Giacomini Wetlands

This is a year-round birding spot though migration (March-May & August-October) and winter are more active and diverse.  As these wetlands are the upper end of Tomales Bay, the rising and falling tides will result in water birds moving around.  The east side of the wetlands are particularly good places to watch waterfowl (winter month especially for American and Eurasian Wigeon, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveller, Green-winged Teal and Mallard) and shorebird (Greater Yellowlegs, Western & Least Sandpipers, Dunlin, Black-bellied & Semiplamated Plovers, Killdeer, dowitchers, and small numbers of Marbled Godwit, and Long-billed Curlew, rarer are Pectoral Sandpiper, Ruff, etc.) 1-2 hours before and after high tide.  The upper (southern) end of the site includes open fields, small wet areas in winter and riparian (willow) habitat and can be productive year round (raptors, Savannah, Song, Swamp (rare), White- and Golden-crowned Sparrows, warblers, vireos, and many other songbirds.  One of California's first records of Brown Shrike was found in the fields just north of White House Pool.  

During the winter months Yellow Rails join Black and Virginia Rails in the wetlands though rarely seen except during tide events when the fall prey to Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets.

Either bicycle or car is the best way to get to the various trailheads or view points around the wetlands.

This site is best reached by car though there is a bus that reaches Point Reyes Station and Inverness Park run by Marin Transit.  

There are several access points to visit the Giacomini Wetlands.  All entry points are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year with no fee.  

From downtown Point Reyes Station, there is a trail at the corner of 3rd and C Streets that provides access to the upper end of the area which includes portions of Lagunitas Creek and associated riparian vegetation, open grassland and shrublands that transition into wetlands.  A good overview is available from the trail that leads to the obvious White Barn. 

From downtown Point Reyes Station, there is a trail along the east side of the wetlands accessible off Mesa Road about 1/4 north of Hwy 1 (gas station on the corner) take a left into a gravel lot just before Mesa Road goes uphill.  Once on the gravel lot, follow the trail past the gate.  The wetlands will be on your left, follow the trail till the path becomes inaccessible due to overgrown vegetation.

The west side of the wetlands are reached by following Hwy 1 south across the Lagunitas Creek bridge and turning west (right) on Sir Francis Drake.  This route will cross the bottom end of Tomales Bay and then curves north along the west side of the Giacomini wetlands.  An excellent stop is White House Pool with a parking area surrounded by riparian forest (one of California's first Brown Shrike records was found just across Lagunitas Creek from the White House Pool parking area).  

Before reaching Inverness Park on Sir Francis Drake Drive at 38.065499, -122.821683, there is an rough trail that enters the wetlands on the west side.

In addition, there are a number of good overlooks along Sir Francis Drake Drive north of Inverness Park with pulloffs that make viewing easier.  

The San Andreas Fault dividing the Pacific and North American plates runs north/south through Tomales Bay.  The wetlands sit at the heart of a geologically active area.  The vistas are spectacular  with the Inverness Ridge creating a western boundary.  

Point Reyes Station is a very popular tourist destination, particularly on weekends and has an excellent grocery store, gas station, electric car chargers, bakeries, cafes with excellent coffee, a good book store with a natural history section (guides, maps, etc.).  There are public rest rooms in Point Reyes Station.  Inverness Park has a small well stocked market with great to-go sandwiches for a day in the field.  There are lots of accommodations mostly small inns, houses and a couple of motels.  As this is a very popular destination, it is advisable to book ahead.  The Giacomini wetlands only have informal or rough trails.