Welcome to Travel Photo Mondays
It’s Monday morning, time to enjoy some gorgeous travel photography and inspiration from around the world. Let’s banish those Monday blues by sharing gorgeous imagery and story telling.
Creek and shady trails along Bear Valley
Point Reyes National Seashore
Today I’m taking you to one of my favorite hikes at the Point Reyes National Seashore in Marin County, California. Point Reyes was first discovered by Sir Francis Drake in 1579, the famous British captain that set out to explore the entire California coastline and making a stop at Point Reyes to fix his ship’s hull. He then claimed all the lands in the ‘New World’ for Queen Elizabeth before continuing southwest to circumnavigate the world on his return back to England in 1580. It’s also interesting to note that Spanish galleons plied the waters of Northern California on their way back from the Philippines to Mexico loaded with porcelains and spices from the orient.
Bear Valley Trails and creek
Hillside views at Point Reyes
Bear Valley trail at Point Reyes
One of the most popular trails at Point Reyes is the Bear Valley trail which starts from the visitors center and covers varied terrain all the way to the ocean and covering about 8.2 mi/ 13.2 kl roundtrip and takes about 5-8 hours depending if you want to take breaks or enjoy the coast at the end of the trail. The hike goes through grassy open areas and then to shady forests while walking along side the Bear Valley stream. Beautiful old growth Douglas fir, oak trees and redwoods majestically grow in this area with a variety of California native plants.
Bear Valley trail and stream
Looking up the some tall trees
Ocean and coastal views of around Point Reyes
It’s a peaceful and meditative walk going through the trail and enjoying the scenic vistas and natural wonders. At the end of the trail at Arch rock, you are rewarded with panoramic views of the cliffs and coastline from Point Reyes to the southern point and light house. The views on a sunny day or even cloudy days when it’s likely to happen is also wonderful for photography, here’s one last image of the coastline.
Ocean views at Point Reyes
Visiting the national park
It’s easy to spend a pleasant morning or even most of the day enjoying the magnificent trails and observing nature at Point Reyes National Seashore in Marin County, California. If you are interested in visiting Point Reyes National Seashore, check out their website here for more information.
I hope you enjoyed your visit to Point Reyes, please come and visit these other bloggers below sharing their photo essays.
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Noel, as usual, your photos are stunning — as is your subject.
Beautiful photos! Laura
I miss this park/green area; there’s still a lot I’d like to see. Thanks for the look at Point Reyes!
It looks like a beautiful hike. I love coastal areas and lighthouses. I’ll have to add it to my list of places to visit!
Not knowing California very well, I was trying to find what large city it was next to. The website about it didn’t really say. It is a beautiful area.
Great place to know about.
Stunning coastline shots. I feel as if I’m there with you, Noel.
Thanks for the walk.
The coast line and trails in this area are amazing and you captured the lighting perfectly.
A great place to visit…
Noel,
Naturally these photos are all inspiring but I do have a very favorite and that is the mountain and the moon-I have always been enchanted by both of those subjects!
Thank you for your informative and lovely post!
Have a splendid week!
Joyce
That is indeed a gorgeous coastline, but I like the shady, creekside trail in Bear Valley, too. It’s the best of both worlds!
Many of the pictures I’ve seen of Point Reyes have always been of the coastline so it’s great to see all these other features of the park. Love the black and white picture of the trees and of course, the beautiful coastline.
Hi Noel,
Thanks for hosting! Gorgeous and dramatic images. I love the black and white of the trees piercing the sky; they look like gigantic thorns!
Happy Monday!
Poppy
Happy Monday to you to Poppy, hope you can join us today
The picture with blue sky and half moon is my Fav, great pics Noel!
Thanks Mo, I’ll look for your email of the image to submit to the photo roulette
This looks so inviting, refreshing, invigorating. The woods and the sea both have such life-giving energies.
Love them all, but the trees in black and white are something very special.