Secret Caves and Hidden Beaches

Secret Caves and Hidden Beaches

January 29, 2022
Explore the beauty of some of the Seashore’s most scenic sea caves, beaches, and tidepools thanks to a rare daytime negative low tide!

Start the new year with a visit to some of the Seashore’s most scenic yet least visited places! A rare daytime negative low tide will allow access to sea caves, beaches, tidepools, and wave-sculpted cliffs normally blocked by breaking waves.

Plan to arrive at the main Limantour Beach parking lot by 11:45 AM so we can get you checked in and oriented in time for a 12:00PM sharp hike departure. Advanced registration is required. We’ll hike 3.2 miles south on Limantour Beach to reach Sculptured Beach where we’ll eat lunch while waiting for the tide to turn negative.

We’ll continue south to the less accessible portions of Sculptured Beach by climbing down a 6-foot outcropping. (Climb has easy handholds and footholds – leader will assist those participants with less experience or confidence). Continuing past caves and arches down the final section of beach to the “Thumb” we will either turn around at the end of the beach or, if the tide still allows, pass through a walking passage keyhole to “Super-Secret Beach” and its entrance to the bottom of a sheer-walled 100 foot deep collapsed sinkhole.

We’ll then hike back to Sculptured Beach as the sun sets, followed by a leisurely twightlight hike back along Limantour Beach to the parking lot. You will cover approximately 9-10 miles total on sandy beach with a number of short scrambles up and over coastal rock outcroppings. In a number of places we will traverse slippery wave-washed sharp rocks while avoiding damaging fragile intertidal organisms covering those rocks.

Frank Binney is a professional interpretive planner who has helped enhance visitor experiences at National and State parks across the US. He enjoys using his science background and interpretive guiding skills to help people make personal connections to the special places and unique stories of Point Reyes National Seashore.

Photo Credit: Bill Helsel, used with permission

Details:

-We will be meeting at the Limantour Beach Parking Lot

– Please arrive 10-15 minutes early to check in

– Refunds available for all classes 7 days in advance of the start date, after 7 days and before 2 days, participants can credit their class for a future date. All requests before 48 hours in advance will be declined. For COVID cancellation policy, see below.

– Please follow the parking instructions for the facility used that day

– Please provide an email you check regularly for updates and reminders about your class

– Registration is required online prior to the event in order to maintain class sizes

– Sales end 48 hours before the start date.

– Waitlists are available when the class sells out

WHAT TO BRING

  • Comfortable footwear for hiking that can get wet (pack extra dry socks)
  • Daypack
  • Lunch, snacks, and water for the day
  • Layered, variable-weather clothing, including waterproof windbreaker or rain jacket, warm hat and gloves, sunhat and sunglasses. The weather can change from warm and sunny to cool, windy, drizzly or foggy.
  • Headlamp for some of the darker sea caves and post-sunset hiking back to our cars.
  • Binoculars (optional)
  • Camera (optional)

About the PRNSA Field Institute:

The PRNSA Field Institute offers hands-on environmental education classes throughout the year that foster enjoyment of Point Reyes National Seashore. Our classes are led by expert instructors, who take you out of your everyday life and into the natural world. We host a variety of classes about the arts and sciences and have something for everyone. You can reach the Field Institute at (415) 663-1200 x304 or by email at fieldinstitute@ptreyes.org.

Interested in becoming a member of PRNSA? Click Here!

Interested in becoming a PRNSA Field Institute facilitator? Want to take classes for FREE while helping out a great cause? Give us a call!

Are you an outdoor educator or artist who would like to teach a PRNSA Field Institute class? Shoot us an Email!

For any questions, please email us at fieldinstitute@ptreyes.org.

COVID-19 Field Institute Guidelines

In accordance with Marin County and CDC guidelines for public health, we will require all participants to respect the following COVID-19 procedures:

• Perform a health self-check before coming to class using the CDC Symptoms of Coronavirus as a guide

• Do not attend class if you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, suspect you have been exposed to the virus, or are suffering from any other flu-like or respiratory illness.

• Participants exhibiting signs of respiratory illness may be asked to leave class

During class all participants will be required to do the following

• We recommend that all participants continue to wear masks at this time, however, in accordance with CDC guidelines, exceptions can be made for fully vaccinated individuals

• Fully vaccinated individuals may remove masks for outdoor classes, but we recommend continuing to maintain a 4’-6’ distance from other participants

• Unvaccinated individuals are required to wear a face covering unless farther than 6’ from other participants in an outdoor class

• At this time masks are required for all participants indoors regardless of vaccination status

• Bring your own food and water

• We reserve the right to modify requirements as recommended by NPS regulations or local county health orders at the time of class

NOTE: Refund policy exceptions will be made for participants cancelling last minute due to COVID-19 infection or symptoms. Please contact us in this case.

Thank you for your continuing cooperation in following these guidelines to help keep everyone safe.