China Camp Hike Photos Now Online!

Photos taken by Theresa Fisher during this week's China Camp State Park hike are now online!

View them on the Meandering blog or click here for the on-line album.

Bootjack to West Point Inn Hike Photos Now Online!

Photos taken by Theresa Fisher during this week's Bootjack to West Point Inn hike are now online!

View them on the Meandering blog or click here for the on-line album.

China Camp State Park Hike (10/9) Preview

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:
"Learn about wetland habitats and some of the endangered animals that live there like the tiny salt marsh harvest mouse. This area is also of historical interest as the site of a once thriving Chinese shrimp fishing village." (Click here to view and print out the park brochure and map).

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.

Time: 30 minutes from College of Marin. No restrooms at trailhead, but you can turn in at the China Camp sign and go past the toll booth (you don't need to pay), past the day use parking area, to the campground parking area.

Weather forecast: As of Friday, October 5, the weather forecast for the hike was a slight chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 67. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike: Hike “D14 Bay View Trail – Miwok Fire Trail" in the Martins' book, Hiking Marin shows the general area where we will be hiking although our route may vary from this one they describe.

Update on California State Parks

Here's the latest word on the status of California's State Parks system from the California State Parks Foundation newsletter:

"An important line in the sand got drawn for state parks last month when Governor Brown signed two bills into law, Assembly Bill (AB) 1478 (Blumenfield) and Assembly Bill (AB) 1589 (Huffman). Both bills have measures that will help California’s ailing state parks system.

"AB 1478 appropriates the recently-identified $20.5 million in State Park and Recreation Fund funding to the California Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) to keep parks open that had previously been slated for closure. The bill also contains new qualifications for appointing members to the nine-member State Park and Recreation Commission. The changes to the Commission are intended to improve its ability and capacity to provide oversight of DPR and foster a more meaningful connection between the public, park stakeholders, and DPR. AB 1478 also establishes a two-year moratorium on closing state parks, in Fiscal Year 12-13 and FY13-14.