
Point Reyes

Point Reyes Lighthouse
'Point Reyes' is a prominent
cape on the
Pacific coast of northern
California. It is located in
Marin County approximately 30 mi (48 km) WNW of
San Francisco. The term is often applied to the 'Point Reyes Peninsula', the promontory bounded from
Tomales Bay on the northeast and
Bolinas Lagoon on the southwest. The headland is protected as part of
Point Reyes National Seashore.
The cape protects
Drakes Bay on its southern side. The headland is largely drained by
Drakes Estero. Inverness Ridge runs along the peninsula's northwest-southeast spine, with forested peaks around 430 meters (1,400 feet). West of the ridge, the land flattens out and the vegetation turns to
scrub. The
Mount Vision Fire in 1995 burned part of
Inverness Ridge.
The peninsula is a popular recreational destination for the nearby
San Francisco Bay Area, especially for
hiking on its many trails and sea kayaking the shores of Tomales Bay and the coast.
Vegetation native to Point Reyes includes
Bishop pine,
Douglas-fir,
coyote brush,
monkeyflower,
poison oak,
California blackberry,
salal and
coast redwood, among others.
During the
Cold War, submarines repaired at
Mare Island Naval Shipyard were tested in the shallow waters off Point Reyes following shipyard repairs. Navy safety personnel used a small monitoring and communications hut on the peninsula for monitoring submarines during these
sea trials.
Point Reyes Lighthouse was used as the radio station for Antonio Bay in the
John Carpenter film "
The Fog".
Point Reyes lends its name to the town of
Point Reyes Station, California.

South Beach and Point Reyes Peninsula
External links
★
National Park Service site on Point Reyes National Seashore
★
Point Reyes Webcams
★
Mare Island's submarine sea trials
★
Point Reyes National Seashore: Resources for Outdoor Enthusiasts
★
A Weekend and Recreation Guide to Point Reyes and West Marin