Alamere Falls via Palomarin Trailhead
Bolinas, California
Details
Distance
13.54 miles
Elevation Gain
1936 ft
Route Type
Out-and-Back
Description
Added by Jake Young
Head out to Alamere Falls via Palomarin Trailhead located near Bolinas, California. This trail will take you to a 40’ waterfall (tidefall) on the coast of Point Reyes National Seashore.
Alamere Falls is the tallest waterfall in the bay area and makes for a very scenic Bolinas waterfall hike. It is known as a tide fall because it empties directly into the Pacific Ocean. This is extremely unique because there are only 34 tide falls in the world and two in California, the other being McWay Falls in Big Sur. Enjoy stunning views of the pacific combined with varying terrain through forests, tall brush, and exposed dirt trails. If you hike to falls during the summer, take a swim in Bass Lake on the way back to the trailhead.
Best Time to Hike Alamere Falls
The trail is open year-round unless closed due to special restrictions (see nps.gov). The parking area can get very crowded, especially on weekends, so best to get there before 8am (and on a weekday) if possible.
The Hike
The hike to Alamere falls is a 13.5 mile out-and-back trail through the Point Reyes National Seashore. The trailhead is located in Bolinas, California just about an hour north of San Francisco over the Golden Gate Bridge. Please note, dogs and drones are NOT permitted on this.
Start at the Palomarin Trailhead located in the parking lot near the restrooms and head out on the Coast Trail. After about 2 minutes on the trail, you'll see a map on your right that lays out the trail to the falls as well as a few campground (Sky, Wildcat, etc.). Don't be afraid to take a picture of the map if you're worried about getting lost or bring a copy of the map from the NPS website (it's never a bad idea to have a paper reference). From there, the trail continues on the Coast Trail and is pretty straight forward as you head to the falls. For the first couple of miles, the trail is fairly exposed and can get warm on sunny days. The second half of the hike prior to reaching the coast is covered and wooded.
Approximately 3 miles into the hike you'll see signs for Bass Lake. This is a great spot to stop for a second and get drink or snack. Keep this place in mind as you may want to jump in to cool off on the way back! From here, you'll continue on the Coast Trail until you pass Wildcat Lake and arrive at Wildcat Camp for a total of 5.5 miles.
From Wildcat, you'll hike south for approximately 1.25 miles along the beach back the way you came. It's important that you check the tide levels before heading out on this trail to make sure that you're going while the tide is heading out and is sufficiently low. Visit NOAA.com for current tide projection for Point Reyes National Seashore.
To get back the parking lot, simply head back to Wildcat Camp and then hike back along the Coast Trail.
Trail Shortcut
There is an optional shortcut to this hike, but it is NOT sanctioned or maintained by the National Park Service. There is a small trail off the left of the Coast Trail when heading to the falls. with shrubbery and potential for contact with poison oak. As you get to the top of the falls, there are two steep parts that require some scrambling. The first takes you just above the main part of the falls, where there are a few smaller waterfalls. From here, head further down the trail to get to the beach; this is where the main waterfall is located. This last descent is slippery with loose gravel and can get very crowded at times making this a very challenging area.
Keep in mind that to help maintain the natural area around the falls and to ensure a safer hike for you and anyone with you, the National Park service recommends that you hike to Wildcat Camp and then take the beach south back toward the waterfall. Once you get to the falls, take in the scenery, snap a few photos, and refuel, then you'll have to scramble back up to the Coast Trail and head back the way you came.
What to Bring
- The 10 essentials for hiking
- Make sure you have enough water for a day hike: 2-3 Liters as well as enough snacks
- A large portion of this trail is unshaded, so you'll want to bring a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen
- There may be poison oak and ticks along the route, so long pants are preferable
Camping
If you wish to make this an overnight adventure and camp at Wildcat Camp, you will need to get permits online or visit a Point Reyes National Seashore Visitor's Center. Wildcat Camp has (3) up to 4-person campsites, (2) up to 6-person campsites, and (3) 7-25 people group campsites.
Post Adventure
If you're looking to grab a bite after this long trek, head to Mill Valley, specifically Avatars for some Punjabi burritos.
Getting There
From Shoreline Highway, head south on Olema Bolinas Rd for 1.3 miles. Then, turn left to stay on Olema Bolinas Rd for 0.5 miles. Next, turn right on Mesa Rd for 4.5 miles until you reach the parking area.
Tips
- Remember to go early or during a weekday to get a parking spot. Cars that are parked improperly are often ticketed.
- The last mile driving up to the parking lot on Mesa Rd in Bolinas has many potholes, so higher clearance vehicle with AWD is preferred
- Palomarin Trailhead has pit toilets and a trash can
- Remember to check the tide levels before hiking from Wildcat Camp to Alamere Falls to ensure a lower tide and more accessible coastline
- This is not a family-friendly or dog-friendly hike given the restrictions, distance, and full-day of hiking
- If you want to make this an overnight trip, check the NPS website for updates on available campgrounds as well as permits
Conclusion
Seeing Alamere Falls is truly unique experience...after all, there are only 34 tide falls in the world! If you head out on this trail, make sure you give yourself plenty of time, check the tide levels, and please practice Leave No Trace principles.
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Alamere Falls via Palomarin Trailhead Reviews
Five hour round trip (we took our time, you can definitely do it in way less). Fantastic hike about an hour north of the Golden Gate. Windy road to get to the trailhead (if you're coming from the south) and last mile of the road is gravel. Decent amount of parking space, but always better to start early. Trail begins with spectacular views of the ocean from high above the cliffs - you are exposed to the sun for the first half of the hike. Second half of the hike is mostly wooded and covered. No steep uphills or downhills until the very end by the waterfall. Be careful here: use all fours, common sense, and you'll be fine :) The waterfall is about 40 feet high, located on a pretty beach, and drains into the ocean which makes this fall unique. The water is cold but very refreshing (can't keep me out of the water). Take your time at the beach and soak it in. It's a really nice reward! Bring a snack/lunch for the beach, check weather for Bolinas, CA before you go, wear sunscreen, wear good walking/hiking shoes, and pack water (duh)!
5.0
No dogs allowed! We went on this app and the link and nothing said no dogs allowed but when we got there the ranger handling parking would not let us in with them. They are not allowed on the trail which we drove two hours to go to. We found another one to go to clearly not as amazing as everyone says this is but I wish that it has stated that somewhere when giving all the information
1.0
super close to the city and yet it feels a million miles away. great day hike, just make sure there isn't too much fog!
5.0
Alamere Falls is one of the most popular hiking destinations in the Bay Area, and sees slightly less daily foot traffic than the Gold Gate Bridge. Despite its busyness, the hike from the Palomarin trailhead is nothing short of delightful. Things get intermediate when you hit the cliffs to climb down to the beach and the waterfall. Expect a backup on the single person trail that diverges from the Coast Trail down to the massive bluffs above the water. Be prepared to wait to climb down and to climb back up when your day is done. Plan for at least 2 hours to hike back to the parking lot. The weather is highly changeable, with the marine layer rolling in and dropping the temperature 20 degrees without warning. Camping can be found a few miles north at Wildcat, and is enjoyable in any season with the right gear. If you take this trail in late fall, you may just catch a glimpse of whales migrating to Baja through the Gulf of the Farallones, as well as the imposing profile of the islands beyond.
5.0
What time of the year does it get too cold to camp near there?
Go slow on the rocks and don't rush people who are less than comfortable walking down on the rocks. Helps to have hands free as well
Leave No Trace
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
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