Tracking Tule Elk on Tomales Point

Written By Derek Halliwell

Few Bay Area hikes give you front‑row seats to a wild elk herd, sweeping coastal views, and a soft‑serve reward all in one afternoon. Tomales Point Trail in Point Reyes National Seashore does if you time it right and know where to look.

TL;DR

  • Start the hike around 2 p.m. so you reach prime elk meadows during golden hour.

  • Pit‑stop at Station House Café in Point Reyes Station (the best bathroom option).

  • Elk pattern: graze on the east slopes earlier, drift westward near sunset.

  • Best turnaround: Lower Pierce Point Ranch Pond (6 mi round‑trip); beyond that it’s sandy with fewer elk.

  • Wear long pants/sleeves—ticks love this grass.

  • Seasonal highlights: spring wildflowers & calves, summer fog waterfalls, fall elk rut, winter whale‑watching.

  • Reward: buffalo‑milk soft‑serve at Palace Market after the hike.

Pit Stop in Point Reyes Station

The village of Point Reyes Station is my traditional first stop. Public restrooms here are quirky and scarce, so duck into the Station House Café. Grab a coffee or scone and use their facilities before you drive the final 25 minutes to the trailhead at Pierce Point Ranch.

Why Start at 2 p.m.?

Two reasons:

  1. Golden‑hour elk viewing. Start hiking around 2:00 p.m. and you’ll reach the prime elk meadows just as the late‑day light turns the animals and grasslands honey‑gold.

  2. Wind & fog window. Morning fog often clings to the peninsula; afternoons tend to clear, giving you big Pacific views.

Trail at a Glance

  • Distance: 9.5 mi out‑and‑back (I turn around at Lower Pierce Point Ranch Pond for a 6‑mi option)

  • Elevation Gain: ~1,100 ft

  • Ticks? Yes—wear long pants & sleeves if you go off‑trail

 

Elk movement patterns: The formal trail hugs the left (western) spine of the peninsula. Elk graze the east‑facing slopes earlier in the day, then drift west as sunset nears. To spot them, step carefully onto the grassy knolls east of the path and scan with binoculars.

Tule Elk 101

  • Native to California: Tule elk exist nowhere else on Earth.

  • History of rescue: By the 1870s only about 20 elk survived; today ~4,000 roam the state, with around 315 at Tomales Point.

  • Size & looks: Bulls weigh 450‑550 lb—smaller than Rocky Mountain cousins. Their antlers sweep backwards in a “fiddle” shape.

Bulls grazing near Lower Pierce Point Ranch

Season Highlights

  • Late Winter: Bulls drop antlers; green hills glow after rains.

  • Spring (Apr–May): Hillsides fill with wildflowers—while new velvet antlers sprout; cow elk birth spotted calves. Watch for wobbly youngsters near the pond.

  • Summer (Jun–Jul): Herds lounge in fog‑cooled grass; waterholes draw raptors and coyotes.

  • Fall (Aug–Oct): Rut season. Bulls bugle and spar—dramatic photography with dry golden grass backdrops.

  • Early Winter (Nov–Jan): Lush green returns; migrating gray whales can be seen offshore on clear days.

Foraging mothers and calves with Bird Rock in the background

Ideal Route

Pierce Point Ranch → Lower Pierce Point Ranch Pond (3 mi in): Follow the well‑signed track north. Veer east whenever a faint side path crests an open slope.

  1. Windy Gap & Coastline View (~1 mi in): The trail dips through Windy Gap, a saddle that funnels ocean breezes and frames a breathtaking panorama—Pacific breakers pounding the western cliffs, calm Tomales Bay to the east, and (on clear days) the Farallones on the horizon. Pause here for photos and to feel the salt‑spray wind before continuing north.

  2. High‑Point Elk Scan (~2 mi in): Climb one of the grassy knolls just east of the trail. From these hills you can sweep the entire eastern side of the peninsula—elk often bed down in folds invisible from the main path.

  3. Elk & Scenic Pause (3–4 p.m.): Reach the rolling meadows near the pond. Hog Island shimmers in Tomales Bay behind you while elk begin filtering westward across the trail.

  4. Turn‑around at the Pond (~6 mi round‑trip): I usually snack here and head back. Beyond this point the footing turns sandy and elk sightings taper off.

  5. Golden‑Hour Stroll Back: As the sun drops, elk silhouettes pop against the Pacific. Keep scanning grasslands for red‑tailed hawks, coyotes, and long‑tailed weasels.

Post‑Hike Reward

Back in Point Reyes Station, head straight to Palace Market for their legendary buffalo‑milk soft‑serve. I recommend the vanilla‑chocolate swirl.

 
 
Derek Halliwell