INDIAN VALLEY COLLEGE OPEN SPACE 4/2/19

This coming week we head to Novato to hike near the Indian Valley campus of the College of Marin to kick off our series of Spring hikes.

Two loops combine to make an interesting hike. Tomcat Clover, Fiddleneck and Plectritis should be in bloom this week. We'll also see other wildflowers and early butterflies. Wendy says that if we haven't heard the first Pacific Slope Flycatcher yet, we often hear it at IVC.

(Click here for a recap of our 2010 hike. You can view photos from past hikes by clicking here.)

Directions to trailhead: Take Highway 101 to the Ignacio Boulevard exit. Go west and follow Ignacio Boulevard into the Indian Valley College campus.

(Click here for a Google Map that shows an aerial view of the parking area. Click on the words "Indian Valley Preserve" to the right of the parking lot to get driving time and directions from your location.)

Our hike starts from parking lot #6 by the athletic field. (Click here to view and print a map of the campus).  

Bring singles or quarters (credit card may work, too) to get a ticket from the parking machines ($4/day; exact change if you are paying with cash vs. credit card). 25 minutes from College of Marin.

Carpoolers can meet at Smith Ranch Park & Ride lot at 9:15 a.m.

Restrooms at trailhead.

Weather forecast:  As of Thursday, March 28th, the National Weather Service forecast for the hike was a chance of showers. It will be mostly cloudy with a high near 63. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike:  Two hikes in the Martin's book, Hiking Marin, cover the area that we'll traverse: "E6 Indian Valley FR - Waterfall Trail" and "E7 Schwindt - Wildcat Trails".

You can also view and print  the map for the Marin County Open Space District's Indian Valley preserve. (Click here for more information about the Indian Valley Open Space Preserve.)

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

The Google Earth photo below shows this area. (Click on the photo to open a larger image in your Web browser).

Revised Spring Hiking Schedule 2019

Wendy has determined that there are going to be 8 hikes for the Spring Session.

Here is the new schedule:

SPRING QUARTER 2019 TUESDAYS

APRIL 2  INDIAN VALLEY COLLEGE OPEN SPACE. 

     Two loops combine to make an interesting hike. Tomcat Clover, Fiddleneck, and Plectritis should be in bloom this week, and if we haven't heard the first Pacific slope flycatcher yet, we often hear it at IVC.

     Take 101 to the Ignacio Blvd. exit.  Go west and follow Ignacio Blvd. into the campus.  Our hike starts from the athletic field near the police station. Bring quarters to get a ticket from the parking machines.

      25 minutes from College of Marin.  Restrooms at trailhead. 

APRIL 9  April 9  MOUNT BURDELL OPEN SPACE

     We may see Cream Cups, Tidy Tips, Baby Stars, and Balloon Clover as well as seven or eight species of butterflies. This is the only spot where Bitterroot, the Montana state flower, grows in Marin. Lunch at Hidden Lake.        

       Take 101 north and take the San Marin Drive exit. Go west on San Marin Drive.  Turn right on San Andreas Drive.  The entrance to the Open Space will be on your right.  If you come to the dead end of San Andreas you've only gone about half a block too far. 

        No lot but plenty of curbside parking.  30 minutes from College of Marin.  No restrooms on this hike.

APRIL 16  CHIMNEY ROCK, POINT REYES NATIONAL SEASHORE

     This is one of Marin's must-see spring wildflower displays! We'll see elephant seals at the overlook and take time to learn about their history and return from the brink of extinction.  We often see Pigeon Guillomots, Eared Grebes in breeding plumage, Common Loons, and Savannah Sparrows on this hike.  Bring binoculars if you have them. 

     Take Sir Francis Drake Blvd. At the junction with Pierce Point Rd, stay on Sir Francis Drake. Follow signs towards the Lighthouse and Drake’s Beach.  You’ll pass the turn to Drake’s Beach on your left.  Keep going until you see a left turn to Chimney Rock.  (SFD continues on to end at the Lighthouse parking lot.) 

     1 1/2 hours from College of Marin. Outhouse at trailhead.

APRIL 23 GREEN GULCH/MUIR BEACH GGNRA

Today we get to see the beautiful organic vegetable garden at the Zen Center’s Green Gulch Farms on our way up to the Coyote Ridge Trail. Lunch overlooking the ocean on our way back down to Muir Beach.

     Take the Stinson Beach/Hway 1 exit off Hway 101. Go through Tam Junction, and take Shoreline Highway and follow signs to Muir Beach.  Restrooms at trailhead. Time: 55 minutes from COM.

APRIL 30  WOLFE RIDGE. GGNRA

     Wildflowers and views! "First of spring" flowers for this hike usually include Cobweb Thistle and Bee Plant, and we sometimes see the amazing fairy moth hanging out by ocean spray. 

     From 101 South, take the last exit before the Golden Gate Bridge.  Turn right, go under the freeway, and get in the left turn lane to go through the one way tunnel with the 5 minute traffic light. Follow the road down past the Marine Mammal Center and park at the end of the road. (The beach will be on the other side of the road.)  40 minutes from COM.

MAY 7   WEST RIDGECREST

     Today we explore a section of the Coastal Trail with views of Stinson Beach and Bolinas Lagoon. When Ridgecrest Blvd opened as a toll road in the 1920s it was proclaimed California’s “Most Scenic Drive.”  It’s even better hiking! Today’s hike is not a loop. 

     EITHER take the Stinson Beach/Hway 1 exit off Hway 101. Go west through Tam Valley and up onto the ridge. Turn right onto Panoramic Hway and follow signs to Mt. Tamalpais. Turn left at Rock Spring onto Ridgecrest Blvd.  Park on left at junction with the Fairfax-Bolinas Rd. OR Take the Fairfax Bolinas Rd. from Fairfax to Ridgecrest Blvd.

       Time from College of Marin via Mill Valley is 1 hour, via Fairfax 1 hour. No restrooms at trailhead.

MAY 14  KENT PUMP ROAD

      Kent Lake is the largest of the MMWD reservoirs. The first Osprey nest was found at Kent Lake in 1967 when ospreys had been so decimated by DDT it was a big deal to see one.  The first bald eagle nested there in 2008.  In 2017 there were about eighteen active nests.  We’ll hike as far as the first few nests.

        Take the Fairfax-Bolinas Road to the Alpine Dam.  Parking is limited, so carpool if possible.  Park when you see the dam ahead (first choice), or cross the dam and turn around so you can park on the other side and walk back across the dam.

      Time:  35 minutes from College of Marin. No restrooms at trailhead.

MAY 21  FINAL EXAM  ROCK SPRING, MOUNT TAMALPAIS

We could see coral roots (a native orchid), meadow rue, and golden banners on this mostly shady loop hike.

Take the Mill Valley exit, East Blithedale.  Turn left on Camino Alto (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 you follow, so if in doubt "follow the yellow line road."  Molino becomes Edgewood which become Sequoia Valley Road. At a big intersection turn right onto Panoramic Hway.  At the intersection where the Pantoll Ranger Station is, turn right on Pantoll.  (In other words, keep going uphill.)  You'll come to an intersection with Ridgecrest Blvd.  You'll be facing a dirt parking lot. This is Rock Spring.  Park here

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

     Driving time from College of Marin 55 minutes. Outhouse at trailhead and mid-way.

REMINDER - NO HIKE ON TUESDAY 3/26/19

Just a quick reminder that there will be no hike this coming Tuesday March 26th, 2019.

The Spring Session begins the following week, Tuesday April 2nd, 2019.

Stay tuned to learn whether the session is 7 or 8 hikes. Wendy is currently investigating and will get back to us.

In the meantime, happy hiking.

FINAL EXAM - BON TEMPE AND LAGUNITAS LAKES 3/19/19

This is a lovely, level lakeside loop! We could see Ring-necked Ducks, Common Mergansers, American Widgeons, Ruddy Ducks, Buffleheads, and more. This could also be the week for our first Acmon Blue butterfly!

(Click here for a recap of our 2010 hike. There's also an album of photos taken on past hikes.)

Remember to bring your contribution to our gourmet feast, a plate, cup, and utensils. If it rains, Wendy opens her home so we may have our potluck inside. Her address is 10 East Ct. San Anselmo. 

Directions to her house follow: from Sir Francis Drake eastbound, as you would be if coming from Lake Lagunitas: left on Suffield which becomes Valley if you go straight when Suffield veers right.  Right on Traxler. Right (but not the hard right) on Hillcrest. Left on East Ct.  Don't worry about blocking in other cars as we'll all leave about the same time. 

If you skip the hike and want to come for the potluck, here are directions to Wendy's home.  From Sir Francis Drake Blvd westbound turn right on Butterfield. (There is a right turn only lane.) At the first stop sign, left on Rutherford. Hard right on Camino de Herrera. Right on Hillcrest Ct. Left on East Ct.  Don't worry about blocking in other cars as we'll all leave about the same time. 

Click on link for directions.

Directions to trailhead: Take Sir Francis Drake Boulevard into Fairfax. Jog left and make an immediate right in front of the movie theater.

The first left puts you on Bolinas Avenue. Follow this for about 1 mile until you see the sign on your left for Lake Bon Tempe and Lake Lagunitas. Turn left onto Sky Oaks Rd. Pass the kiosk and pull into the parking area on the right where you pay unless you have an MMWD pass. Pay the day use fee, and continue driving until you reach the end of the road. Follow the paved road onto Lake Lagunitas.

The day use fee is $8.  You can use a credit card, $1, $5, or $10 bills (but not coins or $20 bills) at the automated pay station.

Annual watershed area parking passes for Marin residents are $60 ($30 for those 62 and older). You can buy them online or at the MMWD main office in Corte Madera.

Click here for the MMWD map and directions. Or click here for a Google Maps map showing the trailhead location; click on the teardrop icon to get driving directions and estimated travel time from your location.

Time: 30 minutes from College of Marin. Outhouse in parking lot; portables en route

Carpoolers can meet at St. Rita's Church at 9:20 a.m. Click here for a Google Map showing St. Rita's ("A") and directions and estimated driving time to the trailhead.

We’ll have lunch at the picnic area at Lake Lagunitas so you don’t need to carry the food for the potluck.

Weather forecast:  As of Friday, March 15th, the National Weather Service forecast for the hike was a slight chance of showers. It will be party sunny with a high near 60. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike: Hike "C13 Bon Tempe Lake Trail" in the Martins' book, Hiking Marin, shows the general area where we will be hiking. However, we'll start and end at trail junction #2 on their map, rather than at Bon Tempe dam. (Click here for an MMWD map that shows this area).

This hike is a little shorter than average at about 3.7 miles, without a great deal of elevation change.

The Google Earth image below shows both lakes in a view looking back towards Fairfax. (Click on the photo to open a larger image in your Web browser).

Deer Park to Lake Phoenix 3/12/19

Wendy says: "This is a scenic hike with lunch at Phoenix Lake.  We should see Red Larkspur, Gypsum Spring Beauty, Baby Blue Eyes, and Ground Iris  Maybe we'll hear the first Orange-Crowned Warblers of the season singing their spring song!"(Click here for a recap of our hike in March 2010 or here for photos from past hikes.)

Elevation: 200' up, 300' down in each direction.

Directions to trailhead:  Go west on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard to Fairfax. As you enter Fairfax, turn left at the gas station, and make an immediate right in front of the movie theater. This puts you on Broadway.

Make the first left onto Bolinas Avenue. Just after it veers left, turn left on Porteous Avenue. Follow it to the parking lot at Deer Park.

(Click here for a Google Maps map showing the location of Deer Park. Click on the teardrop icon to get driving directions and estimated driving time from your location.)

15 minutes from College of Marin. Carpoolers can meet at St. Rita's Church at 9:30 a.m.

Restrooms at trailhead.

Weather forecast:  As of Thursday, March 7th, the National Weather Service forecast for the hike was a slight chance of rain, otherwise mostly sunny with a high near 54. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike: Presumably we'll follow the same route as in the past. The Martin's Hiking in Marin trail guide does not have a single map and directions for our hike from Deer Park School to Phoenix Lake and back, but you can use the following two maps and hikes from their book to piece together our path:

Start off using the Martin's Hike "C6 - Deer Park Road - Yolanda Trail." Head up the Deer Park Fire Road to Oak Tree Junction, then turn left (to the south) and hike uphill on the Six Points Trail. When you reach the Six Points junction, switch to Hike "C4 - Hidden Meadow - Yolanda Trail" and hike down the Yolanda South Trail to Phoenix Lake.

Using that same hike and map, follow Shaver Grade uphill, and while doing so, refer back to the C6 hike and map to follow the Grade to Five Corners. Continue straight down Deer Park Fire Road to Boy Scout Junction. Cross the fire road and take the Junction Trail back to its intersection with Deer Park Fire Road (just where you turned off onto Six Points Trail when you were headed toward the lake).

Here's a Google Earth view looking from Deer Park over Bald Hill towards Phoenix Lake.

Here's the hike's profile.