PALOMARIN (2,021 acres) - Beginning in the Philip Burton Wilderness Area near Double Point, this unit follows the coastline to the southeast to the U.S. Coast Guard property, then runs inland on the northeast side of Mesa Road. This unit supports primarily mixed coastal scrub and grasslands. The area flanking the Palomarin trailhead is characterized by an exceptional diversity of nonnative plants, including eucalyptus, French broom, cape-ivy (Delairea odorata), pittosporum (Pittosporum oblongata), periwinkle (Vinca major), Harding grass (Phalaris aquaticus), kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum), oblong spurge (Euphorbia oblongata), and others. Three plant species of management concern are located in the Palomarin FMU.
Did You Know?
Northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) began breeding at Point Reyes in 1981 after being absent for over 150 years. The population breeds at terrestrial haul out sites at Point Reyes Headland, one of only eleven mainland breeding areas for northern elephant seals in the world.