Alamere Falls

Alamere Falls is a coastal waterfall in Point Reyes National Seashore, north of San Francisco, where fresh water drops directly into the ocean. The cascade tumbles roughly 12 meters (40 feet) over a vertical schist cliff and sends a fine mist drifting across the rocky ledges and sandy beach below.

The coastline around the present waterfall was protected as a national seashore in 1962, after lawmakers wanted to halt rapid development in the region. Before that designation, the Coast Miwok and other groups used the surrounding land for hunting, fishing, and gathering for centuries.

The name Alamere comes from a 19th-century land grant, and today visitors often walk in small groups along the narrow beach below the cascade. Many linger for a while to watch the tidal changes or feel the cool water as it strikes the sand directly.

The trail from Palomarin trailhead covers about 21 kilometers (13 miles) round trip over unpaved paths that can become slippery after rain. Sturdy shoes and plenty of drinking water are necessary, as there is little shade or facilities along the route.

Alamere Creek forms three smaller cascades upstream before the water reaches the main cliff. This configuration makes the waterfall one of only two in California that drop directly from land into the ocean without crossing a beach first.

Location: Marin County

GPS coordinates: 37.95361,-122.78333

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:23