Meet in Oakland and begin our backpacking adventure
We meet our guides and fellow backpackers in the lobby of our host hotel this morning in Oakland, CA. After introductions, we load up the van and begin our drive north towards Point Reyes National Seashore. If you didn't have time for that second cup of coffee this morning, worry not! We are making a stop in Point Reyes Station for some mouth-watering baked goods (vegan and GF-friendly). After fueling up on scones and croissants, we make our way to the Bear Valley Visitor Center with time to explore before our guides distribute group gear and present a packing demonstration. As soon as our packs are ready, we hit the trail! Divide Meadow affords us an amazing location for lunch before continuing down trail, enjoying the thinning crowds & feeling the sublime wilderness of the area. If your workday worries haven't all melted away yet, the sound of surf and smell of salt air should do the trick. Once we arrive at our campground, we set up our home for the next two nights, then head down to the beach for an evening stroll while our guides prepare a delicious dinner for us. Weather permitting, we sit around a campfire on the beach as the milky way begins to light the night sky.
Backpacking: 7.6 miles, Elevation gain/loss: +1,757’ / -1,864’; Van transfer: 1 hour
Freshwater lakes, waterfalls and a beach sunset over the Pacific Ocean
This morning, the smell of a hot breakfast will coax us from our tents in anticipation of another exciting day together. We've got lakes and a waterfall waiting for us but we're in no rush. One of the beautiful things about being in nature is acquiescing to the flow, and on this day we do just that as the order of our adventures is up to the tides. One of our hikes takes us into a dense forest, through coastal pine tunnels and past sparkling freshwater lakes, while the other finds us strolling along the beach to the base of Alamere Falls, a 40-foot waterfall that plunges into the ocean—one of only two coastal falls in all of California! After our day of adventure, we return to camp for dinner and soak up one last sunset on the beach. All meals included.
Hiking: 2.7 miles round trip to Alamere Falls, Elevation gain/loss: Minimal; Optional hikes: Up to 8.7 miles, Elevation gain/loss: Up to 1,869’
A final day of backpacking before returning to Oakland
Today we must say goodbye to the solitude of Point Reyes Seashore, but more great hiking awaits! After breakfast, we take down our tents, load our packs, and hit the trail. Our hike begins with a climb from the seashore up into the surrounding friendly hills and continuing through the quiet forest, enjoying the peaceful solitude only nature can afford. Look out for banana slugs along the way as we return to our trailhead and ultimately make our way back to Oakland where our journey ends... but where plans for our next adventure together begin! Breakfast and lunch included.
Backpacking: 7.2 miles, Elevation gain/loss: +903’ / -849’; Van Transfer: 1 hour