Abbotts Lagoon Trailhead

Sometimes you can spot a muskrat swimming. It looks like a miniature beaver except for its long, thin tail.

Abbotts Lagoon Trail: A Nice Escape to the Tranquil Side of Point Reyes

Muskrats can be prolific, with as many as 50 young each year! The pond is also a good place to watch for dragonflies like the bright red cardinal meadowhawk. Meadowhawks perch, then sally out to catch an insect, often returning to the same perch. A boardwalk over a marshy area protects the plants as well as your boots. Look for magenta coast hedgenettle, yellow cinqfoil and striped candyflower. Just after you cross the bridge look on the right for plants adapted to life in the sand such as yellow beach evening primroses, yellow sand verbena and beach strawberry. European sea rocket is named for the shape of its seed. The ocean often breaks through in winter storms so the lagoon is brackish. It blends perfectly into the sand, even digging in a bit so its hind legs are flush with the surface of the sand. The roped-off area on your right, and the enclosures you see if you walk along the beach, are to protect the nests of endangered snowy plovers, a 6.

Snowy plovers often hunker down in depressions in the sand. When they move, they make me think of a mechanic wind-up toy with their sudden stops and starts. The chicks, if you are lucky enough to spot one, will look like fluffballs with legs. These birds are vulnerable to disturbance by people and dogs. In , of 11 newly hatched chicks, only three survived the Fourth of July weekend. You can assist these endangered birds by respecting the roped-off areas, beach closures and rules about dogs, and by avoiding leaving any food that will attract ravens. In Monterey County a raven arriving in an area that had had no ravens destroyed 10 out of 12 snowy plover nests in a single day. In there were 16 fledglings at Point Reyes National Seashore. The goal for the PRNS is to have 64 snowy plovers producing one chick for each male annually. It is too early to know how many chicks will fledge successfully this season. Logoon has lot of birds.

Closer to lagoon saw a dead bird with just bones and feathers left probably a Coyote never spotted any but just my guess attacked it close to the lagoon. I would recommend bringing pair of flip flops to make it easier to walk to the beach through the sand. Maintained trail portion is beautiful, lots of flowers and birds. Great views but much harder to walk across and lots of sand in shoes. Walking on the beach sand was a workout. Very light traffic. A very nice hike. We saw lots of birds and plenty of wild flowers. There were people also of course, but not too many. This is a quintessential Pt. Reyes hike. A gentle trail starting from the roadside and crossing dunes and chaparral covered by a great variety of plants before arriving at North Beach on the misty North side of Pt. There is an abundance of birds enroute and once you reach the beach. Nice hike with plants, deer and sometimes river otters. Mid-April, a lovely saunter through wild poppy and iris blooms.

Gorgeous light and a nice trail. Abbott's Lagoon is one of my favs, but the alternate trail has been fenced off for as long as I've known. The short climb is worth the wild flowers in bloom.

Abbotts Lagoon Beach (U.S. National Park Service)

But there's no trail after that. Beautiful trail! We went mid-morning on Sunday and there were only a few cars in the parking lot. Tons of different birds to see, and we saw a few tiny snakes as well! Trail doesn't appear to exist in some areas and had to hike through plants on sand but overall it was good. I saw river otters, Herons, Cormorants, and so much more. Beautiful out and back. We saw five otters and lots of birds. The wildflowers were in full bloom. Easy pretty hike to the beach and back ~ lots of birds and deer. Park off of Pierce Point Rd. At the trailhead, there is a vault toilet, trash cans and recycling, and historical exhibits. Continue northward on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard do not turn right. Follow this park road through Inverness as it begins to bear westward.

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Past Inverness the road forks. Take the right side of the fork, which is Pierce Point Road. Driving time from Bear Valley Visitor Center is approximately 25 minutes. Abbott's Lagoon Trailhead will be the first parking area on the left. Length 5. Preview trail. This route will take you on a stroll down to Abbotts Lagoon. This trail is a great option for solitude. Abbott's Lagoon and the beach at the end of the trail are less popular and crowded than other locations at Point Reyes. Along the way, there are lots of flowers, wildlife, and nice viewpoints of the lagoon. Reviews Photos Activities Completed Sort by:.

Abbotts Lagoon Trailhead (U.S. National Park Service)

Debbie Hatfield. Ray Wack. Trail in good condition. Erin OBrien. David Silva. Beautiful wildflowers and quail. Alex Momtchiloff. Debbie Fisher-Abbott. David Keller. Thadd TM. David P. An all-time favorite. Jakota Rivas. Amanda Straub.