Thursday, February 2, 2012
Kent Trail to Hidden Lake is a hiker's hike. The narrow rocky trail runs along secluded Alpine Lake, up through a redwood forest to Hidden Lake, and then back along dry Rocky Ridge with great views. 5.2 miles. Dogs on leash OK.
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 Kent Trail that runs along the south-east side. Unlike the busy Lagunitas and Bon Tempe Lakes, the trail around Alpine is rarely travelled, perhaps …
Friday, January 27, 2012
Easy 2-3 mile hike along the bayshore of northern Marin. Traces of wild oak woodlands still remain. Excellent birding and wildlife viewing. Great for running and families. All users welcome. Dogs on leash OK.
This week is a good time to go see the migrating shorebirds before they head out for the spring and summer months. With the barometer rising after the recent rains, the weather is fine. Grasses are greening up and a few wildflowers are starting to peek through. Marin only has a few locations where there are easy trails next to marshlands. Rush Creek is great for the mix of bay shore and woodlands and the vast numbers of shorebirds. Normally we park out near Highway 101 as we mentioned in a previous Rush Creek outing, but this time we recommend entering though the eastern end, close to the sloughs and marshes where the wildlife hangs out. Also, the entrance to Rush Creek out by 101 can very muddy. We drove out to the end of Bahia Avenue …
Friday, January 20, 2012
Rains mean the fish may be spawning in Lagunitas Creek. Head out to look for the Coho Salmon and explore Kent Lake at it's only accessible end. A bit steep in places and the route can be tricky and dangerous. Use caution. Dogs on leash.
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 narrow Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, where hiking along and crossing can be dangerous, especially for kids. Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD) opens the…
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Five to thirteen mile hike, bike, or run to explore the remote and rugged Pine Mountain and San Geronimo Ridge. All welcome. Dogs on leash OK.
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 line the route. The scrubby chaparral allows for long views along the road to keep an eye on the kids, as well as great views off the mountaintop in all…
Friday, December 16, 2011
Follow the migrating birds to Las Gallinas Ponds to stroll along the levees and brush up on your birding skills. Bring binoculars, your favorite bird book, and the family. 2-3 miles of walking. Dogs on leash only.
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 among birdwatchers for being good local viewing spots of the annual migration. The ponds are great places for spotting a variety of water birds and …
Friday, December 2, 2011
Short easy hike to explore Fort Baker. Longer hike up Coastal Trail to SCA Trail to take in the view. Dogs on leash at Fort Baker, no dogs on Coastal Trail.
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: Horseshoe Cove, A Water Haven in San Francisco Bay, takes you around the small and delightful Horseshoe Cove with its small breakwater sheltering the …
Friday, November 25, 2011
Time to get back to nature and burn off some of those Thanksgiving calories. Phoenix Lake is just right for everyone. Three and a half miles. Dogs on leash OK.
After the Thanksgiving feast, our family is always ready to get outside to burn off some of those heavy calories and take in some crisp autumn air. Phoenix Lake is one of our favorite destinations for its quick access, gentle trails, and easy camaraderie among the community members who enjoy the lake. There is a stream and picnic benches at the base of the dam for the very young and old to linger, and the hike around the lake can be taken slowly or briskly depending on your mood. After climbing the road to the dam, we like to hike clockwise around the lake, starting along the Bill Williams Fire Road. This flat road can also be a treat for young cyclists who want to bike ahead of their parents; if you plan just an out and back to the end …
Friday, November 18, 2011
A six to eight mile hike along the rugged outer coast of Marin Headlands. Pirate's Cove is along the way. 1,800 feet of climbing. No dogs.
Marin Headlands makes a great destination for Marinites, tourists and San Franciscans alike. On a recent outing to Tennessee Valley, we encountered San Francisco Boy Scouts on a camp-out, backpackers who had taxied over from the city, and Mill Valley suburbanites with strollers and kids on wheelie bikes. There is something for everyone it seems. Tennessee Valley has the smooth paved road that slopes gently to a soft beach cove surrounded by protective cliffs for the moms and kids. The headlands has the oddly civilized backpacking camps that provide great vistas and glimpses of native wildlife, while picnicking with wine and cheese at the built-in picnic tables. The roads and trails that soar from beaches to towering buttresses fortified …
Friday, November 11, 2011
Two-mile hike to secluded Kirby Cove. Views of Golden Gate and San Francisco. Great for picnicking and hanging out a spell. All explores welcome. No dogs
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 open for day and camping (seasonal) use. The large abandoned battery building is located front and center in the cove and dominates the area. Most the…
Friday, November 4, 2011
Explore the new 2.8 mile "680 Trail," which connects Loma Alta to Terra Linda Open Space Preserve lands. Six to nine miles with 1,600' of elevation gain. Amazing views and scenery along mostly sunny grassland and dry mixed forest and chaparral. Dogs OK.
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 multi-use trail cut deep into the hillside. Multiple well-crafted bridges and some decorative rockwork show the hard work and care that went into …
Mary Rankin
12:59 pm on Friday, January 20, 2012
Brian, thanks for highlighting this area. We've found it to be interesting & enjoyable hiking no matter the time of year. more ›