North Bay - Travel Information

Rhiannon's upcoming residential intensive will be held in the North Bay.  Here is some additional information we thought would be helpful. This retreat will be held in a private home; exact location given upon registration. Feb 27 - March 2, 2018 | Register now
Bay area workshops overview

Hikes
There's no shortage of wonderful hikes nearby. If the weather is cooperating, at the very North portion of the park, the hike out to the end of Pierce Point through the Elk Reserve is amazing. On the other hand, it can be equally un-fun if it's too windy or foggy, since it's very exposed to the open ocean and weather. While you're up there, from the same parking lot at Pierce Point, you should explore McClure's Beach, a short walk down to some cool tide pools (try to time it on a lower tide, be very careful if there's a big swell in the water).
Trail info  pdf map

From October to March is whale and elephant seal season. You can often see whales from the beach, or from the lighthouse or Chimney Rock. The elephant seals can be seen from the overlook on the cliffs from the Chimney Rock parking lot (follow the trail at the bottom of the parking lot back toward the bay). The walk out to the point at Chimney Rock is a great place for a picnic, with some of the best views anywhere in the park. NOTE: On Weekends Dec through March, you are not allowed to drive to the Lighthouse/Chimney Rock. You have to take a shuttle from the Drakes Beach parking lot ($7 per person).

For a good strenuous hike with great views and varying ecosystems, do a loop starting at Limantour Beach or up at the SkyView or BayView parking lots on Limantour Rd. Go down the Muddy Hollow Trail, walk along Limantour Beach and back up the Laguna Trail, or vice-versa. There's several "loop" options from either of those spots, but you'll basically be going from sea level to 1,000' up on the ridge, and back (or vice-versa), with some amazing views and very few people, if any, on most of the trails. IF the marine layer is coming in heavy, just flip over to the Bear Valley Visitors Center and do one of the hikes from there. It’s always sunny over there, and often bigger crowds on the weekends.Limantour Beach is the perfect place for that long walk on the beach, and is a bit more sheltered than the West portion of the park, so the weather is typically milder. 

The Bear Valley Visitors Center is the terminus for many of the trails in the park.Within a half mile of the Visitor’s Center are some fun and easy walks with plenty to see, like the park horse stables, Kule Loklo, a re-created traditional native American village, and the Earthquake Trail which crosses the San Andreas Fault.


Additional Links - Tours, Art, Dining, and more

Massage - Laura King: (415) 209-8446  Melissa Claire: artkitty@gmail.com or (415) 663-8006
Sir and Star - Fine dining
West Marin Food and Farm Tours - Oyster farms, wineries, a meadery, local organic farms, restaurants, bakeries, artisanal cheese-makers, and beautiful scenery.
Point Reyes Safaris - Hike, explore, and learn about the local flora and fauna as you “hunt” for that epic photo for you to put up on your wall.
Ink.Paper.Plate - a local artist studio/gallery/print shop 
Inverness Park Market  - Wine, cheese, deli, picnic supplies and more
Heidrun Meadery - Tours and mead tastings
 


Gas Stations
There are no gas stations out here, other than the one in Point Reyes Station (which is typically $1 per gallon higher), so fuel up soon after you get off the 101. Fairfax has the last gas stations, so keep an eye on that fuel gauge! Your GPS may tell you to take Lucas Valley Rd., which is the route most locals take, but be aware that there are NO services at all from the 101 all the way to Point Reyes Station.

Accommodations

Singers will stay together in lovely private homes, surrounded by the natural beauty of the area.