Seasonal Highlights in Point Reyes

January

• Shorebirds and waterfowl

• Coho Salmon spawning

• Northern Elephant Seal pupping & breeding

• Pacific Gray Whale southern migration (peaks in mid-January)

February

• Steelhead Trout spawning

• Northern Elephant Seal pupping & breeding

• Humpback Whale southern migration

March

• Bird migration

• Snowy Plover breeding

• Harbor Seal pupping

• Northern Elephant Seal pupping & breeding

• Pacific Gray Whale northern migration (peaks in mid-March)

• Humpback Whale southern migration

April

• Peak spring wildflower blooms

• Bird migration

• Snowy Plover breeding

• Harbor Seal pupping

• Pacific Gray Whale northern migration (cows and calves are close to the shore in late April)

May

• Peak spring wildflower blooms

• Bird migration

• Snowy Plover breeding

• Harbor Seal pupping

• California Sea Lion

• Northern or Steller Sea Lion

• Pacific Gray Whale northern migration (cows and calves are close to the shore in early May)

June

• Snowy Plover breeding

• Harbor Seal pupping

• California Sea Lion

• Northern or Steller Sea Lion

• Pacific Gray Whale northern migration

July

• Snowy Plover breeding

• Tule Elk rut

• California Sea Lion

• Northern or Steller Sea Lion

• Pacific Gray Whale northern migration

August

• Bird migration

• Shorebirds and waterfowl

• Snowy Plover breeding

• Tule Elk rut

• Northern or Steller Sea Lion

September

• Bird migration

• Shorebirds and waterfowl

• Snowy Plover breeding

• Tule Elk rut

• Northern Elephant Seal juveniles

October

• Bird migration

• Shorebirds and waterfowl

• Tule Elk rut

• Northern Elephant Seal juveniles

November

• Bird migration

• Shorebirds and waterfowl

• Northern Elephant Seal juveniles

• Humpback Whale southern migration

December

• Bird migration

• Shorebirds and waterfowl

• Coho Salmon spawning

• Northern Elephant Seal pupping & breeding

• Pacific Gray Whale southern migration

• Humpback Whale southern migration

Best places to view

• Whales: Point Reyes Headlands, including the Point Reyes Lighthouse, Chimney Rock and along the Coast and Tomales Point trails.  

• Northern Elephant Seals:  Elephant Seal Overlook near Chimney Rock.

• Northern or Steller Sea Lion: Rocky outcroppings near the Point Reyes Lighthouse, Sea Lion Overlook and Chimney Rock. 

• Harbor seals: The best viewing sites are Sunset Beach, Drake's Estero, Bolinas Lagoon and by kayak along Tomales Bay.  Avoid areas closed to visitors during the breeding season (March 1 - June 30) including areas in Drakes Estero and on Tomales Bay.  

• Salmon: Lagunitas Creek at Leo T Cronin Fish Viewing area, Camp Taylor & Devil’s Gulch in Samuel P. Taylor State Park. Get details

• Shorebirds and waterfowl: Abbotts Lagoon, Limantour Beach, Limantour Spit, Drakes Beach, other beaches and many areas below under “Birds”.

• Birds: Bear Valley, Giacomini Wetlands, Limantour, Bolinas Lagoon, Five Brooks Pond, Estero Trail, Lighthouse rocks and cliff areas. Get details

• Tule Elk: Tomales Point Trail, and on the slopes between Limantour Beach and Drakes Beach.

• Wildflowers: Abbotts Lagoon, Chimney Rock and Tomales Point Trail in springtime. Bolinas Ridge Trail in February/March. Bull Point Trail in summer.

Volunteer opportunities

Check out the Point Reyes National Seashore volunteer yearly calendar for all opportunities. These activities directly support popular wildlife at Point Reyes:

• Coho and Steelhead monitoring (year round)

• Winter wildlife docent (January to March/April)

• Harbor Seal monitoring (February to July)

• Snowy Plover docent (June to September)