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Explore our weekly hikes around Marin as Brian Simon, of Marin Trails, leads you through the county. It is truly a rare hike that leaves you both worn out and exhilarated at the same time. Kent Trail to Hidden Lake give you that experience. It is a hiker's hike! The challenging trails and the rugged, isolated microcosms of nature command the senses and satisfy the primeval need to commune with nature. The hike starts at the bottom of the Lake Bon Tempe Dam in the Marin Municipal Water District. We go up and over the dam and then down the other side to meet with Alpine Lake which is about a hundred feet lower than Bon Tempe. Alpine Lake only has one recognized trail along it. This is rugged…
Finally, some rain! Dang rain! We know we need the rain, but we got so spoiled with the good weather that we're quite ambivalent about it. We love to get outdoors, but the rain requires more thoughtful planning of our outings. This week we decided to hike along Lagunitas Creek to see if we can spot some spawning salmon. We also wanted a bit of shelter in the canyons and thought the Kent Dam area would be neat to explore. The parking area at Shafter Bridge (a.k.a Green Bridge) is open for parking through February. This makes visiting the area safer, because you don't need to park out on …
Happy New Year! The balmy January weather is giving Marinites a rare opportunity to run or hike in shorts and t-shirts in the mid-day sun. We have been sending our readers to sunny south-facing slopes for several hikes now, and this week is no exception. The hike heads up the steep and open grasslands of Bald Hill, over the top to Yolanda Trail and Six Points Junction, and then out along the southern facing Yolanda Trail to bask in the warmth.The starting point is in Ross, at Natalie Coffin Greene Park. Even midweek, the parking may be full, so you could try starting at Ross Commons. After …
We have reached the official start to winter, but where is it? I am sure the rain and wet weather is coming, but until the clouds and rain arrive we are going to take advantage of the sunshine. With so little rain the soil is actually drying out, allowing the clear sunny days to heat up the open ridges, so that is where we wanted to go hiking.Over the holidays we also look for places where family members of various ages and fitness levels will have fun. The wide fireroad to Pine Mountain allows us to walk abreast and chat, while the kids run and play on the wonderful rock formations that …
Tom Stienstra, our treasured outdoor writer for The San Francisco Chronicle, inspired us this week to go out to the local Marin wetlands to experience the great waterfowl migration that is happening this year. Stienstra attributed the larger numbers of waterfowl around California to extreme cold weather up north and in the Midwest. Stienstra's article highlighted the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, but also mentioned Bay Area wetlands as great places to see the migrating waterfowl. The Las Gallinas wildlife ponds near the Regency Cinema off Smith Ranch Road in San Rafael are well known…
All we can say is WOW! Get outside and see the sights right now. The wind has swept away all the moisture and particulates and has left crystal-clear visibility. You can see for miles.Fort Baker, at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge makes a great destination for seeing the bridge and San Francisco Bay with Angel Island, Alcatraz Island and the city skyline. The fort lies just next to the magnificent bridge, in a small wind-protected cove.The Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) offers two wonderful guided walks, each taking about 45 minutes. The first, Fort Baker History Walk: …
With gentle waves, fantastic picnicking, seclusion, shelter and a wonderful view of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco, Kirby Cove is a unique blend of the outdoors and civilization. The south-facing cove is one of the few beaches along the prominent cliffs that dominate the area. The cove was originally developed in 1889 to serve as one of the many batteries protecting the entrance to the golden gate. The battery remained in service until 1934 when it was abandoned. Kirby Cove is now a part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) managed by the National Park Service. It is …
Clarification: The trail is open to hikers right now and temporary signage has been posted. However, the county parks department is asking equestrians and bikers to stay off the trail until it is officially finished in the spring. After what seems like years, and I think it has been, the new 2.8 mile-long "680 Trail," which contours across the front of Loma Alta and continues over to Terra Linda Open Space Preserve, is now open. There has not been an official opening ceremony and some of the signage is not up yet, but Marin County Parks has been kind enough to open it up. 680 Trail is a wide …
On these clear crisp fall days the coast keeps calling us to visit. This week it was not just the perfect weather, but the call of vast numbers of shore and coastal birds serenading our visit to Millerton Point and Tomales Bay Ecological Preserve at the south end of Tomales Bay. At end of the Tomales Bay; Lagunitas, Olema and Bear Valley Creeks merge and enter the bay through the tidal marshes. In 2007, over 550 acres of diked farmland was restored to tidal wetlands. The area is rich with wildlife. According to signage in the area, the number of waterbird species has increased 66% and the …
Marin Stables is located in Fairfax near Deer Park. The historic stables were built in 1937 in a quiet and beautiful canyon at the end of Wood Lane. The old barn is a classic and some of the old hitching posts are so worn as to have a story of their own. It is possible to drive to the stables, but approaching the old stables from the woods is a fun experience and a nice way to incorporate a hike.We like to start in Deer Park and head up into the vast trail system that surrounds the area. You could hike a different combination of trails for days just in this region alone. Many of the trails …
We never cease to be amazed by the weather along the coast in the fall. It is so often calm and pleasant all day and into the early sunset. At Limantour Beach in Point Reyes National Seashore this week the water was flat with small perfect waves gently rolling in. Our daughters frolicked in the waves for about an hour. The water is freezing cold but the kids didn't seem to notice until they turned blue and started begging for a hot shower.Limantour Beach faces south and is sheltered from the northern swells by the southern tip of Point Reyes. In addition, the big winter storms have not yet …
The Blithedale Summit Open Space is a lofty arena encompassing much of Mt. Tamalpais's north ridge. The preserve is well endowed with amazing views of the bay, deep swathes of forest, and crisp air filled with bird calls. We looked to Mill Valley to enter, carefully parking along West Blithedale Boulevard (parking is limited) and heading through the gate at Old Railroad Grade. A tenth of a mile in, the H-Line Fire Road takes off to the right and climbs moderately up to Blithedale Ridge. Blithedale Ridge has a wide rocky fire road that provides great views, but can feel a little overexposed. …
Rarely do you find as serene a place as Sky Oaks Meadow in the Marin Municipal Water District. The small savannah is dotted with oak trees that harbor peacefully grazing deer, clutches of wild turkeys, and a swath of wetland. We love to start a hike or run through this flat and picturesque meadow. Take the time to look and listen for the birds and mammals that reside in the meadow.Bullfrog Fire Road and Trail bisects the meadow and then turns south to run along a long finger of Alpine Lake. The small ravine that contains the Alpine Lake water is densely foliaged, providing great cover for …
The path to Hill 88 follows an abandoned asphalt road that is eroded, overgrown and falling into the sea in places. Hill 88 in the Marin Headlands is the site of an old military radar control station for the former Nike missile base at Fort Cronkhite. The Nike missiles were positioned at batteries and bunkers throughout the Marin Headlands, most of which are still present. Many are dug into the hills forming tunnels and caves. A few are open to the public, but most are welded closed. An adventure to the top of Hill 88 feels a bit eerie, and it is sometimes hard to believe that you are still …
Sometimes it feels like the fog will never go away. Fog is a wonderful giant air conditioner, but after awhile you want clear skies to take in the views looking up and down the coast and most importantly out over the ocean. Well, we couldn't wait any longer and decided to head out and explore our favorite walk above the Pacific Ocean on Coastal Trail. The section of Coastal Trail that we prefer is between Pantoll and Willow Camp trail. This allows for a nice loop using Cataract and Old Mine or Easy Grade trails to get there. When we headed out to Coastal Trail this week the fog was thick, but…
Crown Road in Kentfield, like Concrete Pipe Road in the Ross Valley, is a wide flat fire road that is welcome to all-comers. The trail is also called Southern Marin Line Fire Road, but Crown Road seems an apt name for its circling of the eastern peaks of Mt. Tam like a crown. The trail is part of the Baltimore Canyon Open Space Preserve and has sparkling views of the bay, King Mountain, Mt. Tam, and Baltimore Canyon. From the Marin County Open Space gate at the southern end of Crown Road, the fire road takes off along the hillside. The steep downslope on one side creates great views of the …
Northside Trail is one of the longest, relatively flat hiking trails on Mount Tamalpais above 1,800 feet elevation. Its long (2.7 mile) forested single track, with north-facing lookout spots, provides hikers with lots to see and do. We recommend getting to Northside Trail by coming in off the top of Mount Tamalpais along Eldridge Grade. Alternatively, you can climb up to the eastern end of the trail by hiking out of Lake Lagunitas by way of Lakeview Road and climbing up Eldridge Grade. Once at the trailhead, an old sign leads you into Northside Trail. Northside is a rugged trail, which …
When it comes to outdoor activities we tend to prefer warm sunny weather. With the continued fog appearing to thicken, and no sign of a heat spell coming, we retreated inland to do one of our favorite family outings around Lake Lagunitas. With relaxing picnic spots under the trees by the lake shore, shady redwood groves tucked in the canyon, and turtles sunning themselves near the shore, Lake Lagunitas is picture perfect. This outing is a much different experience than the wet puddle jumping adventure we sent you on last spring. Our family enjoys hiking or biking around the lake, stopping to …
With a peak height of 1466', Mt. Barnabe offers one of the great viewing spots of West Marin. On a clear day you can see Tomales Bay to the northwest, Mt. Diablo to the east and the jutting profile of Mt. St. Helena to the north. Also, Mt. Barnabe sits in a unique central position relative to the ridgeline running from the East Peak of Mt. Tamalpais to Bolinas Ridge. The ridgeline spans a full 180 degrees from southwest to northeast. This week, we wanted a challenging outing with a visual feast as a reward. The trek to the top of Mt. Barnabe fit nicely into our plans. There are really just …
This week we wanted to get on top of it all and explore some of what we call Marin's high country. We are not talking alpine forest, but on the northwest side of Mount Tamalpais are high meadows, rough rocky terrain, secluded picnic areas and fantastic views in all directions. This area was a popular destination in the early part of the 1900s for its beauty and seclusion. For this reason, there are numerous old camp spots where hunters and other outdoorsmen built summer retreats. This area around West Peak of Mt. Tam can be reached with relative ease if you drive up and park at the Rock …
