Wildcat Beach

The Palomarin Trailhead Parking Lot will be closed from Monday, September 9, 2024, through Friday, September 13, 2024,for resurfacing. The parking lot and trailheadwill be fully closed with no overnight parking allowed to accommodate staging equipment and materials. Large trucks will be present on Mesa and Palomarin Roads, so visitors to Wildcat Beachshould plan alternative parking arrangements. --> Distance: 11 miles (17.6 km) roundtripfrom the Palomarin Trailhead 12.6 miles (20.3 km) roundtrip from the Bear Valley Trailhead 13.4 miles (21.6 km) roundtrip from the Five Brooks Trailhead Wildcat Beach is a 2.9-mile-long (4.7-kilometer-long) beach deep within the Phillip Burton Wilderness in the southern part of the national seashore. To get to Wildcat Beach, you can start from a number of different trailhead, although the Palomarin, Bear Valley, or Five Brooks trailheads are the closest. The following directions from any of these closest trailheads will bring you to Wildcat Camp, where there are vault toilets,potable water, and the only safe location at which to get onto Wildcat Beach. A well-worn trail leads along the south side of Wildcat Camp to the beach. Theseroute descriptions alone are not a substitute for a trail map. Print out the park's South Districttrail map (3,422 KB PDF) before your visit, or pick one up at a visitor center on your way. Always check current conditions before heading out into the park and familiarize yourself with park regulations . Please practice Leave No Trace principles. Visit the park's Hiking at Point Reyes National Seashore page for hiking tips and information about trail etiquette and safety. Visit the park's Trail Advisories and Closures page for current information about closed trails, trails blocked by trees, or other temporary hazards or advisories. Hiking Directions To Wildcat Beach From Palomarin Trailhead Due to a washout along Palomarin Road, Mesa Road and Palomarin Roadare closed to motor traffic north of the Commonweal entrance until further notice. Hikers wishing to go to Wildcat Beach, Wildcat Campground, or Alamere Falls can begin their hike at Five Brooks Trailhead, instead. --> Follow the Coast Trail northwest as it meanders along an ocean cliff top for approximately one mile (1.6 km). The Coast Trail then heads inland and drops into a small valley before ascending switchbacks up the other side. Climb over a pass, and hike past a number of small ponds before reaching Bass Lake after 2.8 miles (4.5 km) of hiking. In another 0.6 miles (1 km) arrive at a view of Pelican Lake. Continuing on 0.8 miles (1.3 km) leads to the junction with the Ocean Lake Loop Trail. Stay right to remain on the Coast Trail as it heads a bit further inland through coastal scrub and forest, or turn left on to the Ocean Lake Loop Trail, which drops initially to pass by Ocean Lake, but then climbs steeply to reach the top of some coastal bluffs with views looking up and down the shoreline. Both routes reconnect after 1.1 miles (1.7 km). After this point you'll be back on the Coast Trail for a final 0.2 miles (0.3 km) to Wildcat Campground. From Bear Valley Trailhead Follow the relatively flat Bear Valley Trail south for 3.1 miles (5 km) to the Glen Trail. Turn left onto the Glen Trail and begin climbing up the side of a ridge. After 0.6 miles (1 km), keep right to stay on the Glen Trail. After another 0.4 miles (0.6 km) keep left to stay on the Glen Trail. Hike for 0.5 miles (0.8 km) to the intersection with the Stewart Trail. Turn right and follow the Stewart Trail 1.2 miles (1.9 km) downhill to get to Wildcat Campground. From Five Brooks Trailhead Follow the Stewart Trail northwest for 0.3 miles (0.5 km) to the junction with the Olema Valley Trail. Keep right to stay on the Stewart Trail as it begins a long climb up the side of Inverness Ridge. After 0.8 miles (1.3 km), the Greenpicker Trail branches off to the right at a switchback. Hikers may wish to shorten their hike by 0.7 miles (1.2 km) by foll...