A pleasant walk along Home Bay and Drakes Estero in Point Reyes. Plus a trip to awesome views of Limantour Spit from Drakes Head.

Location: Point Reyes National Seashore

» Many many maps by National Park Service: Good quality maps showing various trails in different parts of Point Reyes.

» Tom Harrison Trail Map: High quality contoured map showing various trails and mileages for different sections.

To Sunset Beach (4.7 miles): From Estero Trailhead, follow Estero Trail (2.5 miles) → Sunset Beach Trail (1.6 miles) to reach Sunset Beach. The beach is muddy. Continuing south, the beach becomes rocky. If the tide permits, walk all along the rocky section of the beach (0.6 miles round trip) to get views of Limantour Spit and the Pacific Ocean.

To Drakes Head (3.6 miles): From Sunset Beach, walk back along Sunset Beach Trail (1.6 miles) → right on Estero Trail (0.7 miles) → right on Draks Head (1.3 miles) to reach Drakes Head. In August 2013, the signs along these trails were sketchy. The trail was visible but faint at many places. However, we never felt lost. The views of Limantour Spit from Drakes Head are just superb! One of the best views in bay area, California.

To Estero Trailhead (4.5 miles): From Drakes Head, walk back along Drakes Head Trail (1.3 miles) → left on Estero Trail (0.7 miles) to reach intersection with Sunset Beach Trail → right on Estero Trail (2.5 miles) to return to Estero Trailhead.

Notes: All in all, a pleasant hike in overcast conditions. Almost all the trails are in the open, so avoid summers. Views from Drakes Head are superb! In August 2013, we ran into many clusters of cows along the trail. Along the hike, views of Home Bay, Drakes Estero and Estero de Limantour are great!

Location: Estero Trailhead along Home Ranch Road, Inverness, CA 94937 . No street address. Parking area is visible in Google Maps if you zoom in sufficiently.

Google Maps:

Parking Fees: None (last visited: August 2013)

Capacity: About 20 cars may be parked here.

Latitude: 38.081562     Longitude: -122.914026