Point Reyes National Seashore is a National Seashore in California. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 5 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Point Reyes
We matched 5 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Point Reyes. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Waterfalls (1)
Beaches (1)
Lighthouses (1)
State Parks (1)
Wilderness Areas (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Point Reyes the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 301° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 75° in summer but only 29° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:27 AM | 8:07 AM | 4:36 PM | 5:16 PM | 244° | 9h 49m |
| February | 7:03 AM | 7:39 AM | 5:14 PM | 5:51 PM | 255° | 10h 48m |
| March | 7:24 AM | 7:58 AM | 6:44 PM | 7:19 PM | 268° | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:37 AM | 7:12 AM | 7:12 PM | 7:48 PM | 283° | 13h 11m |
| May | 6:02 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:38 PM | 8:16 PM | 295° | 14h 14m |
| June | 5:49 AM | 6:28 AM | 7:57 PM | 8:37 PM | 301° | 14h 48m |
| July | 6:01 AM | 6:40 AM | 7:56 PM | 8:35 PM | 299° | 14h 33m |
| August | 6:27 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:30 PM | 8:06 PM | 289° | 13h 39m |
| September | 6:54 AM | 7:29 AM | 6:46 PM | 7:21 PM | 275° | 12h 27m |
| October | 7:21 AM | 7:56 AM | 5:59 PM | 6:35 PM | 260° | 11h 14m |
| November | 6:53 AM | 7:32 AM | 4:22 PM | 5:01 PM | 247° | 10h 08m |
| December | 7:21 AM | 8:03 AM | 4:12 PM | 4:54 PM | 241° | 9h 32m |
Computed for the park's reference point (38.0551, -122.8798); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Point Reyes, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 23° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 4 (rural / suburban transition), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 5:10 AM – 5:30 AM | 0.3 | 13° |
| March | 4:17 AM – 5:47 AM | 1.5 | 19° |
| April | 2:22 AM – 5:02 AM | 2.7 | 23° |
| May | 12:21 AM – 4:11 AM | 3.8 | 23° |
| June | 10:33 PM – 3:53 AM | 5.3 | 23° |
| July | 10:26 PM – 2:26 AM | 4.0 | 23° |
| August | 9:45 PM – 12:25 AM | 2.7 | 23° |
| September | 8:51 PM – 10:21 PM | 1.5 | 20° |
| October | 8:03 PM – 8:23 PM | 0.3 | 13° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
4 Estimated Bortle 4 — Rural / suburban transition. Light domes are visible in several directions; the Milky Way is clear but lacks detail near the horizon.
Weather & best time to visit
The moderating influence of the Pacific Ocean creates a climate with no great extremes of heat or cold. Any season can bring interesting weather during your visit to Point Reyes National Seashore. Come prepared!
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show July as the clearest month (about 19% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (57%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Getting there
Point Reyes is located along the west coast of California approximately 30 miles (50 km) north of San Francisco. Travelers may approach the park from the winding scenic Highway 1, either from the north or the south. Visitors can also reach the park via Sir Francis Drake Boulevard or the Point Reyes/Petaluma Road.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Biking
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Canoe or Kayak Camping
- Fishing
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Hiking
- Horse Trekking
- Horseback Riding
- Paddling
- Kayaking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Park Film
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
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