Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Estero Trail Hike (9/27) Preview

This week we return to Point Reyes National Seashore for the last time on a College of Marin scheduled hike in 2015.



This is not a loop hike, but there are marvelous views!

(Click here for a brief recap of our July 13, 2010 hike. Here's the album of photos taken during our past hikes in this area.).

Directions to trailhead:

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 and head uphill.

When you reach the turn off to the right onto Pierce Point Road, bear to the left and continue on Sir France Drake toward Chimney Rock and the Lighthouse.  Pass Mt. Vision Road on your left, and then in one mile turn left onto the road to Estero Trail.

Take this road to the parking lot at the trailhead. Click here for a Google Maps map that shows the parking lot. Click on the teardrop icon to get driving time and directions from your location.

Time: 1 hour from College of Marin. Carpoolers can meet at St. Rita's at 8:55 am.  Outhouse at the trailhead. (Pull into the Bear Valley Visitors Center area if you need an earlier restroom stop.)

Weather forecast: As of Wednesday, September 21st, the weather forecast for the hike was
sunny, with a high near 64.  (Click here for an updated forecast.)

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.

This Google Earth image gives a bird's eye view of this part of the park with the route we'll follow and the trail length and profile information. (Click on the photo to open a larger image in your Web browser).


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