A friend from work told us about a hike she’d recently taken that followed miles of coastline and finished at the end of a cascading waterfall that crashed directly onto the beach and washed out to sea.  Clearly, we had to check this out!

The hike is on the Palomarin Trail, the southern-most trailhead in Point Reyes State Park, which leads its fortunate visitors to Alamere Falls.  The route we took is approximately 8-9 miles out and back.  Now, I know we say this a lot, but this seriously was one of our best hikes ever.  The conditions were perfect – mid-70s and clear skies with a light breeze coming off the ocean…   Can you feel it?

This trail has EVERYthing.  There was plenty of open space to catch coastal views and absorb sufficient amounts of Vitamin D, but also tree cover – including eucalyptus – three different lakes, a smattering of wild iris, wildlife, and, of course, a freaking waterfall!  I’m gonna shut up and let the pictures talk.

Coastal trail

Eucalyptus trees

Lake I

Lake II

Lake III

Wild Iris

Wildlife – this little guy actually lunged at me a couple times; don’t think he liked my flash.

The most direct route requires a 0.4 mile jaunt down a “dangerous” path, as noted by this sign.  Whoever decided to include, “dangerous conditions,” to describe this trail is a sissy…

…though, not entirely wrong.  Lea’s a trooper.  As you can see, she doesn’t have a lot of protection between her skin and the thorns and the poison oak…  Nevertheless, her face says it all.  “I love this!”

Easy does it…

We’re getting awfully close, now.  At a clearing we took a photo op.  In the top-center of the background you can faintly make out Pt. Reyes.

Just a few more bends in the trail and…Boo yah!  Waterfall!

Because the waterfall cascades, it looks like an infinity pool into the ocean

Here’s the final fall…

Off to the right is a steep trail with loose rocks that takes you down to the beach below.   I turned around just in time to see Lea charging toward me, out of control, finally bracing herself on the rock wall moments before a would-be fatal leap. 🙂

The only way to reach this beach is by hiking in.  That means that it stays pretty clean with exception to whatever may wash ashore.

We have officially arrived

 

We laid on the beach for an hour and soaked it in.  It’s no stretch to say that this place is truly a wonder, and one that we will be back to enjoy again.

Cheers!