State Park Closure Status in Marin

Back in October, the California State Parks Department announced major weekday closures of parks throughout the state, including at all of the parks in Marin.  As a result, Wendy changed the schedule for the second half of the Fall College of Marin hiking season.

Last week, Jean Mullen told Dick Jordan that the Bootjack parking lot on Mt. Tam seemed to be closed, but that Pantoll and the road up the mountain to Rock Spring and East Peak were open when she was on the mountain recently.  On November 22, San Francisco Chronicle Outdoor writer Tom Stienstra reported that the road up to East Peak indeed would not be closed on weekdays this winter.  And in another piece published on December 3 about what parks were really closed on weekdays, he wrote this about the parks in Marin:

"Angel Island State Park: State Parks originally announced there would be major restroom closures on weekdays. Instead, four restrooms are open daily, two at Ayala Cove and two at the U.S. Immigration Station. (415) 435-5390.

China Camp State Park: The gorgeous walk-in campground is open Friday and Saturday nights only, first-come, first-served, through March 25. Campsites are then available by reservation starting March 26 through ReserveAmerica.com. The China Camp Museum is open only on weekends. (415) 456-0766.

Mount Tamalpais State Park: In October, State Parks announced that the road to East Peak and the Bootjack parking area would be closed on weekdays. That was canceled and both areas are now open daily. Pantoll's great walk-in campsites are still open, first-come, first-served. (415) 388-2070.

Olompali State Park: One of the casualties. Open only on weekends, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a new $8 entrance fee. (415) 892-3383.

Samuel P. Taylor State Park: Camping was hiked to $35 per night, approaching low-cost hotel rates in rural areas and now the state park standard. But at least the campground is still open, first-come, first-served through March 25; for dates after that, reservations are available now at ReserveAmerica.com. (415) 488-9897.

Tomales Bay State Park: You may remember that in October, State Parks said Tomales Bay State Park would be open only on weekends and holidays. Nope. This park is open daily, 8 a.m. to sunset. (415) 669-1140."

In its December 3rd edition, the weekly West Marin Citizen reported that Tomales Bay and Samuel P. Taylor State Parks would remain open seven days a week with the National Park Service providing additional staffing.  The paper made this cryptic comment:  "No change is expected to the status of Mount Tamalpais State Park."

An October 26, 2009 news release on the California State Parks Web site detailed the planned closures, but there does not seem to be a subsequent news release announcing the changes listed in the December 3rd stories by Stienstra and the West Marin Citizen, and Dick found no specific information about the changes on the state park Web site for Mount Tam.

Dick hopes to learn more about the state of the State Parks when Roy Stearns, Deputy Director of Communications for the state parks department, addresses the January meeting of the Bay Area Travel Writers.

(Click here to learn what steps the California State Parks Foundation is taking to try to insure long-term funding for the parks).