ALERT! This hike is no longer possible, following coastal erosion in January 2023. You can hike as far as Coastal Trail but Kelham Beach is not accessible and any attempt to reach the beach is considered dangerous.
Location: Point Reyes National Seashore
Length: 9.6 miles
Difficulty: easy
Shade: partially shaded
Parking: Bear Valley Visitor Center (free)
Public Transportation: none
WC: toilets at Bear Valley Visitor Center and some at Divide Meadow about 1.6 miles into the hike
Dogs: not allowed on trails
Hiked: May 2022
Trail Route & Notes
Follow Bear Valley Trail for about 4 miles until you reach Coast Trail. Go right on Coast Trail, and follow that until the large eucalyptus tree. Kelham Beach Trail is now closed, following coastal erosion, and the beach is not accessible. But you can admire the views of the ocean from the eucalyptus tree, where you might be able to see the trail down to the beach. Head back the same way, on Coastal then Bear Valley Trail.
I’m so grateful that I managed to squeeze this hike in before the path down to Kelham Beach eroded. The beach was beautiful, with no one in sight (it was morning), a little waterfall and stream crossing the sand. There was a log that we sat on while we had a snack. The hike itself is easy but long, and Bear Valley Trail changes scenery quite rapidly and is always a favorite.
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