We hike along a creek with lovely cascades and ferns. This is usually an interesting mushroom hike – in past years we've seen Toothed Jelly Fungus, Rosy Gomphidius, Cowboy's Handkerchief, and The Prince! The start is uphill with some stairs (but we’ll find lots to look at on the way), the end is level, and in between it’s up and down!We end up at the Bon Tempe Dam. (Click here for a recap of our January 2010 hike). Note the early start time (9:20 am). Carpool leaves St. Rita Church in Fairfax at 8:55 a.m. We sometimes get back late on this hike. If you must be back at 1:45 pm it's safer to skip this one.
This is a shuttle hike, so CALL WENDY AT 457-3949 or send her an e-mail her at bdreskin@comcast.net if you are coming!
Directions to trailhead: Take the Fairfax-Bolinas Road. Turn in as you would to go to Lake Lagunitas.
After the ranger station at Sky Oaks (but before Shaver Grade) there is an unpaved road to the right. Take this to Lake Bon Tempe and park at the lot near the foot of the dam.
Click here for a map that shows the parking lot at Bon Tempe Dam. Click on #1 to get driving times and directions from your location.
MEET HERE AT 9:20 a.m. Porta potties are in the parking lot. From here we’ll carpool to the trailhead (near Alpine Dam).
We’ll need people who are not in a rush to take the driver’s back to their cars parked near Alpine Dam.
Do not pay the day use fee at the Sky Oaks entrance if you plan to take people to the trailhead.
If you are going to leave your car in the lot by Bon Tempe Dam, stop at the two automated pay station machines which are now at the parking area on the right just beyond the entrance station and pay the $8 day use fee unless have an MMWD Watershed pass.
You can use a credit card, $1, $5, or $10 bills (but not coins or $20 bills) at the automated pay station which will not give you change if you overpay.
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.
Weather forecast: As of Tuesday, December 13th, the National Weather Service forecast for this area during the hike was mostly sunny, with a high near 553. (Click here for an updated forecast).
More on this hike: There is no comparable hike in the Martins' book, Hiking Marin, but we'll begin our hike just past the dam at Alpine Lake and head east on the Helen Markt Trail, eventually pick up one of the fire roads, and wind our way back to Bon Tempe Lake. (Click here to view, zoom in on, or print a map of the MWWD watershed lands).
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