Palomarin Trailhead – 15 miles from Limantour Beach

Palomarin Trailhead is the southern end of the Coast Trail in Point Reyes National Seashore and the main starting point for hikes to Bass Lake, Wildcat Camp, Wildcat Beach, and Alamere Falls. It is located at the northwestern end of Mesa Road near Bolinas. Palomarin is a trailhead rather than a single 8.5-mile loop, and the Coast Trail does not lead hikers to Bolinas Lagoon.

Getting to Palomarin Trailhead

Palomarin Trailhead is about 5 miles northwest of Bolinas at the end of Mesa Road. The final 1.2 miles of Mesa Road are unpaved and can be heavily potholed and washboarded. Drive slowly and allow extra time, especially after wet weather or when road conditions are rough.

The trailhead has a dirt-and-gravel parking area with space for about 75 vehicles, along with vault toilets, an information kiosk, trash receptacles, and recycling. It is not a large paved visitor-center parking lot, and oversized vehicle parking is not provided.

The Coast Trail From Palomarin

The Coast Trail begins at Palomarin and heads north through the southern part of the Phillip Burton Wilderness. During roughly the first mile, the trail runs near coastal bluffs with Pacific Ocean views. It then turns inland, descends into a small valley, climbs by switchbacks, and continues past ponds and lakes.

Several other trails connect with the Coast Trail between Palomarin and Wildcat Camp, including the Lake Ranch Trail, Ocean Lake Loop Trail, Old Out Road Trail, and Stewart Trail. This network creates longer route options, but there is no single official “Palomarin main loop” of approximately 8.5 miles.

Bass Lake From Palomarin

Bass Lake is about 2.8 miles from Palomarin Trailhead along the Coast Trail. The usual out-and-back hike is about 6 miles and is rated moderate. The route passes coastal scrub, wooded sections, small ponds, and several changes in elevation before reaching the lake.

Bass Lake can be the destination for a shorter day hike or a stopping point for hikers continuing toward Wildcat. The lake is not a drive-up recreation area; there is no road, marina, or parking area at the shoreline.

Wildcat Camp and Wildcat Beach

Wildcat Campground is 5.5 miles from Palomarin Trailhead by the Coast Trail, making the hike about 11 miles round trip if Wildcat is the destination. The trail passes Bass Lake and additional small lakes and ponds before descending toward the campground.

Wildcat Beach is reached from the campground rather than from an informal cliff route. The park identifies Wildcat Camp as the safe access point to this remote beach. Campers need a backcountry reservation, while day hikers may use the established trail and beach access without treating the campground as an overnight stop.

Alamere Falls From Palomarin

Palomarin is also the most commonly used trailhead for Alamere Falls. The safe route follows the Coast Trail for 5.5 miles to Wildcat Campground, descends to Wildcat Beach, and then continues south along the beach to the falls when tide and surf conditions permit.

The full outing is about 13 miles round trip and should be treated as a strenuous, full-day hike. There is no park-maintained “Alamere Falls Trail” shortcut from the Coast Trail to the top of the falls. The unofficial shortcut crosses unstable terrain and should not be used.

Palomarin Beach Trail Is Closed

The Palomarin Beach Trail is closed to all visitors because sections of the route are unsafe and failing. This former spur was about 0.6 mile long and connected the Coast Trail with Palomarin Beach.

The closure does not close the Coast Trail north from Palomarin Trailhead. Hikers can still use the main Coast Trail toward Bass Lake, Wildcat Camp, and the recommended route to Alamere Falls. Do not follow the closed beach spur or attempt to create an alternate descent to Palomarin Beach.

Trail Difficulty and Conditions

The difficulty of a Palomarin hike depends on the chosen destination. Bass Lake is a moderate half-day outing for many hikers, while Wildcat requires a much longer round trip. Alamere Falls adds a tide-dependent beach section and substantially more time.

• Expect packed dirt, roots, rocks, ruts, and seasonal muddy sections.
• Allow for elevation changes even though parts of the Coast Trail appear relatively gentle.
• Check current trail closures and advisories before leaving the trailhead.
• For Alamere Falls, check both tide predictions and surf conditions before starting.
• Remain on authorized trails rather than using social paths or unofficial shortcuts.

Bikes, Pets, and Other Trail Rules

Bicycles are not permitted on trails leaving Palomarin Trailhead. The portion of the Coast Trail open to bicycles is farther north, between the Coast Trailhead on Laguna Road and Coast Campground. That bicycle access does not extend south to Palomarin.

Pets are also prohibited on trails leaving Palomarin. Horses and pack animals are permitted on most park trails, including the Coast Trail. Visitors should follow posted signs because temporary conditions can affect individual trail sections.

Palomarin Trailhead and Limantour Beach

Palomarin Trailhead and Limantour Beach are both in the southern half of Point Reyes National Seashore, but they serve different types of visits and are reached by separate road systems. Limantour Beach provides direct road access to the shoreline, while Palomarin is a backcountry trailhead reached through the Bolinas area.

For visitors staying near Limantour Beach, Palomarin is best planned as a separate hiking outing rather than a short extension of a beach visit. The main reason to make the drive is access to the Coast Trail corridor and destinations such as Bass Lake, Wildcat, and Alamere Falls.