On Alamere Creek within Point Reyes National Seashore, Alamere Falls drops 40 feet from a coastal bluff onto the sands of Wildcat Beach in Marin County, California. At high tide, the stream pours directly into the Pacific Ocean.
The falls
Alamere Creek spills over the bluff above Wildcat Beach in a curtain-shaped horsetail. Lidar data puts the drop at about 40 feet, matching park measurements of 40 feet; earlier surveys showed 50 feet. The creek tumbles over fragile shale cliffs, with upper cascades of 20 to 30 feet above the main drop.
Getting there
There is no official maintained trail directly to the falls. Established routes lead to Wildcat Campground, followed by a 1.1-mile walk south along Wildcat Beach at low tide. The shortest approach begins at the Palomarin Trailhead, a dirt and gravel lot with about 75 spaces at the end of Mesa Road near Bolinas: roughly 5.5 miles on the Coast Trail to Wildcat Campground, making a 13.2-mile round trip. From Bear Valley the round trip is 14.8 miles, and from Five Brooks, which climbs a 1,300-foot ridge on the Stewart Trail, 15.6 miles. Hikers should budget 6 to 8 hours for the trip through the Phillip Burton Wilderness.
There is no entrance or parking fee. Trailhead lots close from midnight to 6 a.m. except for permitted overnight campers. Palomarin has vault toilets and no drinking water; the Bear Valley Visitor Center provides both.
When to go
The hike draws heavy traffic: the Palomarin lot fills early on weekends and summer weekdays, and access may be restricted when lots are full. Summer brings dense coastal fog, winter heavy rain and spring strong wind; the clearest days tend to come in late September, October and early November. Check tide predictions before setting out. Beaches carry more sand in summer and fall, while in winter and spring waves can reach the bluffs even at low tide. If waves reach the cliff base, turn back.
On site
An unofficial shortcut path branches toward the falls. It is unmaintained, with crumbling cliffs, loose rock that gives way without warning, poison oak and ticks, alongside no cell service; emergency crews respond to multiple search-and-rescue operations there every year. Dogs are not allowed on any route to the falls, except service animals, and drones are prohibited.
Nearby
Upper Alamere Falls lies on the same creek about 0.1 mile upstream, and Phantom Falls is about 2 miles away. Stairstep Falls is about 6.5 miles off.
Distances are straight-line.