The Marin Staycation: Hiking
/By Nicole Fuches
Quarantine has presented different challenges for each of us. If some of those challenges are staying entertained and getting exercise, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve put together a list of my top ten favorite hikes to explore in beautiful Marin County. Hopefully this will inspire you to keep on adventuring and help you realize that at the end of the day, Marin is a remarkable place to be quarantined amid these crazy times.
Terra Linda - Sleepy Hollow Ridge
I had to mention this ridge first; not because it was the first adventure I undertook this summer, but because of how much of a hidden gem it is. Though it can be entered through San Anselmo, I came through a residential neighborhood behind Scotty’s Market in Terra Linda. After summiting a pretty steep hill, I would recommend taking the Irving Fire Road Spur trail to the Sleepy Hollow Fire Road for this scenic loop. Though I went on a Saturday afternoon, a time where I expected there to be a lot of hikers, this area is very peaceful. I only saw five local residents in my two hours there, and when I wasn’t near them, it was just me and a series of never-ending golden hills.
Pilot’s Knob
Pilot’s Knob Lookout Point offers the perfect balance between hiking and overlooking reservoirs. Starting from Phoenix Lake Reservoir, take Fish Gulch up toward Lake Lagunitas, and from the parking lot of the lake, take Pilot’s Knob Trail to the top. At the peak, you will be greeted by views of not just Lake Lagunitas (pictured), but also Bon Tempe Reservoir towards the right. Though Alpine Lake cannot be seen from this point, it is behind these reservoirs. Pilot’s Knob is a great place to picnic, as you can escape the crowds that are closer to Lake Lagunitas. As a warning, this loop from Phoenix Lake is at least 6 miles and has some very steep inclines along Fish Gulch, so come prepared with a lot of water!
Christmas Tree Hill
Though I always knew that there was a place in Corte Madera called Christmas Tree Hill, I just thought it was a residential area and nothing more. That’s why I was very surprised to not only be greeted by an array of “Christmas Trees,” but by gorgeous views of surrounding towns: from Larkspur all the way to the East Bay. Behind Stefano’s Pizza in downtown Corte Madera, there’s a set of steep stairs to climb. Don’t worry, that’s the hardest part. Once you’ve conquered them, continue to walk on Redwood Avenue, then Summit Avenue. Then you’ll reach the Blithedale Ridge Fire Road to not only be greeted by expansive views, but an up close vision of Mt. Tam! The fire road is the only part of the hike that can get a little crowded, but the portion spent hiking through residential neighborhoods is relatively calm.
Little Mountain Preserve
Hiking in the Novato heat in the middle of a 92 degree day didn’t feel like the smartest choice, but the views of Lions Park were totally worth it. Near the entrance to the Stafford Lake reservoir, Little Mountain hardly feels little. It can be considered an easy hike if you choose to follow the flat path, which you will immediately see, because it is a simple loop around the base of the mountain. However, there are various opportunities to climb it from different angles, but any one of them will entail a very steep climb. A plus side to this is that you will likely be the only one on the trail, unlike at the bottom of the mountain.
Agate Beach
Agate Beach is so much more than sand, water, and cliffs. What makes this Bolinas beach standout from the others is its tidepooling opportunities! Along the beach’s Duxbury Reef, you can find many creatures during low tide. My favorites were the black tegula (center) and the giant green anemone (right), but you can also find many other specimens including coralline algae, gulf oyster shells, acorn barnacle, kelp, lottia limpet, and rockweed! As these summer days are getting hotter, cooling off in the Bolinas breeze can be a life saver. However, with all the tidepools comes a limited amount of sand, which can be good if you do not want to be at a crowded beach, but bad if you want to be around others.
Loma Alta Preserve
If you head in the direction of West Marin past downtown Fairfax, you will reach this amazing Loma Alta, or Tall Hill, preserve after turning right off of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. Like Little Mountain, you can stay on a flat trail that starts from the parking lot to loop around the preserve. However, there are also many hills to summit, which I enjoyed far more. If you still have energy after your hike, Loma Alta is one of many other beautiful preserves such as White Hill, Gary Giacomini, Maruice Thorner, French Ranch, and Roy’s Redwoods in the Fairfax/Woodacre/San Geronimo/Nicasio area.
Alpine, Lagunitas, and Bon Tempe Lake Reservoirs
The trail that connects these three reservoirs is about seven miles long, but so beautiful! If you park at the Lake Lagunitas Parking lot, you will be greeted with views of Lake Lagunitas and Bon Tempe — but Alpine is less straightforward. Starting on Shadyside Trail, turn left onto Alpine - Bon Tempe Pump Road, and then Kent Trail. Kent Trail is along Alpine Lake and has plenty of areas to rest and take photos of the still, serene water (pictured). Kent Trail will soon go inland away from Alpine to turn into Stocking Trail, right next to Hidden Lake (which is actually a marsh). Then, turn right onto Rocky Ridge Road, and then left onto Lagunitas - Rock Spring Road to guide yourself back to the parking lot. The lot has picnic tables to enjoy a hard earned meal!
Alto Bowl and Horse Hill Preserves
One of the best parts of Marin, from an adventurer’s perspective, is that our county has so many back roads that connect each city. Though Alto Bowl Preserve in Corte Madera offers peaceful, secluded views of many tree tops, the path that connects it to Horse Hill is the most scenic part. Similarly to the Bolinas - Fairfax Ridge, the fire road in between these two preserves is filled with golden hills that are perfect for sunset viewing. The fire road on the immediate left at the start of Alto Bowl is the one to take. From a runner’s point of view, this trail is also more enjoyable than some of the others because this area is mostly flat. I started at Alto Bowl by driving to the end of Sausalito Street in Corte Madera, but starting at the bottom of Horse Hill and looping back works too.
Sorich Park
Not too many people know about some of the small, yet breathtaking parks that San Anselmo has to offer. Sorich Park is no exception. After turning right onto San Francisco Boulevard from Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, follow the end of the road until you get to a dirt parking lot. Though you will see a cemetary, don’t be put off. There’s a dirt road to the left of it that you can climb up to the top of the hill. This hill is right next to the border that San Anselmo and San Rafael share, creating amazing views. Before trying this trail, it’s best to know that not all of it is marked, and climbing up a path of your own is a more efficient choice. As a result, there weren’t any other hikers there when I was.
San Pedro Mountain Open Space Preserve
What’s interesting about this preserve is that it just keeps going and going. I never actually got to the top! This is because if you keep going for long enough up this preserve’s sole pathway, you would spill into China Camp. Though I did not make it the full way, I still had an incredible time, thanks to the views of the Civic Center in San Rafael. The sight kept bursting sporadically through pockets of trees; it’s not something you see all the time. However, I actually appreciated that because the shady trees gave me some much needed protection from the sun. If I had to warn hikers about one thing with this trail, it would be that it’s very narrow, and can be slippery if you are wearing shoes that lack traction.
Nicole Fuches
Nicole is an incoming freshman at UCLA who plans to study Political Science. She has passed time during the pandemic by running and hiking through as many sites in Marin as possible. In her free time she loves to dance ballet, jazz and contemporary.
