The hike to Tomales Point's holds a cherished place in my heart: amidst the early and unknown throes of the pandemic, it was the first place I ventured outside after months of confinement. In June 2020, after a stretch of only getting groceries delivered and taking short city walks, I finally agreed to form a small "pandemic pod" and explore beyond my neighborhood once more.
That spring was extraordinary: journalists spoke of a super bloom taking hold of Tomales Point, where wildflowers and bright dots of color had carpeted the typically arid landscape. I was eager to see the hype. We drove out on the bumpy dirt road, past historic ranches still in operation, to a small parking lot lined with cypress trees.
At almost 10 miles roundtrip and 1,200 feet of elevation gain, the hike is not difficult per se, but a bit exhausting as it winds sometimes endlessly through the terrain. Beginning on a flat trail that follows the contours of the coast line, the water laps hundreds of feet below. Running opposite the water is the Tule Elk Reserve and it's common to spot some elk as they wander.
Then, several miles in, everything changes: suddenly there is no trail at all, but becomes perhaps more of a vibe than a specific direction. It's a choose-your-own-adventure through thick and sometimes prickly shrubbery (wear long pants!). In the spring, these bush lupine are blanketed with flowers.
Further along the trail, the peninsula truly narrows into the point. It happens slowly at first: you feel the wind pick up and the ocean breeze becomes a whip against your face. You yell to be heard and yet you hear nothing from others. The ocean is far below you, endlessly stretching into the distance. And then it suddenly hits you: water has surrounded you on both sides, and what remains is only a winding path between ashy rocks leading down to the ocean's edge.
Thus, huddled with a few others in a space only a few square meters in size, the final destination: Tomales Point itself. In terms of a hike that brings you somewhere, this trail truly delivers— there is simply nothing left, no further peak to climb, no next viewpoint to see. Just an endless expanse of ocean on nearly every side, wisps of clouds raked across an unbroken blue sky, and rocks where you can sit and appreciate a walk well done.
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