Drakes Estero
Point Reyes Station, CA
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.
Photography Guide
- Best Time
- morning
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Shot Types
- widelandscapereflection
- Best Seasons
- springsummerfall
Gallery
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Nearby Places
Point Reyes Station, CA
Cypress Tree Tunnel
A row of Monterey cypress trees planted in the 1930s forms a dramatic natural tunnel over the road leading to the historic KPH Maritime Radio Receiving Station. The trees create a cathedral-like canopy that filters light in striking patterns. The tunnel runs east-west, allowing direct light to illuminate the corridor at sunrise.
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.
Point Reyes Station, CA
Inverness Ridge at Mount Vision
A 1,282-foot peak on Inverness Ridge accessible by a paved road, offering panoramic views over the pastoral landscape of Point Reyes, Drakes Estero, and the Pacific Ocean. The ridge separates the forested eastern slopes from the open grasslands to the west. On clear days, the view extends north to Tomales Bay and south to the Farallon Islands.