After a week off from hiking we return to Point Reyes National Seashore for our first outing of July. This is not a loop hike, but there are marvelous views! By this time of year it shouldn't be muddy like it was when we went slip-sliding around in May of 2009.Directions to trailhead: Take Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. Turn right at Olema and make an immediate left onto Bear Valley Road. (Use the restrooms at the park's Visitor Center in Bear Valley if you do not want to wait until you reach those at the trailhead). Continue until you pick up Sir Francis Drake again.
Go through Inverness. Go past the turn off to the right onto Pierce Point Road, then pass Mt. Vision Road on your left, and then in one mile you'll come to the road to Estero Trail. Take this road to the parking lot at the trailhead. Time: 1 hour from College of Marin. Restrooms at the trailhead. (Carpoolers can meet at St. Rita's at 8:55 am).
Weather forecast: As of Saturday, July 10th, the National Weather Service forecast for the hike was patchy fog before 11am, otherwise mostly sunny with a high near 60. (Click here for an updated forecast).
We'll be closer to the coast, so the weather could be cooler, foggier, and windier. (Click here for a forecast for the Point-Reyes Chimney Rock area). Real-time weather reporting for the Point Reyes Lighthouse is also available (click here).
More on this hike: "Hike G11 Estero - Drakes Head Trails" in the Martins' book, Hiking Marin, shows where we'll be hiking, although not necessarily our exact route. Two hikes ("Estero Trail to Sunset Beach" and "Estero Trail to Drakes Head" in Tracy Salcedo-Chourre's book, Exploring Point Reyes National Seashore and Golden Gate National Recreation Area also cover this area). The trails are also shown on the park's North District Hiking Trails map. The Google Earth image gives a bird's eye view of this part of the park. (Click on the photo to open a larger image in your Web browser).
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