Laguna-Coast Loop

Trail length: 4.6 miles loop (Laguna 0.8 miles, Fire Lane 1.0 mile, Coast Trail 2.8 miles)
Time: 2 hours at a leisurely pace
Terrain: coastal scrub
Restroom? No
Parking: Yes, at the Laguna Trailhead and along the road near the hostel
Kid friendly? Yes
Bikes are allowed on the Coast Trail (but not the Laguna or Fire Lane)
Dates visited: 10/16/16, 6/21/20, 2/13/21
Favorite plants on this trail: Twinberry Honeysuckle (Lonicera involucrate), Alder trees
Favorite spots:

  1. The first peek of the ocean as you descend on the Laguna-Fire Lane Trail is wonderful.

  2. Alder trees offer shade and make for a majestic promenade along the Coast trail between Limantour beach and the hostel.

  3. The swampy area of the Coast Trail (not far from the alders) is a great place to look for frogs and dragonflies.

This loop is one of my favorite short hikes in Point Reyes. Begin at the Laguna trailhead. Hike 0.8 miles on the Laguna trail. The trail merges with the Fire Lane trail (head toward Coast Camp, not the Sky Trail) and continue for another mile to the Coast trail. The Coast trail makes an arc along the ocean and then veers inland to the road near the hostel. Make a right and walk a short way on the road to the Laguna trailhead parking lot.

Detour: Visit the alluring hillside rocks near Coast Camp

Start at the Laguna Trailhead

  1. Hike 0.8 miles on the Laguna Trail to the Fire Lane Trail.

  2. Continue on the Fire Lane 1.0 mile to Coast Trail. Go left toward Coast Camp.

  3. Hike to Coast Camp and continue up the hill following the Coast Trail until you come to a barely-noticeable narrow dirt path on the left heading up the hill (~15 minutes). Hike a few minutes to the rocks. Enjoy exploring.

  4. Retrace your path back to the Coast Trail and continue along the ocean 2.8 miles back to the paved road.

  5. Walk 0.2 miles back to the Laguna Trailhead parking lot (past the Point Reyes Hostel).

Read about the Coast Trail hillside rocks

Volunteer Opportunity: PRNSA Field Institute

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The Point Reyes National Seashore Association needs assistants for their Field Institute classes. You will spend a day training with PRNSA staff, then a couple of times a year you'll select the classes you'd like to help with. Shortly afterwards, you'll receive a confirmation of which ones you've been assigned. As a facilitator, you get to take the class for free. Normally, two facilitators help with every class. Duties include signing in class participants, making coffee (for indoor classes), talking briefly about PRNSA, and generally helping out as needed. I've been volunteering since 2017. It's a great experience to work with other facilitators and get to know the amazing field institute instructors.