Point Reyes National Seashore - Visitor Centers (U.S. National Park Service)

Visitor Centers - Bear Valley | Kenneth C. Patrick | Lighthouse

Bear Valley Visitor Center
Open: Year round.
Closed: December 25.

Hours:
Weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Weekends and holidays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Phone: (415) 464-5100

The park's primary Visitor Center provides an orientation of the park's roads, trails, and human and natural history. The Bear Valley Visitor Center was designed to blend in with the historically significant ranching culture of this area and is located in the heart of the Olema Valley. The interior exhibit space provides a glimpse of the diverse ecosystems and cultural heritage of the park and includes a seismograph, touch table, auditorium, and book sales area. Audio-visual programs, shown in the auditorium, are available upon request. Natural history books, cards and posters are for sale in the bookstore. Reservations and permits for backcountry camping, as well as beach fire permits, may be obtained here. Allow at least 45 minutes to view exhibits and to watch an audio-visual program.

The Bear Valley Visitor Center is located 0.8 kilometer (0.5 mile) west of Olema, CA along Bear Valley Road.

Additional information:

Good rainy day activity.
Handicap accessible.
Restrooms are available in the Visitor Center or in the trailhead parking lot 24 hours a day.
A picnic area with barbecue grills is located across the driveway.
Many trailheads are located near the Bear Valley Visitor Center.

Top of Page

Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center
Open: Year round.
Closed December 25.

Hours:
Weekends and holidays, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Closed Mondays through Fridays.

Phone: (415) 669-1250

Located at beautiful Drakes Beach, the Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center contains exhibits that focus on 16th century maritime exploration, marine fossils and marine environments. A minke whale skeleton is suspended from the ceiling. Natural history books, cards and posters are for sale in the bookstore. Allow 20-30 minutes to view exhibits.

Special Event: Annual Sand Sculpture Contest, Labor Day Sunday.

The Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center is 30 minutes from Bear Valley on Drakes Beach off of Sir Frances Drake Blvd.

Additional information:

Good rainy day activity.
Handicap accessible.
Restrooms and outdoor shower are available 24 hours a day.
A pay phone is available outside the Visitor Center.
There are picnic tables and barbecue grills nearby.
Drakes Beach Cafe is located next to Visitor Center.

Top of Page

The Lighthouse Visitor Center and the Point Reyes Historic Lighthouse
Open year round, Thursday through Monday.
Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Closed December 25.
The stairs to the lighthouse are closed when winds exceed 40 miles per hour (64 km/h).

Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Phone: (415) 669-1534

The Lighthouse Visitor Center offers exhibits on the historic Point Reyes Lighthouse, as well as on whales, seals and sea lions, wildflowers, birds and maritime history.

The Lighthouse Visitor Center is located 45 minutes west of Bear Valley on the Point Reyes Headlands, at the end of Sir Francis Drake Blvd. There is a 650 meter (0.4 mile) walk (mostly uphill) from the parking lot to the Lighthouse Visitor Center.

Allow at least 2 hours round trip for travel to and from the Lighthouse from the Bear Valley area and another hour to tour the Visitor Center and Lighthouse.

The Point Reyes Lighthouse itself is another 150 meters (0.1 miles) beyond the Visior Center at the base of some 300 steps - the equivalent of 30 stories. The lens room, which houses the original clockworks and first-order Fresnel lens that were manufactured in 1867 and installed in 1870, is open from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays through Mondays as staffing and weather conditions permit. The lower chamber of the historic lighthouse has exhibit panels on the history of the light and the keepers. The equipment building next to the lighthouse exhibits the two 1947 super typhon foghorns, the air compressors, and a backup power generator that were used at Point Reyes.

Special Event: Evening programs illuminating the historic light occur on the first and third Saturday of the month, April through December. There is no fee, but reservations are required. Please call (415) 669-1534 10:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m on the day of the program to reserve a spot.

Additional information:

Visitors will likely experience high winds, cool temperatures, fog and/or rain along the 800 meter (0.5 mile) walk to the Lighthouse, so dress appropriately.
When wind speeds exceed 40 m.p.h., the stairs leading down to the lighthouse are closed for visitors' safety. Wind Forecast
Please take your time walking from the parking lot to the Visitor Center and climbing the stairs.
Restrooms are available 24 hours a day.
A pay phone is available outside the Visitor Center.

Top of Page