What to bring on a hike

  1. sunscreen

  2. hat

  3. backpack

  4. water bottle

  5. nature journal and pen or pencil

  6. camera (optional)

  7. binoculars (optional)

  8. trail snacks (remember whatever you bring in, you need to carry out “pack it in, pack it out”)

  9. spare set of clothes, especially socks (in case you get wet or muddy and want some dry clothes)

  10. Point Reyes is often foggy and cool so bring a warm hoodie or jacket.

Fun things to do on a hike

Scavenger Hunt

Find all the things on a list. You can use our scavenger hunts or make your own.

Search and find challenge

Do a search and find challenge with friends or family. Name some plants and animals in Point Reyes. Decide how many points to give each plant or animal. Give fewer points to plants and animals you see often and give more points to those you rarely see.

  • California Poppy - 1/2 point

  • Cow - 1 point

  • Gull and other shorebirds - 1 point

  • Sand dollar - 1 point

  • Live Sand dollar - 2 points (you can tell they are alive if they are purple; bonus point if you see the live sand dollar making a trail in the wet sand)

  • Egret and Heron - 2 points

  • Butterfly - 2 points

  • Turkey Vulture - 2 points

  • Jellyfish - 2 points

  • Dragonfly - 3 points

  • Banana slug - 5 points

  • Acorn Woodpecker - 5

  • Cobwebby Thistle - 10 points

  • Hawk and other raptors (peregrine falcon, osprey, kestrel) - 10 points

  • Wild turkey - 10 points

  • Amphibians such as turtles, frog, newt or salamander - 10 points

  • Sea star - 15 points

  • Tule Elk - 20 points

  • Seal/Sea Lion/Elephant Seal - 20

  • Coyote - 25

  • Snake - 25

  • Snowy Plover - 50

  • Fox - 50

  • Bobcat - 50

  • River Otter - 100 points

  • Owl - 100 points

  • Whale - 100 points

Nature journaling

Find a good spot and stop to observe and draw in your nature journal. Learn how to make a nature journal.