Audubon Canyon Hike (2/7) Preview

Lucky us!  We have permission to hike in Audubon Canyon Ranch Bolinas Lagoon Preserve! This is beautiful habitat, not usually open to the public. We can hope to see the first Calypso Orchids, Suncups, Star Lillies, and Mission Bells.  (Note: Depending on the rains, there may be some stream crossings walking on logs.)  Click here for a recap of last year's hike. View photos from our past hikes at Audubon Canyon ranch in this online album).

Directions to trailhead: Coming from North or Central Marin: Take Sir Francis Drake Boulevard to Olema. Turn south (left) on Highway 1 and follow for about 10 miles to Bolinas Lagoon. Preserve will be on the left approximately 1 mile further. Carpoolers can meet at St. Rita's Church in Fairfax at 8:45 am.

Coming from Southern Marin: From Highway 101 take the Stinson Beach exit. Follow approximately 12 miles to Stinson Beach. Continue 3 1/2 miles north to the preserve gate on right hand side of the highway.

Time: 1 hour from College of Marin. Restrooms at trailhead.

Weather forecast: As of Thursday, February 2nd, the National Weather Service forecast for this hike was mostly cloudy, with a high near 59 and a chance of rain.  (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike: If you have the Martins' book, Hiking Marin, go to hike "F18 Griffin Loop - Bird Overlook Trails" for a map of trails within the preserve. There are two major loop trails (probably about 3 miles long each) going uphill and down, and a shorter 0.8 mile loop nearer to the bottom of the hill.  On our 2009 hike we went up the Zumie's Loop Trail, then through Junction 2 on the Martin's map, and continued south to where the Griffin Loop and Bourne trails meet, descended the Griffin Loop trail to the bottom of the hill, and then looped back to the parking area.