Home | Calendar | The Great Drake Hike

The Great Drake Hike

People walking on Drakes Beach
August 16, 2025 - 10:30 am to 1:30 pm
Ken Patrick Visitor Center
Drake Beach Rd
Point Reyes Station, CA 94956

This hike takes place at Drakes Beach in Point Reyes, and is led by Drakes Navigator's Guild.

  • Take a hike to visit the estuary and bay along the southern coast of Point Reyes peninsula, the landfall of Francis Drake's Golden Hind in 1579. 

  • The earliest written historic site in northern California – the landing place of Francis Drake in 1579.

  • Many historic “firsts” occurred here. These include the first meetings between Englishmen and Native Americans, the first Protestant service in the future USA, and the application of “New England” to the land, years before Plymouth, Roanoke or Jamestown.

  • The site is nearly unchanged in four and one-half centuries, but few people get to the location.

  • The hike starts with a 30 to 40 minute talk about the history and how Drake got to California.

  • Then, it’s a 1-1/2 mile walk down a hard-packed beach to the site. Participants can return at their own pace.

Event website

August

S M T W T F S
 
 
 
 
 
1
 
2
 
3
 
4
 
5
 
6
 
7
 
8
 
9
 
10
 
11
 
12
 
13
 
14
 
15
 
16
 
17
 
18
 
19
 
20
 
21
 
22
 
23
 
24
 
25
 
26
 
27
 
28
 
29
 
30
 
31