Golden morning light washes over steep tan cliffs and a narrow coastal headland above a small sandy cove. Waves roll in from the open Pacific beside patches of green bluff vegetation in the foreground.

Chimney Rock Trail

Point Reyes Station, CA

A 1.8-mile trail along a narrow headland at the southeastern tip of Point Reyes, passing through coastal wildflower meadows that explode with color in spring. The trail offers views of Drakes Bay to the north and the open Pacific to the south. Elephant seals can be observed from the overlook at the trail's midpoint during breeding season.

Photography Guide

Best Time: morning
Crowds: Moderate
Shot Types: widelandscapedetailportrait
Best Seasons: springwinter

Practical Tips

Peak wildflower season is March through May. The elephant seal overlook is most active from December through March. The trail is exposed with no shade; bring sun protection.

Is it a good day to go?

7-day outlook

Mild, dry days with light winds are the most comfortable for a visit.

Forecast by Open-Meteo. Verdicts weigh the forecast against the conditions that suit this spot.

Gallery

Golden morning light washes over steep coastal cliffs and a narrow black-sand cove, with waves foaming against the rocky shore below. The foreground is edged with low green and reddish coastal vegetation, and the headland stretches into a calm blue bay under a clear sky. Photo: King of Hearts / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

Sunlit cliffs curve around a small sandy cove, with waves breaking below and the open Pacific stretching out to the left. The foreground is edged with low coastal vegetation, and the soft golden light suggests an early morning view along the headland. Photo: King of Hearts / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

Sunlit coastal cliffs rise above a narrow black-sand cove, with green bluff-top vegetation in the foreground and white surf curling onto the shore below. The late-day light warms the rugged headland while the open ocean stretches out under a pale sky. Photo: King of Hearts / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

Sunlit tan cliffs and a broad, dusty headland slope drop toward the Pacific, with white surf curling around a rocky outcrop below. The morning light gives the bluff edges a warm glow under a pale blue sky. Photo: King of Hearts / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

Sunlit coastal bluff trail with low green succulents and sandy ground leading toward steep tan cliffs above the blue Pacific. Soft morning light warms the headland while waves break around dark rocks below. Photo: King of Hearts / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

Sunlit cliffs drop into a rocky cove where white surf curls around scattered dark boulders, with a lone sea stack offshore under a clear morning sky. Sparse green coastal vegetation clings to the bluff edge on the left. Photo: King of Hearts / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

Sunset light washes the Pacific in pink and gold as waves curl against steep, rocky cliffs along the Point Reyes headland. Dark coastal scrub fills the foreground, with a narrow black-sand beach tucked below the bluff. Photo: King of Hearts / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

Sunlit coastal cliffs rise above a narrow sandy cove, with waves foaming against the shore below and the open ocean stretching to the horizon. The foreground shows a rugged bluff with sparse green vegetation, while the warm morning light highlights the eroded headland’s steep, layered face. Photo: King of Hearts / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

Steep grassy headlands and orange sea cliffs rise above a narrow sandy cove, with waves breaking around scattered rocks along the Pacific coast. A winding trail runs over the ridge toward a small pier and distant low hills under soft morning light. Photo: Frank Schulenburg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

Nearby Places

Upward view of a large first-order Fresnel lens inside the lighthouse, with red ribbed glass panels, brass metal supports, and prismatic glass rings catching the light. The circular frame and bright sky beyond emphasize the lens’s tall, layered structure.

Architecture

Point Reyes Station, CA

Point Reyes Lighthouse

Built in 1870, Point Reyes Lighthouse sits at the windiest and foggiest point on the Pacific Coast, 300 steps down from the cliff top. The lighthouse was decommissioned in 1975 and is now a museum and whale watching station. During winter, gray whales migrate close to shore, and the surrounding cliffs host colonies of common murres.

afternoonwinter · spring

A wide panoramic view of Drakes Estero shows a broad sandbar in the foreground, calm blue-gray water in the middle, and low green-brown ridgelines stretching across the horizon. Bright morning light and clear skies create crisp reflections and a spacious, quiet coastal feel.

Waterfronts

Point Reyes Station, CA

Drakes Estero

A large tidal estuary within Point Reyes National Seashore, Drakes Estero is one of the most pristine estuaries on the California coast. The estuary's fingerlike inlets extend into the surrounding pastoral hills. Harbor seals haul out on the sandbars, and the calm waters create mirror-like reflections of the surrounding ridgelines.

morningspring · summer

A calm blue lagoon fills the center of the frame, bordered by sandy dunes and tufted coastal grasses, with a lone heron standing near the left bank. Green hills and a few small buildings stretch across the horizon under clear golden-hour light.

Parks & Wilderness

Point Reyes Station, CA

Abbotts Lagoon

A pair of coastal lagoons connected by a narrow channel, separated from the Pacific by a thin strip of sand dunes. The 3.2-mile round-trip trail crosses open grasslands before reaching the lagoons and continuing to the beach. The lagoons support large populations of shorebirds, waterfowl, and raptors throughout the year.

golden hourwinter · spring