Muddy Hollow Trailhead Hike (5/29) Preview

This week we return to Point Reyes National Seashore to do a loop hike from the Muddy Hollow Trailhead.

Here's Wendy's description of our upcoming hike: "This trail has been redone and the pond removed to create more wetlands. Now we can do this as a loop instead of a shuttle hike. Great views and, we hope, some birds! Some years we see the tule elk. Note: this hike is longer than we usually do (about 7 miles), so sometimes we make it back on time but sometimes we get back late."


Directions to the trailhead: Take Sir Francis Drake Boulevard west to Olema. Turn right on Route 1, then make an immediate left onto Bear Valley Road. Continue past Park Headquarters (turn in if you need a restroom, there are none at the trailhead) and go left on Limantour Road. When you see a paved road to the Hostel on the left, turn right on the dirt road to Muddy Hollow parking lot. Carpool from St. Rita at 8:55 am.

Weather forecast: As of Monday, May 28, the National Weather Service forecast for this area was patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 59. Northwest wind around 14 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike: The Martins' book, Hiking Marin, was lasted updated in 2006, so it does not show the current trail which now only loops back to the Muddy Hollow Trailhead and no longer has an offshoot that goes to the Limantour Beach parking lot as shown on the Martins’ map. But their hike "G8 Muddy Hollow Rd - Estero Trail" does show the area where we'll be hiking. However, the Point Reyes National Seashore's North District Hiking Map includes the new loop trail and pegs the distance at exactly 7.0 miles. The following Google Earth image shows the area (click on it to open a larger picture in your Web browser).

Bolinas Ridge Hike (May 22) Preview

Looking West from Bolinas Ridge (S. Walker photo)

Hike Description and trailhead directions: This hike is mostly downhill or level!

Meet at Samuel P. Taylor State Park at 9:30 am. ($8.00 day use fee/parking if you leave your car there unless you have a State Park Pass).

We’ll carpool to the Bolinas Ridge trailhead and hike back down. We could hear meadowlarks singing, and see Lorquin’s admirals and western tiger swallowtails. Bleeding hearts may be in bloom!

 Restrooms at Samuel P. Taylor, none at trailhead. Carpool from St. Rita at 9:10 am.

THIS IS A SHUTTLE HIKE SO CALL OR E-MAIL WENDY IF YOU'RE COMING: Home phone: 415 457-3949; cell 415 517-0488; E-mail: bdreskin@comcast.net.

Weather forecast: As of Friday, May 18th, the National Weather Service forecast was sunny, with a high near 64. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike: Dick Jordan hasn't hiked the trail before himself. "H8 - Taylor State Park to Bolinas Ridge" in the Martin's book, Hiking Marin, is a 10.2 mile loop hike which starts and ends in the state park. We're doing this hike in the opposite direction, but only one-way, from the trailhead on the south side of the road where Sir Francis Drake Boulevard reaches a crest between the McIsaac Ranch at Tocoloma (intersection of SFD and Platform Bridge Road) and Olema, so our total distance hiked should be more like 5 miles.

Although part of the area is within the GGNRA, it is actually administered by Point Reyes National Seashore. The Point Reyes Hiking Map (South District) shows the trails that we'll be following within the GGNRA.

The Google Earth image below shows the area where will be hiking viewed from just east of Olema toward Samuel P. Taylor State Park. Sir Francis Drake Boulevard is the yellow line snaking through the picture. You can see the trail beginning right off to the road on the right. (Click on the image to open a larger view in your Web browser).

Rock Spring "Final Exam" Hike Photos Now Online!

Photos taken by Theresa Fisher during our Rock Spring "Final Exam" hike are now online!

View them on the Meandering blog or click here for the on-line album.

Wolf Ridge Hike Photos Now Online!

Photos taken by Theresa Fisher during our May 1st Wolf Ridge hike are now online!

View them on the Meandering blog or click here for the on-line album.

Rock Spring "Final Exam" Hike (5/15) Preview

As we do each year, we'll wrap up the Spring College of Marin hiking series with this Mount Tamalpais State Park hike. (Click here for a recap of our 2010 hike.  View photos from past hikes in the online album).

Here's Wendy's outline for the hike:  “Although last year was rainy, some years we've seen eight species of butterflies including a brown elfin, Western tiger swallowtail, and lots of Propertius duskywings! Rain or shine we should see Coral Roots, Oakland Star Lily, Mount Tamalpais Jewel Flower, and Golden Banners on this mostly shady loop hike.

Bring a plate and utensils, and food to share for the Gourmet Final!"

Directions to trailhead: Go south on Highway 101 to the Stinson Beach/Highway 1 exit. Go west on Highway 1 and wind around a lot. At the top of the ridge, turn right onto Panoramic Highway and continue to the 4-way "crossroads." Take the middle road to Mt. Tamalpais. Continue along this road for 5-6 miles.

At the Pantoll Ranger Station the road divides. Take the upper road for about 1 mile. The road divides again. This is Rock Spring. Park here.

Driving time from College of Marin 55 minutes. Outhouse at trailhead and mid-way. (Carpoolers can meet at the Greenbrae Park & Ride lot at 9:10 am).

Weather forecast: As of Friday, May 11th, the National Weather Service forecast for the area around Rock Spring on Mt. Tam was sunny, with a high near 70. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike: The "B17 Simmons - Potrero - Arturo Trails" hike in the Martins' book, Hiking Marin, shows the trails that we'll be hiking on, although we'll probably follow a different route (Simmons to Benstein to Potrero Meadows to Laurel Dell and back up the Cataract Trail to Rock Spring). Page 6 of the state park brochure has a trail map that shows the area. The Google Earth image below shows were we'll be on the mountain. (Click on the photo to open a larger image in your Web browser).

West Ridgecrest Hike (5/8) Preview

This week we return again to West Marin.  On this hike (not a loop) we’ll explore a section of the Coastal Trail with views of Stinson Beach and Bolinas Lagoon. When Ridgecrest Boulevard opened as a toll road in the 1920s it was proclaimed California’s “Most Scenic Drive.” It’s even better hiking!  Clintonia could be in bloom by now!  (Click here for the recap of our 2010 hike.  Photos from that hike are in this on-line album.)

Directions to trailhead:  THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO REACH THE TRAILHEAD:

1. Take the Fairfax Bolinas Road from Fairfax to Ridgecrest Boulevard. Park at the junction with the Fairfax-Bolinas Road. (About 1 hour driving time from the College of Marin; car poolers can meet at St. Rita’s by 9:00 am); OR
   
2. Take the Stinson Beach/Highway 1 exit off Highway 101.  Go west through Tam Valley and up onto the ridge. Turn right onto Panoramic Highway and follow signs to Mt. Tamalpais. Turn left at Rock Springs onto Ridgecrest Boulevard. Park on left at junction with the Fairfax-Bolinas Road.  (Driving time from College of Marin about 1 hour).

No restrooms at trailhead.

Weather forecast:  As of Sunday, May 6th, the National Weather Service forecast for the time of the hike was sunny, with a high near 73. Light north northwest wind. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike:  This hike isn’t mentioned in any of Dick Jordan’s trail guides, but we’ll be hiking south on the Coastal Trail which parallels Ridgecrest Boulevard until we reach the junction with the McKennan Gulch Trail (which heads downhill to Bolinas Lagoon) and then we will retrace our steps back north.
 
(Click here and go to page 6 of the Mt. Tam State Park brochure for the park map; click on the percentage magnification box at the top of the page and increase to about 125%-150% to get a good view of the trail which runs just west of the road).