Wolf Ridge Hike (4/26) Preview

Here's Wendy's description of this annual Spring outing: "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 Oceanspray."  (Click here for a recap of our 2010 hike.  This is the on-line album of photos taken during our previous hikes in this area.)

Directions to trailhead: From Highway 101 southbound, 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.

Park at the end of the road. (Rodeo Beach will be on the other side of the road). (Click here for a MapQuest Map for driving directions and times from your location.)

Time: 40 minutes from the College of Marin.

Carpoolers can meet at Greenbrae Park & Ride lot at 9:15 a.m. (Click here for a MapQuest map showing the parking lot; click on #1 to get driving time and directions from your location.)

Restrooms at trailhead.

Weather forecast: As of Thursday, April 21st, the National Weather Service forecast for this year’s hike was mostly sunny, with a high near 62. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike: Hike "A5 Coastal - Wolf Ridge - Miwok Trails" in the Martins' book, Hiking Marin, shows our route for this 5 mile-plus hike with a 1,000' elevation gain, as does the "Coastal-Miwok Loop" hike in Tracy Salcedo-Chourre's book, Exploring Point Reyes National Seashore and Golden Gate National Recreation Area. (Hill 88, our probable lunch spot, is 960' above sea level with lovely views on a clear day).

Here's the hike's elevation profile.

 This is the route that we'll follow.

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



If you have time after the hike, stop by The Marine Mammal Center, just uphill from Rodeo Lagoon and a short distance east of the parking lot where we met for the hike.

There you are likely to see Northern Elephant Seals like the ones we saw being released at the Lifeboat Station in Point Reyes National Seashore when we hiked to Chimney Rock, California Seal Lions, Northern and Guadalupe Fur Seals, and Pacific Harbor Seals.

 (Click here for a "Patient" list.)

There should be a docent-led tour at 3:00 p.m.