Trip · 3-day backpacking trip
For · Friends and new backpackers
Vibe · Challenging and hard
Distance · 19.6 miles and 3,894 feet of elevation gain
Reservations · Yep, reserve a backcountry campsite at Glen Campground
Drive · 1.5 hours from SF
Ideal dates · April to June
Pets · Not allowed on trails and campgrounds
Point Reyes National Seashore (PRNS) is a majestic peninsula carved by the San Andreas Fault overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The 71,000-acre park is a stunner. It's dotted with wild coastal beaches, rugged headlands, and grazing cows. This place is a natural sanctuary for tule elk, elephant seals, gray whales, and more. Visit for the breathtaking views, and camp to experience the magic.
Official National Park Website
Park Status and Trail Conditions
Main image credit: Sammie Chaffin
Each campsite comes with a:
Glen Campground is a backcountry destination with perks. It's a 5-mile hike to reach the campground, which is protected from ocean breezes, and then another 3-mile hike to reach the Pacific. There are 12 campsites (people like sites 1, 2, 6, 7, and 8), access to toilets, a water pump, trash cans, and glorious tranquility. You can reserve a campsite up to six months in advance so it's never too early to make backpacking plans!
Nightly Fee: $20
JFK anointed Point Reyes National Seashore as public land in 1962. It's the only national seashore on the west coast. NBD.
Coast Miwok Indians were the first inhabitants on the Peninsula 5,000 years ago. 120+ known village sites exist within the park
Spanish explorers named the headlands after religious figures. "La Punta de los Reyes" means the Point of the Kings
This was GCI's first rocker and it remains their most popular. It's easy to open and close, and comes with a handle to carry around.
Shared Gear
A dreamy, colorful sweater to sport around camp and on chillier day hikes.
Clothes
Light as a feather and versatile enough to use for running, camping, and other nighttime activities.
Essential Items
Imagine a sleeping pad, bag, and blanket all in one. It takes some getting used to, but people love it.
Essential Items
It's not the lightest cot available, but it's comfortable, easy to set up, and break down.
Essential Items
Sturdy, reliable, well-designed, and more expensive than most camp chairs, but it'll last for awhile.
Shared Gear
They're expensive, but you can lean on these bad boys for river crossings and navigating all kinds of terrain.
Essential Items
This mineral-based sunscreen is good for the envrionment and your skin. It's water resistant too.
Personal Stuff
When a campground is short of sinks, bring your own. Clean your dirty dishes in this expandable bin.
Kitchen
This backpacking stove weighs a couple of ounces and has a built-in igniter. It stands out in windy weather.
Kitchen
Camp underneath the stars and watch glorious sunrises in Joshua Tree National Park, the second largest national park in California.