This week we return to Point Reyes National Seashore
for our first outing of October. This is not a loop hike, but there are
marvelous views! (Click here for a brief recap of our July 13, 2010 hike).Directions to trailhead: Note that this special advisory from the San Anselmo Police Department for the day of the hike that could affect those of us coming through San Anselmo and Fairfax to reach Point Reyes --- "Road work and lane closures (in both directions of travel) are scheduled to be performed on Sir Francis Drake Blvd. from 9 am – 3 pm. The lane closures will be between San Francisco Boulevard and Suffield Avenue (near the border of Fairfax). Drivers should expect delays during these hours and should plan accordingly. Plan to take alternative routes, if possible."
While we should be driving to and through Fairfax before Sir Francis Drake is closed westbound in the morning, it is possible that traffic headed toward Fairfax on both Sir Francis Drake and Center Boulevard before 9 a.m. will be heavy if drivers leave earlier than usual for their destinations.
After the hike, we will probably get back to St. Rita's Church sometime between 2:30-3:00 p.m., shortly before or just as Sir Francis Drake reopens. However, eastbound traffic on both Sir Francis Drake and Center Boulevard after 3 p.m. could be heavier than usual due to the closure of Drake earlier in the day.
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. Carpoolers can meet at St. Rita's at 8:55 am. Restrooms at the trailhead.
Weather forecast: As of Tuesday evening, September 27th, the National Weather Service forecast for the hike was mostly cloudy, with a a chance of showers and a high near 55. (Click here for an updated forecast). Real-time weather reporting for the Point Reyes Lighthouse is also available (click here).
A slight chance of showers is forecast for the area on Sunday and Monday, but hopefully the trail won't be as muddy as it was when we went slip-sliding around in May of 2009.
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).
We return to 
Per Wendy, "this hike takes us through redwood forest, over Fern Creek,
into chaparral, and finally to lunch at Bootjack. The return is fairly
level and shady." (
This week we return to Point Reyes National Seashore for the first hike of the Fall season. We explore four habitats: coastal scrub, beach, marsh, and a riparian (streamside) habitat with alders and willows. Lunch at the beach. We may see some of the tule elk that have been transferred from Tomales Point.
Here's Wendy's description of our first hike of Fall: "Today we’ll hike down to