This short hike out to Abbotts Lagoon is flat, peaceful, and popular for bird-watching.
Location: Point Reyes National Seashore
Length: 3.3 miles
Difficulty: easy
Shade: open, no shade
Parking: Abbotts Lagoon Trailhead (free)
Public Transportation: none
WC: toilets at the parking lot
Dogs: not allowed on trails
Hiked: Apr 2025
Trail Route & Notes
This trail is easy to follow because there’s only one trail at Abbotts Lagoon. It leads to the beach for 1 mile, after which the trail is unmarked and you can basically take whatever path you like over the sand and dunes to the beach.
We saw a lot of wildflowers here in April, from poppies to buttercups, irises and lupines. We spotted a bobcat on the drive and a rabbit on the trail. The path got a little busy with hikers, but it was a peaceful location, so far out, with only cows and one ranch visible from the trail. The weather was really beautiful and it got quite warm, though a breeze picked up on our walk back.
I would recommend this hike to birders or maybe tourists, for whom the drive out would be interesting. It’s a long way to get there for a short hike, and the road is patchy and narrow near Inverness, with bikers slowing down traffic. So for hikers, I’d definitely say there are better choices at Point Reyes.
The trail is accessible part of the way, but it narrows after crossing a bridge and it’s not possible to reach the beach by wheelchair.
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