Mount Burdell Open Space Hike (March 31) Preview

Last year we hiked this area three weeks later on April 22nd. (Click here for a recap of that outing). Here's Wendy's description of the hike: " This loop takes us by Hidden Lake which is home to thousands of Pacific tree frogs! We may see cream cups, fiddleneck, popcorn flowers and blue-headed gilia, as well as seven or eight species of butterflies. This is the only spot where bitterroot, the Montana state flower, grows in Marin."

Directions to the trailhead: Take Highway 101 north and take the San Marin Drive exit. Go west on San Marin Drive. Turn right on San Andreas Drive. The entrance to the Open Space will be on your right. If you come to the dead end of San Andreas you've only gone about half a block too far. No lot but plenty of curbside parking. 30 minutes from College of Marin. No restrooms on this hike. (Carpoolers can meet at the Mission Street, San Rafael, Park & Ride lot around 9:05 am, or at the Smith Ranch Park & Ride lot around 9:15 am).

Weather forecast: As of Wednesday, March 25, the National Weather Service forecast for Novato on Tuesday, March 31st was sunny with a high near 65. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike: Hike "E13 Old Quarry Trail to Mt. Burdell" in the Martin's book, Hiking Marin, shows the general area that we'll be hiking in, although we'll probably turn left at intersection #2 and head directly to Hidden Lake rather than climb all of the way to the summit of the mountain as shown on the Martin's map. You can find a trail map and species list on the Marin County Open Space District's Web site for the Mount Burdell preserve. The Google Earth image below shows where we'll be hiking. (Click on the photo to open a larger image in your Web browser).
(Dick Jordan will be flying back from Phoenix on Tuesday and will miss this hike).