Mountain Home Inn to Muir Woods 10/2/18

We continue the 2018 Fall 1 hiking series with a trip down into one of Marin's federal parks.

Here's Wendy's description of this week's hike:  "Today we’ll hike down to Muir Woods and learn how it became a National Monument. Lunch at Camp Eastwood where you’ll hear the fascinating life story of intrepid botanist Alice Eastwood."

(Click here for a recap of our September 2008 hike. There is an online album of photos from our past hikes here.)

Directions to trailhead: 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. Drive about 4 miles.

When you reach Mountain Home Inn on your right, park in the parking lot across the road on your left.

45 minutes from College of Marin.

Carpoolers can meet at the Greenbrae Park & Ride lot at 9:00 am.

Click here for a Google Maps map showing the Mountain Home Inn. Click on the teardrop icon for directions and driving time from your location.

Outhouse at trailhead and restrooms in Muir Woods and at lunch.

Weather Forecast: As of Thursday, September 27th, the National Weather Service forecast for the day of the hike was a chance of showers, partly sunny with a high near 69.  (Click here for an updated forecast).

More On This Hike: Hike "B6 – Muir Woods – TCC – Dipsea Trails" and hike "B7 – Panoramic – Lost – Sierra Trails" in the Martin's book, Hiking Marin, shows the area where we'll be hiking, but our route will not cover all of the trails taken on either of those hikes.

Tuesday's Hike is at Tennessee Valley 9/26/18

This loop features panoramic views of the Bay. You’ll appreciate the fact that it’s open space as you learn about Marincello, a city of 18,000 ( the exact number may vary depending on the source you consult about the history of the development) that was planned for this area! 

We may see hawks like the Northern harrier, brush rabbits, and even a coyote. (Click here for a recap of a hike on 10/27/09). 

Directions to trailhead:  Take the Stinson Beach exit from Highway101. Follow signs to Stinson Beach and Muir Woods, then turn left on Tennessee Valley Road and take it to the parking lot at the end.

Time: 40 minutes from College of Marin. Carpoolers can meet at the Greenbrae Park & Ride lot between 9:00-9:15 am. Portables at trailhead. 

One section can be very muddy, so waterproof your hiking boots if we’ve had any rain!  Hiking poles can be helpful, particularly on one steep downhill stretch of the trail.

Weather forecast:  As of Monday, September 25, the National Weather Service forecast for the area of our hike is sunny with a high near 71. West southwest wind 7 to 12 mph increasing to 13 to 18 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust to as high as 24 mph. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike:  You won't find this hike described in either the Martins' book, Hiking Marin, or Tracy Salcedo-Chourre's Exploring Point Reyes Seashore and Golden Gate National Recreation Area.  Look instead at the GGNRA Marin Headlands trail map.  We'll head up the Marincello and Bobcat Trails, do a sharp turn and head down the Alta and Oakwood Valley Trails, then cross Tennessee Valley Road and walk west on the Rhubarb Trail until we get back to the parking lot.


(Theresa Fisher created the following NPS map of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area overlaid with the route of our hike).

Rock Spring, Mount Tamalpais 10/9/18

This is a classic hike on Mount Tamalpais. Wendy wrote a Marin Independent Journal article about this hike.  Click here to see Wendy's article.

Here's a brief description of the hike: Classic sites on Mt. Tamalpais popular in the heyday of hiking - Potrero Meadow Barth's Retreat and Rifle Camp. Learn about the Down and Outers Club and who Barth was!

Directions to trailhead: Go south on Highway 101 to the Mill Valley Exit, East Blithdale. Turn left on Camino Alto (use the left turn only lane). Turn right on Miller Ave. Turn left on Montford. (The 2AM Club is the landmark.) Turn right on Molino. There is a yellow dividing line on the road so if in doubt "follow the yellow line road".  Moline becomes Edgewood, which becomes Sequoia Valley Road. At the large intersection at the top, turn right onto Panoramic Highway. At the intersection for the Pantoll Ranger Station, the road divides. Turn right onto Pantoll and keep heading uphill for about one mile. You'll come to an intersection with Ridgecrest Blvd. You'll be facing a dirt parking lot which is Rock Spring. Park here. (Click here for a map showing the parking area at the trailhead.   Click on the teardrop icon or click on "Directions" on the left-hand side of the screen to get  driving time and directions from your location.)

Driving time from College of Marin 55 minutes.

Carpoolers can meet at the Greenbrae Park and Ride lot at 9:10 a.m. (Click here for a map showing the parking lot on Drakes Landing Road; right click on the teardrop icon to get driving time and directions from your location.)

There is an outhouse at the trailhead.

Weather forecast: As of Wednesday, September 19th, the National Weather Service forecast for the area around Rock Spring on Mt. Tam was mostly 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.

Here's the hike profile and route we'll follow.

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).

UPDATE - $3 HIKING FEE -China Camp State Park Sept 18, 2018

Please note that China Camp has a $3 hiking fee even if you park outside the park. I'll bring some singles, but bring change if you can.
     This is the last place we hike this session that has a fee for hiking or parking.

                     Thanks,
                           Wendy

This week we hike on the eastern edge of Marin along San Francisco Bay, this time venturing into China Camp State Park. (Click here to read about our November 2008 hike or here for photos from past hikes in this area.)

Here's Wendy's description of the outing that we've usually done from this trailhead:

"Today you'll learn about wetland habitats and some of the endangered animals that live there.  This area is also of historical interest as the site of a once thriving Chinese shrimp-fishing village".

Directions to trailhead: Take the San Pedro Road exit from Highway 101 and go east for three miles. Pass the sign that says China Camp State Park and go about 3/4 mile further on San Pedro Road to Miwok Meadows (sign on your right). Park along the road, not inside of the park entrance as Wendy's list of hikes directs.

Click here for a Google Maps map that shows the parking area along San Pedro Road. Click on the teardrop icon to get driving times and directions from your location. 

Time: 30 minutes from College of Marin.

Notice - The Smith Ranch Road Park & Ride is permanently closed. In the past, carpoolers coming from San Rafael or farther north were able to meet there. Until we can find another location, please don't use this site.

Carpoolers coming from south of San Rafael can meet at Greenbrae Park & Ride lot at 9:15 a.m. (Click here for a Google Maps map showing the parking lot; click on the tear drop icon to get driving time and directions from your location.)

No restrooms at trailhead, but you can turn in at the China Camp State Park sign and go past the toll booth (you don't need to pay), past the day use parking area, and to the campground parking area. There are also restrooms just off the road at Weber Point and Buckeye Point, between the main park entrance and Miwok Meadows.

Weather forecast: The National Weather Forecast for Tuesday, September 18th is sunny with a high near 68. Click here for an updated forecast.

More on this hike: Hikes "D13 Miwork - Oak Ridge - Shoreline Trails" and “D14 Bay View Trail – Miwok Fire Trail" in the Martins' book, Hiking Marin show the general area where we will be hiking although our exact route may vary from the ones they describe.Dick Jordan • 

Bootjack to West Point Inn, 9/11/18

A mostly shady trail takes us up to the Mountain Theater where you’ll learn the history of its construction and the tradition of drama* on the Mountain.  Lunch at the historic West Point Inn.

*The Mountain Theater - a.k.a. The Cushing Memorial Theater- in Mount Tamalpais State Park was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. The natural-stone amphitheater seats 3,750 people and features the Mountain Play each spring, produced every year since 1913).

(Click here for a recap of our February 9, 2010 hike.  You can view photos from a previous hike in our online album).

Directions to Trailhead:  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.  Bootjack is about 2 miles past the Mountain Home Inn.

As you drive up the mountain, look for the Bootjack picnic area and parking lot ($8/car, if you don't have a state park pass) on your right.

Click here for a Google map that shows the Bootjack parking lot. Click on the teardrop icon to get driving directions and times from your location.

If you get to Pantoll at the crest of Panoramic Highway, you've gone too far and need to turn around and drive back down the mountain. (Click here for a map of Mt. Tam that you can view and print out).  

Restrooms at trailhead and lunch stop.

Driving time from College of Marin: 55 minutes.

Carpoolers can meet at the Greenbrae Parking & Ride lot at 9:00 a.m. (Click here for a Google map showing the parking lot on Drakes Landing Road; click on the teardrop icon to get driving time and directions from your location.)

Weather forecast:  As of Thursday, September 21, the National Weather Service forecast for the hike was sunny with a high near 69.  (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike:  Hike "B12 Bootjack - Rock Springs Trails" in the Martins' book, Hiking Marin, shows the trails we'll take.  (Click here to view a copy of the Mount Tamalpais State Park brochure; the park map on the last page shows the trails).

Here's the route we'll follow.

Here's the hike profile.

Sometimes instead of staring and ending at Bootjack we hike to from Mountain Home Inn to West Point and back, as we did in this short film by Dick Jordan.

  (Click here if the YouTube video player does not display)