Nighttime Helicopter Rescue Saves Two Stranded Hikers at Point Reyes

A tense nighttime rescue played out along the cliffs of Point Reyes National Seashore on Sunday as emergency crews worked together to save two hikers stranded high above the ocean.

The call for help came around 7 p.m., when responders learned that two women were stuck on a steep, rocky outcrop just south of Pelican Lake. With darkness setting in and the terrain proving too dangerous for a ground rescue, aerial assistance was requested.

The California Highway Patrol dispatched helicopter H-30 to the scene, working alongside the Marin County Fire Department, the National Park Service, and the Marin County Sheriff’s Office.

After locating the hikers perched on the cliff face above the beach, the helicopter crew carried out a skid landing to place a paramedic on the rocks. The hikers were moved to a safer position before the helicopter returned for a second precise landing. Both women were then safely loaded onto the aircraft.

The helicopter transported the hikers to a nearby landing zone, where a ground ambulance was waiting to provide medical evaluation and care. Authorities have not released details about the hikers’ conditions.

Officials routinely remind visitors that Point Reyes’ dramatic coastline can be unforgiving, especially after dark, and urge hikers to carefully plan routes and turnaround times before venturing onto exposed coastal trails.