It is truly a rare hike that leaves you both worn out and exhilerated at the same time. Kent Trail to Hidden Lake give you that experience. It is a hiker's hike! The challenging trails and the rugged, isolated microcosms of nature command the senses and satisfy the primeval need to commune with nature. The hike starts at the bottom of the Lake Bon Tempe Dam in the Marin Municipal Water District. We go up and over the dam and then down the other side to meet with Alpine Lake which is about a hundred feet lower than Bon Tempe. Alpine Lake only has one recognized trail along it. This is rugged …

Tom Stienstra, our treasured outdoor writer forThe San Francisco Chronicle, inspired us this week to go out to the local Marin wetlands to experience the great waterfowl migration that is happening this year. Stienstra attributed the larger numbers of waterfowl around California to extreme cold weather up north and in the Midwest. Stienstra's article highlighted the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, but also mentioned Bay Area wetlands as great places to see the migrating waterfowl. The Las Gallinas wildlife ponds near the Regency Cinema off Smith Ranch Road in San Rafael are well known …

All we can say is WOW! Get outside and see the sights right now. The wind has swept away all the moisture and particulates and has left crystal-clear visibility. You can see for miles.Fort Baker, at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge makes a great destination for seeing the bridge and San Francisco Bay with Angel Island, Alcatraz Island and the city skyline. The fort lies just next to the magnificent bridge, in a small wind-protected cove.The Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) offers two wonderful guided walks, each taking about 45 minutes. The first, Fort Baker History Walk: …

On these clear crisp fall days the coast keeps calling us to visit. This week it was not just the perfect weather, but the call of vast numbers of shore and coastal birds serenading our visit to Millerton Point and Tomales Bay Ecological Preserve at the south end of Tomales Bay. At end of the Tomales Bay; Lagunitas, Olema and Bear Valley Creeks merge and enter the bay through the tidal marshes. In 2007, over 550 acres of diked farmland was restored to tidal wetlands. The area is rich with wildlife. According to signage in the area, the number of waterbird species has increased 66% and the …

The Blithedale Summit Open Space is a lofty arena encompassing much of Mt. Tamalpais's north ridge. The preserve is well endowed with amazing views of the bay, deep swathes of forest, and crisp air filled with bird calls. We looked to Mill Valley to enter, carefully parking along West Blithedale Boulevard (parking is limited) and heading through the gate at Old Railroad Grade. A tenth of a mile in, the H-Line Fire Road takes off to the right and climbs moderately up to Blithedale Ridge. Blithedale Ridge has a wide rocky fire road that provides great views, but can feel a little overexposed. …

Crown Road in Kentfield, like Concrete Pipe Road in the Ross Valley, is a wide flat fire road that is welcome to all-comers. The trail is also called Southern Marin Line Fire Road, but Crown Road seems an apt name for its circling of the eastern peaks of Mt. Tam like a crown. The trail is part of the Baltimore Canyon Open Space Preserve and has sparkling views of the bay, King Mountain, Mt. Tam, and Baltimore Canyon. From the Marin County Open Space gate at the southern end of Crown Road, the fire road takes off along the hillside. The steep downslope on one side creates great views of the …

Northside Trail is one of the longest, relatively flat hiking trails on Mount Tamalpais above 1,800 feet elevation. Its long (2.7 mile) forested single track, with north-facing lookout spots, provides hikers with lots to see and do. We recommend getting to Northside Trail by coming in off the top of Mount Tamalpais along Eldridge Grade. Alternatively, you can climb up to the eastern end of the trail by hiking out of Lake Lagunitas by way of Lakeview Road and climbing up Eldridge Grade. Once at the trailhead, an old sign leads you into Northside Trail. Northside is a rugged trail, which …

When it comes to outdoor activities we tend to prefer warm sunny weather. With the continued fog appearing to thicken, and no sign of a heat spell coming, we retreated inland to do one of our favorite family outings around Lake Lagunitas. With relaxing picnic spots under the trees by the lake shore, shady redwood groves tucked in the canyon, and turtles sunning themselves near the shore, Lake Lagunitas is picture perfect. This outing is a much different experience than the wet puddle jumping adventure we sent you on last spring. Our family enjoys hiking or biking around the lake, stopping to …

There are lots of wonderful small and large loops to hike in the Tennessee Valley region of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA). We want to share one that we did recently. It was a hot day in San Anselmo, and so we went towards the coast thinking it might be cooler. As we approached Tennessee Valley we could see the fog pressing inland. In fact, at the parking lot we were shivering as soon as we got out of the car. That was a little too cool, so we backtracked along Tennessee Valley Road to a small trailhead for the Oakwood Valley Trail. Oakwood Valley Trail is a short …

I had a hankering for Mt. Tam this week, and my dog needed a hearty walk too. So we headed over to Mill Valley for a hike on the south facing slopes of Mt. Tam. Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD) is kind enough to allow dogs on leash on all their trails, so we stuck to those lands and avoided the state park. The Mt. Tamalpais State Park limits dogs (on leash) mostly to picnic grounds and parking lots.  The fog was rolling over the hills as we arrived at Mountain Home Inn, where a state parking area lies across the street. The ridge was cool and windy, a nice change from the hotter …

This week our family headed out to explore some of the less traveled and more challenging trails just outside of Fairfax. Old Sled, Little Carson Falls, Big Trees Camp and Nail Trail offer up challenging climbs and descents, numerous flowers still in bloom, beautiful places to explore or relax, and vistas all around.  The Oat Hill area near Alpine Lake gets little use and has a wonderful remote feel that you don't get in most other parts of Marin. The trails here are steep and not well maintained. They are narrow with close-in bushes in spots, but still easy to follow. They require sure feet …

School is out! This weekend is looking like a great start to summer vacation. It's time to get to the beach and do some exploring. Tomales Bay State Park near Point Reyes is a great place for hiking and/or playing on the beach. The main destination for most visitors is Heart's Desire Beach, but with three sheltered beaches and ten miles of hiking trails, people spread out quickly.  Tomales Bay State Park is on Tomales Bay, a long shallow inlet of the Pacific Ocean. The shelter the bay receives from the encompassing hills makes the water mostly flat, and the water is generally warmer than the …

We weren't about to let all the rain this week stop us; our trail choice was a hike up Eldridge Grade from Phoenix Lake, and then down Tucker Trail to form a loop. This hike explores some of the oldest trails on the northern slopes of Mt. Tamalpais that still have access close to home. And there were only a few sprinkles along the way! We started from Phoenix Lake and went along the north side of the lake. A left turn at the end of the lake puts you onto Eldridge Grade. This old road feels more like a trail. The banks of the road are full of native greenery. The rock faces are still coated in…

Marin is blessed with more parks and open space than any other suburban area. Every town and neighborhood in Marin has open space access, many of these open spaces were won in hard-fought battles with developers. King Mountain, behind the Larkspur downtown, is one such treasured open space. The public lands of King Mountain Open Space Preserve actually lie in three chunks southeast of the peak. The peak of the mountain, and the trail around it, are privately owned lands with easements for preservation of the natural setting and for public access. As with many of these small neighborhood open …

A tease of summer has finally arrived. After rain, cold, wind and more rain, comes some sun and heat. The children are starting to ask for some outdoor adventures. So we decided that a family bike ride was in order and one of our favorite places do family biking is on the Alpine to Kent (lakes) Pump Fire Road. Don't let this unfortunate name discourage you. It is an ideal place for a family outing, not too strenuous and beautiful at the same time. The road is mostly flat and reaching the back side of Kent Lake makes a good destination to motivate the kids. The sound of water running keeps you…

Visiting the Marin Headlands always leaves a sense of awe at nature's resilience and it's ability to survive and thrive amid sometimes rugged conditions. Plants and animals living along the coast must contend with fog, sun, wind, predators, erosion and human intervention. This struggle for life and growth is ever present in the Marin Headlands. As early as the late 1800s, humans commandeered the land for military defense as threats from the ocean were perceived. The land was given back to nature in the 1960s as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA).  In spring, the weather …

The hills of Marin's watershed lakes are blooming! The rattlesnake grass, lupine, and Douglas Iris carpet the banks of Pumpkin Ridge Trail and Lake Bon Tempe's Sunnyside Trail, making a wonderful spring show for outdoor enthusiasts.  We started our hike at the base of Bon Tempe Dam in the Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD) lands. Parking can sometimes fill here, so backup parking is at Lake Lagunitas (if you're parking at Lagunitas catch the hike at Pumpkin Ridge Trail). From the Bon Tempe parking area, Sunnyside Trail goes east along the lake. There is nothing like the scene of patient …

The season of growth and renewal is upon us. From cows to Cow Parsnip, from seals to Seaside Daisies, a trip to Chimney Rock in Point Reyes in the spring always rewards those who make the journey.The main reason for our trip to Chimney Rock was to see the amazing wild flower diversity that is unmatched anywhere else in Marin County. The California Native Plant Society has over 200 different species listed on its website. In most cases these are not fields of flowers, but the intermixing of the different species. It is a sight to see. We were lucky enough to have Katie Martin, coauthor of …

Mt. Burdell lies in the big country of northern Marin. The mountain's gracious slopes and grand old trees provide a bounty to the senses. Now is the time to visit Mt. Burdell, during these cool spring days, when the grass is green and the wildflowers and spring-time birds are exuberantly celebrating the end of winter. The trail we took passes by Hidden Lake, a vernal pool that is full and vibrant with aquatic life. This is a great spot to take kids to see frogs and other amphibians during the upcoming spring break. The heritage of Mt. Burdell lies in the grand old ranchos of the Mexican-…

The rain is finally taking a break and we get to enjoy the sun and warmth. The last month has been a challenge for the outdoor adventurer, finding sheltered places with minimal mud. Now, it's time to break out into the open and enjoy the vistas, sun and warmth.Bolinas Ridge is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA), which stretches from the the Golden Gate Bridge to the southern end of Tomales Bay. Marin has so much open space that there are numerous different agencies that manage the lands, and they do so differently. In this case, the GGNRA allows cattle ranching on the …