One of my favorite photography locations is Point Reyes. Located about 1.5 hours north of San Francisco, Point Reyes is an endless adventure. Miles of rolling hills and ranch land, an incredible coastline and a wide array of bird and mammal species makes Point Reyes a fantastic place to visit.

A good place to start is the Bear Valley Visitors Center.  Here, you can pick up trail maps and other information.  Acorn Woodpeckers nest in the area, and are fun to watch as they cache away acorns in pre-drilled tree holes. For landscape photography opportunities, or just to take in some amazing views, the beach trails and viewpoints are great.  McClure’s Beach is my favorite, as there are some nice cliffs and sea stacks there that make great foreground subjects for sunset shots. Offshore rocks allow for some beautiful crashing waves that can be very dramatic.  Drive along Pierce Point Road all the way to Tomales Point.  There is a parking lot there.  A short hike down to the beach puts you in one of the most beautiful spots on the Seashore.  Be sure to visit when the sun is setting and you will not be disappointed!

Drake’s Beach is another beautiful spot.  Steep cliffs curve around into the distance.  Fog is often present in the morning and evening on the Seashore adding a nice atmosphere to seascape photographs.  

A favorite short hike of mine is the trail at Chimney Rock.  There are some incredible views along this trail.  Elephant Seals can be seen at the Elephant Seal Overlook.  I recently photographed a Peregrine Falcon perched near the end of the Chimney Rock trail.

The lighthouse is a popular destination.  However, I don't find it too photogenic as it sits below a long staircase, and you can’t photograph it at eye level.  Across from the lighthouse parking lot is a very nice spot to photograph the curving coastline and cliffs as you look toward Pt. Reyes Beach South and North.  I took this capture one evening at sunset as the setting sun gave a nice, warm tone to the cliffs.

Point Reyes is an ideal place for bird photography.  Fence posts line every road and many species can be found perching on the posts or fence wires.  As you drive along the quiet farm roads, it’s easy to pull over and, using your car as a blind, get within a few feet of many species.  I have photographed California Quail, Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk, Barn Swallow and American Kestrel, to name a few, using this technique.  I also like the fact that the distant hills and fields provide for beautiful, soft, uncluttered backgrounds.

Wildlife is plentiful at the Seashore.  Tule Elk are the easiest species to find, as they have been re-intoduced at Point Reyes, and there is an elk reserve at Tomales Point.  Unfortunately, the severe drought in California has dried up most of their watering holes, and elk are dying by the hundreds.  There is a single pond that the Park Service maintains for the elk.  An ongoing conflict between the ranchers and Tule Elk supporters is a major concern. Tule Elk are very photogenic and quite approachable by car if they are close to the road.  The elk reserve is sometimes engulfed in fog, especially in the evening.  This can make for some very atmospheric elk captures.

Black-tailed Deer are also plentiful, especially in the fields near Chimney Rock.  Coyote is the most common predatory species.  I have seen and photographed coyote on several occasions, Pierce Point Road being the best place.  Bobcat is my number one bucket list mammal right now.  I have seen them three times at Point Reyes, but never close enough to capture a nice photograph.  I know this will be a very challenging species to photograph, as Bobcats are very wary of humans—but I enjoy a challenge!  Other wildlife I have spotted include badgers, cottontails and skunks.

The fog is one of the reasons I keep coming back to Point Reyes.  I remember a recent trip when I encountered a herd of elk.  Thick fog moved in and it was amazing to watch the elk, looking like ghosts in the mist.  I was alone with these magnificent animals, and the fog seemed to make it lonelier still.  If you need to take care of your appetite, I recommend the Bovine Bakery in Point Reyes Station.  They have amazing baked goods and soup.  For a beer and dinner I like the Farmhouse Restaurant in Olema.  This is a very cozy place with good food, and is a welcome retreat after a long hike.All in all, Point Reyes is a great place to visit.  Uncrowded, beautiful scenery, plentiful wildlife and birds, atmospheric weather...what more could you want?