One of the main reasons people make the trip out to Point Reyes is to explore its beautiful scenery up close. Hikers fan out on the trails winding through the national seashore and surrounding state parks. Bicyclists, sometimes in big packs, ply the many small roads.

Many hiking trails, biking trails, and smallish roads run around the northern reaches of Point Reyes. To see the famed Tule elk, take the Tomales Point Trail (foot of Pierce Point Rd., 6 miles round-trip, difficult) right through the midst of the Tule Elk Reserve. For hikers who feel still feel energetic, 1.7 miles of additional unmaintained trail run all the way out to the tip of Tomales Point.

For a much quicker little walk from the same trailhead, stroll down to McClures Beach (0.8 miles round-trip, easy).

If you’re staying at the local hostel, you can roll out of your bunk and onto the Coastal Trail (5-mile loop, moderate). This biking/hiking path takes you right to Limantour Beach. Bring a picnic or some toys and take a break on the sands. For a nice walk back along a different route, walk the Fire Lane for a mile, then take the Laguna Trail back to the hostel. (The Fire Lane and the Laguna Trail are not bike-accessible.)

Down in the south reaches of the park, the hikes get much longer. From the Bear Valley Visitors Center trailhead, you can hike the aptly named Rift Zone Trail (8.5 miles round-trip, difficult). For beach lovers, the Palomarin trailhead at the foot of Mesa Road opens onto the Coastal Trail, which can be as short or as long as you please. This is a great multi-day hike for backpackers, since both Wildcat Camp and Coastal Camp offer respite for weary travelers. Day hikers with good legs and lungs can stick with a 10-mile round-trip out past Bass Lake, Pelican Lake, and Crystal Lake, winding up at Alamere Falls.

For a stout mountain bike ride, take the Bolinas Ridge Trail (11 miles one-way, moderate), which is open to both bikers and hikers and offers stunning views down toward Tomales Bay. Trailheads sit on Sir Francis Drake Road at the north end and at the foot of Bolinas-Fairfax Road on the south side. An easier trail, more suitable for families, runs west down to Marshall Beach on Tomales Bay.

As for road biking, most all the paved roads in Point Reyes are open to both bicycles and cars. Ask for information about this year’s hot biking spots and any trail closures at one of the local bike shops. Cycle Analysis Point Reyes (Hwy. 1 next to the Bovine Bakery, 415/663-9164, www.cyclepointreyes.com, Fri.–Sun. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. or by appointment) rents mountain bikes, tandem road bikes, and child trailers.