Bull Point, Point Reyes (7/3/18) Last summer hike led by Natalie Clark

This week we head through Inverness to hike on the ocean side of the Point Reyes National Seashore. This is Natalie Clark's last summer 2018 hike. Please call her cell (415 686-1681) or email gnatsimi@comcast.net to confirm your attendance. Cost is $20.

Here's Wendy's description for this hike: "A beautiful but soggy (in places) walk timed to see the Coast Lilly blooming in its only site in Marin!

"Other endangered flowers we've seen other years include the Swamp Harebell, Large Flowered Lianthus, and Point Reyes Checkerbloom. We may also see Yellow-Eyed Grass, Tinker's Penny, White-Flowered Bog Orchid, and Hooker’s Evening Primrose. We've also seen the endangered Myrtle's Silverspot butterfly on this hike, and birds including Grasshopper Sparrows and Caspian Terns. Sometimes we're lucky enough to see endangered Bumblee Bee Scarab Beetles. Some off-trail walking but little elevation gain." (Click here for the recap of our Bull Point hike on July 7, 2009.).

Directions to the trailhead: Take Sir Francis Drake Boulevard west to Olema. Turn right on Highway 1, then make an immediate left onto Bear Valley Road. Continue past the road to Park Headquarters (stop here for a restroom break; there are no porta-potties at the trailhead) and go left when you hit Sir Francis Drake again.

Go through Inverness. Go left at the "Y" (right takes you out to Pierce Point) and pass MCI and RCA stations on your right. The Bull Point parking lot will be on your left.

(Click here for a map of the trailhead location and to get driving directions and times from your location.)

Carpool leaves St. Rita at 8:50 a.m.

Weather forecast: As of Wednesday, July 5, 2017, the National Weather Service forecast for the hike was patchy fog, otherwise party sunny with a high near 58. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike: Hike "H11 Bull Point and South Beach Trails" in the Martins' book, Hiking Marin, shows this as 4.0 mile out and back hike. Tracy Salcedo-Chourre's book, Exploring Point Reyes National Seashore and Golden Gate National Recreation Area, pegs it at 3.6 miles as does the park's North District Hiking Map.

The Google Earth image below shows the area where we'll be hiking. (Click on the image to open a larger version in your Web browser).

Laguna Trailhead, Point Reyes (June 26, 2018)

This week we'll take a different route from a familiar trailhead to make a 4.6 mile loop. We can expect butterflies including Painted Ladies, Mylitta Crescents, Common Buckeyes, Wood Nymphs, Acmon Blues and Red Admirals. We'll get our exercise on the uphill before lunch and then stroll downhill to complete the loop. Natalie will be leading this hike. Please bring $20. 

Directions: 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. Turn left at the sign for the youth hostel. Follow that road until you see a right turn across a bridge to the Laguna Trailhead by the Clem Miller Education Center. Park in the parking lot.

Click here for a map that shows the Laguna Trailhead area, and click on #1 to get driving time and directions from your location. 

55 minutes from College of Marin. Carpoolers can meet at St. Rita Church in Fairfax at 8:55 a.m.

No restrooms at trailhead.

Weather Forecast: As of Saturday, June 23rd, the National Weather Service forecast for the hike was patchy fog before 11 a.m. Otherwise, partly sunny with a high near 66. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike: Hike "G5 Bayview - Muddy Hollow - Laguna" in the Martin's book, Hiking Marin, shows the route we'll take. (Point 1 on their map shows where you'll leave your car to cut 0.5 miles off the hike. Point 2 is where we'll leave the other cars and actually begin hiking.)

Laguna Trailhead, Point Reyes (June 19, 2018)

This week we return to Point Reyes National Seashore.  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. (Click here to view photos from a past hike.) Natalie will lead this hike. Remember to bring $20.

Directions to 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 (stop here if you need a restroom --- there is none at the trailhead) and go left on Limantour Road.

Turn left at the sign for the youth hostel. Follow that road until you see a right turn across a bridge to the Laguna Trailhead by the Clem Miller Education Center. Park in the parking lot.

Click here for a map that shows the trailhead. Click on #1 to get driving directions and time from your location.

55 minutes from College of Marin. Carpoolers can meet at St. Rita’s Church in Fairfax at 9:05 a.m.

No restrooms at trailhead. Outhouse en route before lunch.

Weather forecast:  As of Sunday, June 17th, the National Weather Service forecast for the hike was patchy fog before 11a.m. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 68. West northwest wind 8 to 15 mph with gusts as high as 18 mph. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike:

From the Laguna Trailhead we'll go southwest on the Laguna Trail to its junction with the Fire Lane Trail, follow that down to the ocean, take a short “side trip” to Coast Camp to use the “facilities”, then hike northward paralleling the sea on the Coast Trail before turning back inland to the Laguna Trailhead.  Total distance covered should be approximately 5.2 miles.

The “Laguna-Coast Trail Loop” hike in Exploring Point Reyes National Seashore and Golden Gate National Recreation Area by Tracy Salcedo-Chourre describes the route we’ll take.  The trails we’ll follow are shown on the the North District Hiking Map on the Point Reyes National Seashore Website.

You will also find them on the map for hike “G4 Sky – Woodward Valley – Coast Trails” in the Martins’ book, Hiking Marin, although we are not doing that specific hike.

REMINDER - NO HIKE ON TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 2018

Just a quick reminder that there will be no hike this coming Tuesday, June 12, 2018.

The next Tuesday hike is June 19th at Laguna Trailhead, Point Reyes with Natalie Clark.