Cypress Tree Tunnel

• The species fits the place. Monterey cypress is unusually well suited to this headland's wind and ocean weather, which is why the planting has thrived here for roughly a century.
• It is a designed allee, not a wild grove. The trees were planted as landscaping for a working communications station.
• The view has a subject. Instead of ending in open ground, the corridor closes on the historic receiving station facade.

The white Art Deco-style receiving station was built between 1929 and 1931 and handled ship-to-shore communications for most of the twentieth century. Restored radio equipment and the site's Morse-code legacy are part of what makes the location matter, though the trees are the main visitor-facing draw. The allee is a contributing resource of the RCA Point Reyes Receiving Station Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2018.

• Address: 17400 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, along the road heading out toward the lighthouse.
• Watch for signs to the North District Operations Center. That is the site the tunnel belongs to.
• The entrance is easy to blow past at speed, so slow down as you approach.

An easy, peaceful walk down and back on the old road, with the historic buildings waiting at the end. It is a short stop that pairs naturally with the drive out toward the lighthouse or the Estero area. Bring your camera, and bring a wind layer, because this is exposed coastal country.

• Facilities are elsewhere. The nearest restrooms are at Estero Trailhead and North Beach, so plan accordingly before you arrive.
• Roadside shoulder parking is the only option, and it is limited.
• The photo everyone wants is a well-known one, so other people may be doing exactly the same thing when you arrive.
• Access inside the historic radio buildings is not something to count on. Treat the tree tunnel itself as the reason you came.