Alamere Falls

Alamere Falls is one of only two tidefall waterfalls in California, where a 40-foot cascade plunges directly off a coastal bluff onto Wildcat Beach in Point Reyes National Seashore. The sight of freshwater pouring over the cliff edge onto the sand and into the crashing Pacific surf is utterly unique and unforgettable. There are only about 34 tidefalls in the entire world, making this a genuinely rare natural phenomenon. The remote location and long approach add to the sense of discovery when the falls finally come into view.

The sanctioned route to Alamere Falls is a 13-mile round trip from the Palomarin Trailhead, following the Coast Trail through the Phillip Burton Wilderness. The trail passes Bass Lake and two smaller lakes through rolling coastal hills before descending to Wildcat Campground and then continuing along the beach to the falls. The terrain is relatively gentle but the distance is significant. Do not take the unsanctioned 'shortcut' trails that many websites promote — they cross crumbling cliff edges and result in near-weekly search and rescue operations.

Check tide charts before your visit, as the beach section near the falls may be impassable at high tide or during high surf. The best time to visit is spring when the creek feeding the falls runs strong. The falls flow year-round but diminish significantly in late summer and fall. This is a full-day commitment, so bring plenty of food and water. The Palomarin parking lot fills quickly on weekends.