this is a must-do hike. But don’t push yourself and end up needing rescue teams. There is a safer, alternate route through Wildcat Campground that is a little longer.
I wish I could go to Alamere Falls every day but, because I live in the real world, I have to find ways to get out more during my busy work week. Click here to learn how I do it.
