- State: CA
- NPCA Region: Pacific
- Est. Date: 1972
Issues
This seashore, established in 1962, is the only national seashore on the West Coast. It features windswept beaches, coastal cliffs and headlands, marine terraces, coastal uplands, salt marshes, estuaries, and coniferous forests. Located on the Point Reyes Peninsula, 40 miles northwest of San Francisco, the park encompasses about 71,070 acres, stretched across more than 80 miles of undeveloped coastline. Within the park, 32,730 acres are designated wilderness or potential wilderness, constituting one of the most accessible wilderness areas in the country, and the only marine wilderness (Drakes Estero) on the West Coast south of Alaska. The park harbors an astonishingly rich array of wildlife species, some found nowhere else on Earth.
More about Point Reyes
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Blog Post 5 Wild Places for a Beach Vacation An advocate for vehicle-free beaches praises some of the last undeveloped places along America’s coasts — and why protecting these untamed lands is so important.
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Blog Post Water You Waiting For? 10 Perfect Parks for Paddling Go beyond the hiking trail and enjoy parks from a refreshing vantage point: water. Rivers and lakes offer adventurous routes through some of the country’s most remarkable landscapes, including views you just can’t see from land. From lazy float trips to exhilarating whitewater, national parks have fun options for visitors of every experience level—sometimes even on different stretches of the same river.
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Magazine Article The Land of Fog and Sea A one-time Californian returns to Point Reyes.
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Blog Post Wilderness Wins on the West Coast Thanks to persistent support from thousands of advocates, the National Park Service will honor its promise to Americans to preserve Drakes Estero.
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they offer every human being the opportunity to experience the beauty of the outdoors in their own way. — Angel
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Press Release Legal Settlement Allows National Park Marine Wilderness Restoration to Begin in Point Reyes National Seashore Settlement agreement protects the West Coast’s first marine wilderness at Drakes Estero
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Blog Post Wild American Beauty: 10 Wilderness Areas to Explore Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act by exploring some of America’s wildest places, from remote windswept tundras to cactus-dotted mountains to serene rock-strewn beaches. Several spots are surprisingly close to major cities.
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Magazine Article Sea Change New research shows how rising sea levels will affect national parks—and helps managers prepare for the worst.
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Magazine Article Shifting Tides Once nearly extinct, sea otters have staged a remarkable comeback, but some coastal parks still struggle to retain these curious, sensitive mammals.
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Press Release Wilderness Victory for National Parks Interior Secretary Salazar Protects West Coast's First Marine Wilderness Area at Drakes Estero in Point Reyes National Seashore
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Report Research Regarding Drakes Estero Wilderness Oyster mariculture in Drake’s Estero causes a number of environmental impacts.
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Press Release National Parks Group Urge Secretary Salazar to Protect California's Only Marine Wilderness Area Statement by Neal Desai, Pacific Region Associate Director, National Parks Conservation Association
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Report Center for State of the Parks: Point Reyes National Seashore Reassessment In 2002, the National Parks Conservation Association's Center for State of the Parks assessed the conditions of the natural and cultural resources within Point Reyes National Seashore.
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