Facilities

Hagmaier Ranch House

Owned by the National Park Service, the historic Hagmaier Ranch House was built in 1915 and restored with period details by the National Park Service in about 2000 after a house fire. The house serves as the main hub of the UC Point Reyes Field Station and provides users with wifi access, work space, meeting space for small and large groups (up to about 30), a full kitchen, two bathrooms (one upstairs and one downstairs, which has an ADA compliant shower), a library of local field guides and natural history books, eight dormitory-style bunk beds (four bunks in each of the two bedrooms downstairs), and a double bed in a private bedroom upstairs. We do not provide linens (only mattress covers) so visitors bring their own towels and sleeping bags or sheets and blankets.

The field station sits near the southern end of the Olema Valley historic ranching district. The house is one of the first representations of the Midwestern farmhouse architectural style on the west coast of the United States and the surrounding ranch land was grazed to produce dairy products — mainly butter — for San Franciscans for many decades (read more about the site’s history). Today the ranch site is dedicated to education and research in properties managed by the National Park Service, California State Parks, Marin Municipal Water District, and other local agencies.


The view of the Hagmaier house as you come up the driveway.

 


The main stairway in the house is an example of the beautiful period woodwork details. To the immediate right is the west bedroom with four bunks; the east bedroom with four more bunks is down the hall and to the right. At the top of the stairs to the right is a bathroom with toilet and sink. 

 


Groups and classes arrange the dining and living rooms to best suit their needs for meetings and group work.

 


The living room. The whale vertebrae found on the shores of Point Reyes National Seashore remind users that the fireplace is not operational and should not be used.

 


The field station has a full kitchen with a propane-powered 5-burner range with dishes and glasses for about 25 people and eating utensils for more than 25 people. The kitchen space easily accommodates food storage and food preparation for large groups. The refrigerator is a standard residential size and has a freezer up top. The kitchen is well stocked with cookware and cooking utensils, as we have several frying pans, sauce pans, stock pots (two), a large steamer/pasta basket insert, several baking dishes, mixing bowls, and other cookware as well as spatulas, can and bottle openers, veggie peelers, several knives, measuring cups, and more (we even have a whisk!).

 


Upstairs is the field station’s library and office space available for visitors to use. Books include California field guides, including a 1993 Jepson Manual and books and dichotomous keys to identify local birds, mammals, and marine life. The library also has books of general biological and ecological interest such as ecology, statistics, rare plant conservation, and many books about wildlife, plants, and ecosystems around the world.

 


The west office upstairs is a favorite place for visitors to work during writing retreats. Visitors to Point Reyes Field Station can place their signed waivers in the top left drawer of this desk.

 

The bedrooms

There are two bedrooms downstairs with bunk beds and one bedroom upstairs with a double bed. The bunk beds are solid maple and each bunk bed has two 2-drawer dressers underneath the lower bunk for people to store their belongings. Each bedroom also has a bookcase for additional storage. Each room has windows that open and have portable screen inserts. All mattresses have mattress covers.


The east bedroom receives morning sunshine and the window opens toward Olema Creek, about 40 feet away. It does not have a closet.

 


The west bedroom is near the kitchen, has a large closet, and its window looks south to the picnic table area.

 

 


The private bedroom upstairs has a double bed. Since these photos were taken we have added a desk and table lamps. The window looks north toward the old milking sheds and the barn. The bathroom is across the hall.

 


The grounds


On the south side of the house are four picnic tables, perfect for group meals and informal meetings.

 


North of the house off the driveway are two dairy sheds that were built by rancher George Hagmaier in 1938. These open sheds are currently used for equipment storage by the National Park Service. 

 


The field station rests in the heart of beautiful Olema Valley between the headwaters of Olema Creek, which flows north to Tomales Bay, and Pine Gulch Creek, which flows south to Bolinas Lagoon. The presence of the San Andreas Fault that runs along the valley is reflected in the undulating hilly landscape and areas of seasonal ponding.

 

The campground

The large mowed area south of the Hagmaier ranch house accommodates overnight stays for individuals and large groups. Campers have 24/7 access the bathrooms, shower, kitchen, wifi, and meeting space in the Hagmaier house during their stay.

Due to high fire danger during the summer months, the visitors are only allowed to have campfires during the rainy season. All visitors are required to obtain a National Park Service campfire permit from the Point Reyes National Seashore Bear Valley Visitor Center.

 

You will also be sharing your campsite with local residents!