Meandering in Marin on Tuesdays

Thursday, May 3, 2017

Wolf Ridge Hike (5/9/2017) 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: The Baker-Barry Tunnel is closed until approximately June 2017. From Highway 101 southbound, take the last exit before the Golden Gate Bridge. Turn left onto Alexander. Follow the signs to the Marin Headlands. Turn right onto the steep road to your right, Lower Conzelman Rd. Proceed up the road. Turn right onto McCullough, left onto Bunker and follow the signs. (Click here to get a map of the Headlands Detour Map)

Park at the end of the road. (Rodeo Beach will be on the other side of the road). (Click here for a 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 to get a map of the park and ride location) Click on the teardrop to get driving time from your location.)

Restrooms at trailhead.

Weather forecast: As of Wednesday, May 3rd, the National Weather Service forecast for this year’s hike was mostly sunny, with a high near 61. (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 may see Northern Elephant Seals which are often released at the Lifeboat Station in Point Reyes National Seashore where we had lunch when we hiked to Chimney Rock. There may also be California Seal Lions, Northern and Guadalupe Fur Seals, and Pacific Harbor Seals.