Pierce Point Ranch

• Established in 1858 and, by the late 1800s, the largest of four independent ranches on the Point Reyes peninsula.
• Butter was the specialty. In the late 1800s the ranch's entire butter output was bought by Goldberg, Bowen, and Company, and by 1900 it was considered the best dairy ranch in California.
• Operations ended in 1973, and the complex was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.

A flat trail provides access to a self-guided tour of the ranch complex, passing the main house, barns, dairy buildings, schoolhouse and outbuildings, with interpretive panels explaining what each structure did and how the operation ran. Read as much or as little as you like. The main house is a park employee residence and is not open to visitors, so admire it from the path and keep clear of the private yard. The Tomales Point Trail starts here, a 9.7-mile round trip along the ridge crest with long views toward Tomales Bay, Bolinas Ridge, Bodega Bay and the Point Reyes coast. Tule elk, birds and wildflowers are part of what the wider Tomales Point area is known for, and sightings are possible rather than guaranteed.

• Four picnic tables at the historic ranch, plus garbage and recycling receptacles near the parking area.
• Interpretive exhibits and signage throughout the complex.
• No drinking water anywhere here. Bring your own.
• No toilets at the ranch itself. The nearest vault toilets are at the McClures Beach parking lot, roughly a quarter mile away.

The trail through the ranch complex is flat, and the interpretive panels use ADA-compliant fonts. Surfaces and building interiors vary, so treat the site as partly rather than fully barrier-free and check what suits your needs before committing to the drive.

Stay on designated trails and well back from cliff edges. Respect the employee residence. Dogs are not allowed beyond Pierce Point Road and the parking lots, with an exception for working service dogs. Drones are prohibited on National Park Service lands in the seashore, and there is no camping or overnight vehicle parking. The drawbacks are real: it is a long remote drive for a compact site, the weather can be miserable, and if you are not interested in reading signs about butter production you may be done quickly. Pair it with the Tomales Point Trail or nearby beaches to make the trip worth the mileage.