Alamere Falls

This excursion requires a bit of planning. First, the trail most people use to get there is neither maintained nor recommended by the park service. You need to plan for the extra time it takes to hike another 2 miles up to Wildcat Beach and then back down to the falls along the shoreline. You’ll also want to be aware of what the tides are doing. Use tide predictions to get yourself to the falls near low tide.

I printed out a map and marked it with the times of day I hoped to reach certain points along the trail (including a good time to be at the falls). I started early in the morning and had a pleasant drive along Highway 1, through Stinson Beach and around Bolinas Lagoon. The morning was cool and the soft, indirect light gave the lagoon a silvery presence.

There were a few other groups when I reached the trailhead parking lot, but soon enough I was on my own once past the eucalyptus grove (just a quarter mile in). I kept a quick pace, drawn forward by the sound of the ocean, until the path led into the open at the cliffside. The first steep climb was enough to make me peel off my fleece. It continued through a rocky pass that almost reminded me of an alpine setting before leading into the forest. At 2.8 miles I caught a glimpse of Bass Lake. I took a break and kept an eye out for wildlife. Just some distant birds on the water. Pelican Lake provided another scenic breather – the hills cradle it above sea level while providing a view of the ocean just beyond.

There’s a decision to make near the 4.2 mile mark. You can stay on the coast trail or bear to the left (as I did) to get on Ocean Lake Trail. Be prepared for the path to be totally exposed with no shade. Ocean Lake itself was little more than a pond obscured by dry reeds. About a half mile down Ocean Lake Trail there’s an arduous climb, but with a reward at the top – a bench and incredible views of the coast, north and south.

This seemed like a great picnic spot, so I took the opportunity to rest my legs and eat the lunch I’d packed. From here, I could see how the path descended to Wildcat Beach, and I could even make out the white, misty ribbon of Alamere Falls to the south, which was heartening as I’d been unsure whether there would be any water flowing. I had this viewpoint completely to myself. Once I reached Wildcat Beach, I paused at the lagoon to take some photos. The only sounds were the ocean, birds, and occasionally, rocks and pebbles sliding off the cliffs.

As part of my research, I learned that there might be another waterfall about a mile to the north. Appropriately-named Phantom Falls would probably be bone dry thanks to the time of year and the drought, but I was willing to try it anyway. Indeed, there was nothing to see in the way of flowing water, but I enjoyed the cliff formations immensely. The compacted layers created amazing shapes and arches.

I finally reached Alamere Falls 2-ish miles later. It spilled over the cliff on a bed of moss, with the outflow carving a smooth arch into the sand of the beach that reached to the waterline. I immediately set up for photos (tripod, polarizer, and ND filter) and spent a good amount of time getting different angles. At one point the tide swamped my boots, which would make for an uncomfortable hike back, so I made sure to sit by the falls for about a half hour, enjoying the scene and resting.

All that remained was the rest of the trail in reverse! For the most part I concentrated on getting back to the car, pausing again at Pelican Lake to take photos in the afternoon light.

The entire hike was downright beautiful, even though it was challenging at times. I’d never seen a beach waterfall before – Alamere Falls makes a great impression.