Abbotts Lagoon

Abbotts Lagoon is a comparatively short and flat hike that features a black-water lagoon, sand dunes, and a beach, and is one of the best places in Point Reyes for birdwatching.

Park at the Abbotts Lagoon trailhead. Plan to arrive earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon to find a parking spot; the trailhead can get quite busy. There’s a bathroom and an information sign at the trailhead.

Head down the Abbotts Lagoon Trail (it’s the only trail starting at this trailhead) and follow it until you reach a bridge, roughly 1.2 mile. Along the way, you will hike past a pond where red-winged blackbirds like to hang out, a bench, and a few information signs about snowy plowers and dune restoration projects.

Cross the bridge. You can stay on the trail and follow it through the dunes until it leads you to the beach, or you can hike along the lagoon. Either way, the beach is about 1.5 mile from the trailhead. You can find the pacific sand crab on the beach, along with gulls, snowy plovers, and other birds.

During specific times of the year, parts of the beach might be closed off to protect snowy plower chicks during nesting season. Please keep in mind that dogs aren’t allowed in Abbotts Lagoon, as they tend to disturb wildlife, hunt down snowy plower chicks and other birds, and disturb the fragile environment. There are many other places on Point Reyes where your four-legged friend can go.

As this is an out-and-back hike, simply retrace your steps back to the trailhead when you’re ready to return.