San Francisco: Wildcat Beach Loop
Seaside waterfalls, campsites, and swimming lakes earn this 10.4-mile route in Point Reyes National Seashore a 5-star rating among big-city hikes.
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Trail Facts
- Distance: 11.5
- Miles from city center: 34
Waypoints
WBL001
Location: 37.9342346191406, -122.747169494629
Head along bluffs on Coast Trail in grasslands flanked by eucalyptus
WBL002
Location: 37.9369316101074, -122.755348205566
Curl around bluffs near Abalone Point; fields of lupine, monkeyflower
WBL003
Location: 37.9407157897949, -122.760665893555
Cross creeklet
WBL004
Location: 37.9464340209961, -122.757598876953
L @ T; pass small ponds perfect for seabird watching
WBL005
Location: 37.9526824951172, -122.765449523926
Indigo waters of Bass Lake (lunch, swimming); continue W past Pelican Lake and Double Point, a steep, V-shaped window
WBL006
Location: 37.9538841247559, -122.778129577637
L @ Y for 200-ft. climb
WBL007
Location: 37.9499092102051, -122.77946472168
Double Point Overlook: Sea lions float in kelp beds near Stormy Stack; farther offshore, whales migrate S in March
WBL008
Location: 37.9533653259277, -122.781311035156
Go L onto narrow, unmarked spur to Alamere Falls, then cross creek and carefully navigate crumbly path down gully
WBL009
Location: 37.9541320800781, -122.783515930176
Alamere Falls spills 50 ft. off bluffs onto Wildcat Beach. Head NW on beach around boulders and tide line (Note: may be impassable @ high tide)
WBL010
Location: 37.9692344665527, -122.791709899902
Climb steep, sandy trail
WBL011
Location: 37.9705848693848, -122.790252685547
Wildcat Campground (permits required); grasses shield against Pacific gusts. To continue, head ESE past Wildcat Lake
WBL012
Location: 37.9663734436035, -122.782028198242
R @ Y; ahead, cross creeklet flowing into Ocean Lake
WBL013
Location: 37.9576072692871, -122.781730651855
L @ T; return to WPT6 and retrace route to car
Wildcat Beach
Location: 37.9648132324219, -122.789123535156