76. Sky Trailhead in Pt Reyes Station to Secret Beach

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Sky Trail to Sculptured Beach - 10.7 Miles Round-Trip

Sculptured Beach is located 5.35 miles from Sky Trailhead in Point Reyes National Seashore. While easily reached from Limantour Beach via the Coast Trail, visitors will enjoy this more challenging and ecologically diverse route over Inverness Ridge via the Sky and Woodward Trails.

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Sculptured Beach is considered one of Point Reyes' best places to explore the Intertidal Zone, a coastal area exposed to air at low tide and submerged at high tide.

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Sub-regions and micro-habitats within support specially adapted marine organisms such as anemones, barnacles, sea stars, urchins, mussels, snails, sea cucumbers, sponges and kelp.

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While Sculptured Beach is relatively small, favorable tides make it possible to explore a number of coves, tunnels, arches and stacks leading to Secret Beach:

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The Sky Trail climbs steeply on packed gravel to connections for the Fire Lane Trail (.85 miles : 1,065') and Horse Trail (.9 miles : 1,047'). Travel eases through Sky Camp (1.4 miles : 1,040'), where primitive restrooms and water are available.

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The trail rises past Sky Camp under a tall canopy to the Wittenberg Summit Trail - Meadows Trail split - the trail's highest point (1.95 miles : 1,115').

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This diverting stretch weaves through uniform pine and a cluttered bramble understory to the Woodward Trail split in the center of a small meadow (2.75 miles : 965').

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The Woodward Trail drops steeply down west-facing slopes more evidently affected by the 1995 Vision Fire. Despite extensive damage the fire was somewhat fickle, leaving many trees untouched.

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The understory, now facing limited competition from a dismantled canopy, is rife with grasses, wildflowers, and saplings. Look for wildlife - including re-introduced Tule Elk - in these replenished clearings.

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Woodward Trail gradually transitions from the burn area to less-affected coastal chaparral and scrub (4.1 miles : 510'). It winds steeply down open hillsides to the Coast Trail junction (4.65 miles : 155'). Turn left (south) on the Coast Trail.

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The Coast Trail runs level to the Sculptured Beach access trail (5.15 miles : 160'); anticipate this split, as the sign is set just a bit off trail and easy to miss. The short spur drops steeply through tangled vegetation to Sculptured Beach (5.35 miles).

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A protruding, scalable rock formation at the south end of Sculptured Beach is riddled with tide pools and frames a turbulent cove. Drop into the cove to explore a secluded beach and trio of sea tunnels. At low tide you can continue south around another outcrop to Secret Beach.

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Secret Beach is one of the Park's least accessible beaches, known for grottos, tunnels, and sea stacks. Do not attempt Secret Beach without full understanding of the tide tables, as it's quite possible to become stranded or endangered by heavy surf. Consult a Ranger for specific travel details and tide table information.

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