Chimney Rock - Wild Flowers to Wild Animals

The season of growth and renewal is upon us. From cows to Cow Parsnip, from seals to Seaside Daisies, a trip to Chimney Rock in Point Reyes in the spring always rewards those who make the journey.

The main reason for our trip to Chimney Rock was to see the amazing wild flower diversity that is unmatched anywhere else in Marin County. The California Native Plant Society has over 200 different species listed on its website. In most cases these are not fields of flowers, but the intermixing of the different species. It is a sight to see.

We were lucky enough to have Katie Martin, coauthor of Hiking Marin and native plant expert, join us for the hike. She pointed out some of the more unique flowers like Pussy Ears, Coast Rock Cress, and Yellow Paint Brush. The more dominant flowers we saw were Iris, Tidy Tips and Lupine. Weather conditions can be harsh in the area, with strong winds. These conditions keep plants low to the ground, for instance native lilacs (Ceanothus sp.) that grow into large shrubs elsewhere are prostrate here and creep across the ground sending up clusters of small blue flowers between the grasses.

Located at the southern tip of the head of Point Reyes, Chimney Rock can be a bit of a long drive. However, the countryside is very enjoyable with rolling grasslands and low shrubs. Trees are found at the historic dairies that occupy much of Point Reyes. Calves can be seen with their mothers, and some appear to be only days old.

When you get close to the end of the road be sure to make a left turn off the main road. This left leads to the Chimney Rock parking area. The hike out to the point is more of a stroll and easy enough for young kids. There are no trees, except at the parking area, thus no shelter from the sun or wind. Be prepared with sunscreen, hats, and windbreakers.

The other exciting attraction in the area is a large herd of Elephant Seals that haul out on the beach at the western end of Drakes Bay. With over 200 seals just minutes from the parking area, it is a must see. Lots of babies, mothers and a few large males fighting over space and females, fill all the available beach. Other wildlife we saw on our trip were a variety of shore birds and raptors feeding on the bluffs and around the water. Owls roost in the cypress trees around the buildings near the parking area. We also got a rare treat on our trip and saw a Long Tailed Weasel run out on the path. A small slender animal with beautiful reddish fur and a white mask around the eyes makes it look like a little bandit.

Be sure to bring binoculars for viewing both the seals and the wild flowers. If you look through your binoculars backwards and place the eyepiece up close to the flowers they work as a microscope. Excellent for keying out flowers.

The area is very popular and busy. On weekends it is sometimes not possible to drive to the parking area and the park runs shuttles from an overflow parking area, so be prepared and bring a backpack for your stuff.

See the book "Hiking Marin: 141 Great Hikes in Marin County" for more details. Click here to go the Marin Trails website, where you can find more information about the book.