Wildcat Camp Gear Checklist
Wildcat Camp sits in a meadow just behind the beach at Point Reyes, 5.5 to 6.3 miles in depending on the trailhead. What sets it apart from the other hike-in camps is the one-mile walk south on the beach to Alamere Falls, which the park says to make at low tide, and the raccoons that the park and hikers both describe as aggressive. The people we read carried long pants for overgrown trail, warm and waterproof layers, a tide table, a stove, and a water-treatment backup, and they stored everything scented in the site's locker.
What shapes your gear on Wildcat Camp
- Three ways in
- From Bear Valley the park lists a 6.3-mile route using the Bear Valley, Glen and Stewart trails. From Palomarin it is 5.5 miles on the Coast Trail. From Five Brooks the shortest route is 5.7 miles and strenuous, climbing over Fir Top at 1,324 feet. Hikers' own counts at Palomarin range from 5.3 to 5.66 miles.
From Point Reyes National Seashore (National Park Service): Wildcat Campground, Lone Wanderer and Avid Backpackers
- Parking at Palomarin
- On weekends all year and many summer weekdays, the Palomarin lot fills early in the day and the park can close the area to more entry for hours. Arrive early or go midweek.
From Point Reyes National Seashore (National Park Service): Wildcat Campground and The Outbound
- Walking to Alamere Falls
- The falls are 1.0 mile south of camp. The park's route is down the Stewart Trail to the sand, then south along Wildcat Beach, timed for a low tide. All Point Reyes beaches can flood at high tide, and sneaker waves or high surf can flood them at lower tides too.
From Point Reyes National Seashore (National Park Service): Wildcat Campground, Point Reyes National Seashore (National Park Service): Camping and The Outbound
- How sites are released
- Sites 5 and 7 and group sites 1, 2 and 3 are released on Recreation.gov three months ahead. Sites 4, 6 and 8 are released 14 days ahead. The park lists the regular sites as one to six people, while a trail listing counts three four-person and two six-person sites, so the park's numbers are the ones to follow.
From Point Reyes National Seashore (National Park Service): Wildcat Campground and The Outbound
- Where the camp sits
- The sites are in a meadow behind the dunes, and the surf is audible all night. The last mile of the hike in is a descent to the beach. One camper in site 6 called its ocean view spectacular, and another suggested sites 5, 6 or 7 for privacy because 4A and 4B sit close together.
From She Explores, Lone Wanderer and Avid Backpackers
- The weather the campers got
- A May 2017 camper met heavy wind and rain overnight. A February 2015 trip had a strong flow over Alamere Falls after recent rain, and the falls were crowded. The next morning was clear enough to see Drakes Bay and, on a very clear day, the Farallon Islands.
From Lone Wanderer and 50hikes2015
What the agency requires on Wildcat Camp
A gas stove or canned heat
Cooking at Coast, Glen, Sky and Wildcat must be on a gas stove or canned heat. The park bans wood and charcoal fires inside these hike-in camps. Small driftwood fires on sandy beaches need a permit.
From Point Reyes National Seashore (National Park Service): Camping
All food and scented items in the site's locker
Store food and scented items in the food storage locker at your site. Do not leave them outside it or in your tent. The park calls raccoons, foxes and skunks plentiful and aggressive, and says black bears have been in Marin County since 2021. Keep the locker door closed.
From Point Reyes National Seashore (National Park Service): Camping
A way to treat tap water
Each of the four hike-in camps has water faucets, and the water is normally safe to drink. The park still says to bring a way to treat it in case the system fails and a sign goes up.
From Point Reyes National Seashore (National Park Service): Camping
No glass near the beach
Glass containers are prohibited within 50 feet of a beach, which includes the walk south to Alamere Falls.
From Point Reyes National Seashore (National Park Service): Camping
Group sites only for groups of seven or more
Wildcat group sites 1, 2 and 3 are for groups of 7 to 25. Parties of six or fewer cannot reserve a group site, and a larger party cannot split across several standard sites.
From Point Reyes National Seashore (National Park Service): Camping
What hikers carry on Wildcat Camp
Long pants and long sleeves
In spring and summer the plants along the trail reach head height and cover the path in places. The same advice appears for the unmaintained shortcut toward the falls, where poison oak and ticks are the worry.
From Lone Wanderer and The Outbound
Warm and waterproof layers in a dry bag
A May 2017 camper packed warm sleep clothes in a dry bag and credited them with staying comfortable through a night of heavy wind and rain. The camper also kept spare dry shirts in the car for the hike out.
From Lone Wanderer
A tide table for the beach walk
A trail guide for Alamere Falls says to check tide levels before leaving camp and to go while the tide is going out and low. The park says the same.
From The Outbound and Point Reyes National Seashore (National Park Service): Wildcat Campground
A water filter as a backup
An undated trip report says water came from a creek near camp and that a ranger recommended filling upstream of the bridge. Current park information says faucets are provided, so a filter is a backup, not a daily need.
From Avid Backpackers and Point Reyes National Seashore (National Park Service): Camping
A canister stove
Campers cooked instant noodles and oatmeal on one, and another trip report says to bring a stove because fires were not allowed. Park rules limit cooking to gas stoves and canned heat.
From Lone Wanderer, Avid Backpackers and Point Reyes National Seashore (National Park Service): Camping
A headlamp
A solo camper called it a must-have over a phone flashlight, and another group of campers carried one for the overnight at Wildcat.
From Lone Wanderer and She Explores
Enough water for the walk in
The Palomarin trailhead has pit toilets, trash cans and recycle bins but no water, so everyone brings their own for the first miles. A guide to the falls suggests 2 to 3 liters for a day hike.
From Avid Backpackers and The Outbound
Sun protection for the last mile
The route is mostly shaded from Bear Valley, but the last mile into camp and the beach walk to the falls are in full sun.
From 50hikes2015
6 people can go on one permit. Split this list between them so nobody carries two stoves.
Plan a trip hereWhat hikers regret or leave behind on Wildcat Camp
Leaving food out for the raccoons
A hiker who camped at site 4B says all sites have a locker and that the raccoons are really bad. They seemed to know when supplies were laid out, and they walk right up to people who let them.
From Avid Backpackers and Point Reyes National Seashore (National Park Service): Camping
Forgetting trekking poles and extra water bottles
A first-time solo camper listed both as mistakes after hiking 5.3 miles from Palomarin and back out the next day in sweat.
From Lone Wanderer
Taking the unmaintained shortcut to the falls
A trail listing describes a small path off the Coast Trail with brush, possible poison oak and two steep scrambles near the top of the falls. The park neither sanctions nor maintains it, and advises coming from camp along the beach.
From The Outbound and Point Reyes National Seashore (National Park Service): Wildcat Campground
Arriving at Palomarin late
The lot fills early and visitors arriving late in the morning or afternoon may be turned away.
From Point Reyes National Seashore (National Park Service): Wildcat Campground
Gear questions for Wildcat Camp
How far is Wildcat Camp from the trailheads?
The park lists 6.3 miles from Bear Valley, 5.5 miles from Palomarin on the Coast Trail, and 5.7 miles from Five Brooks over Fir Top. Hikers report 5.3 to 5.66 miles from Palomarin.
From Point Reyes National Seashore (National Park Service): Wildcat Campground, Lone Wanderer and Avid Backpackers
Can you walk from Wildcat Camp to Alamere Falls?
Yes. The falls are 1.0 mile south on Wildcat Beach, and the park says to go at low tide. Beaches can flood at high tide and sneaker waves can reach them at lower tides too. Glass containers are not allowed near the beach.
From Point Reyes National Seashore (National Park Service): Wildcat Campground and Point Reyes National Seashore (National Park Service): Camping
Do you need to use the food locker at Wildcat Camp?
Yes. The park requires food and scented items to go in the locker at your site, not in your tent. It describes raccoons as aggressive, and a hiker who camped at site 4B agrees.
From Point Reyes National Seashore (National Park Service): Camping and Avid Backpackers
Can you have a campfire at Wildcat Camp?
Not in the campground. The park bans wood and charcoal fires, and cooking must be on a gas stove or canned heat. The park allows small driftwood fires on sandy beaches with a permit.
From Point Reyes National Seashore (National Park Service): Camping
Sources
- Wildcat Campground · Point Reyes National Seashore (National Park Service) · Agency
- Camping · Point Reyes National Seashore (National Park Service) · Agency
- Backpacking trip to Wildcat Camp in Point Reyes National Seashore · Avid Backpackers · Trip report
- 2017-05-12 Point Reyes Backpacking · Lone Wanderer, Jian Lu · Blog
- Backpacking through Point Reyes Seashore to Alamere Falls · 50hikes2015, Jess Dykstra · Blog
- Alamere Falls via Palomarin Trailhead · The Outbound · Blog
- Backpacking Point Reyes: Overnight at Wildcat Camp · She Explores, Gale Straub · Blog