MT. TAMALPAIS NORTH SIDE: VAN WYCK WATERSHED, GRASSY FLATS & REALLY HIDDEN LAKE SATURDAY HIKE

  • 06/08/2019
  • 8:45 AM - 3:30 PM
  • Hikeleader: Gary Weiss

MT. TAMALPAIS NORTH SIDE: VAN WYCK WATERSHED, GRASSY FLATS & REALLY HIDDEN LAKE

Leader: Gary Weiss

Leader Email: gary@sfhiking.com

Leader Phone: 415-279-5570

Meeting Date and Day: Saturday, June 08, 2019

Meeting Time: 8:45 AM

Departure Time: 9:00 AM

Meeting Place: Under the Safeway sign on Market @ Dolores

Rating: Level-4

Mileage: 9 miles

Elevation Gain: 1800'

Description: Much of the May hike was rained out, strangely enough. This is an opportunity to see most of the really good sections - plus some others thrown in. We'll start at Bon Tempe Dam, follow the Kent Trail along Alpine Lake for a couple of miles before ascending the spectacular, completely unmapped Van Wyck canyon. It includes a mix of old and second-growth redwoods. We'll stop off to see Really Hidden Lake which was overflowing after May rains. We'll cross several lush canyons before returning to Alpine Lake via the opposite side of Van Wyck Creek to form a Figure-8 loop. I'd estimate that 80% of the hike will be on unofficial trails, and about the same amount will be under the cover of trees. There are some pretty steep sections on narrow "trails", but the reward is getting see some of the prettiest parts of Mt. Tam that almost no one ever sees. 

Bring/Wear: Lunch, snacks, lots of water! and very sturdy hiking shoes.

Rain Policy: Contact hike leader if weather is questionable 

Driving Distance: Total distance, there and back is 48.6 miles.

Total Bridge Tolls and Entry Fees:  $15.00

Car Pool Fees: $10.00

Alternative Meeting Place #1: We'll stop off at the Fairfax Parkade parking lot - right across from the movie theater (9 Broadway Street). Take Sir Francis Drake Blvd. until the town of Fairfax. After passing a tiny gas station on your left, you'll be driving alongside the Parkade. At the very end of it, get into the left turn lane. Enter the parking lot there. We'll be at the opposite end across from the theater. G-Maps link: https://goo.gl/maps/c8A1jQBsp2m

Alternative Meeting Time #1: 9:45 AM

Alternative Meeting Departure Time #1: 10:00 AM

Alternative Meeting Place #2: If you'd prefer to meet us at the trailhead, take US 101 to the San Anselmo/Sir Francis Drake Blvd. exit. Stay on SF Drake for a bit over 5 miles. After passing a tiny gas station on the left there will be a quick left onto Pacheco and an immediate right onto Broadway. At the first Stop sign go left onto Bolinas-Fairfax Rd. After a bit over a mile you'll see a sign on the left for Lake Lagunitas. Take that left. After passing the empty kiosk stop on the right to pay the $8.00 entrance fee into the Marin Municipal Water District. Continue for about 3/4 of a mile before turning right onto a dirt/gravel road to Bon Tempe Dam. You'll eventually see a parking lot on the left. G-Maps link: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/2020+Market+Street,+San+Francisco,+CA/37.9592094,-122.6098176/@37.974266,-122.6158255,12.33z/am=t/data=!4m9!4m8!1m5!1m1!1s0x808f7e1e329b437d:0xf9b56566bbf7a57f!2m2!1d-122.4279658!2d37.7688946!1m0!3e0

Alternative Meeting Time #2: 10:15 AM

Alternative Meeting Departure Time #2: 10:30 AM

Level-1
Level-2
Level-3 Level-4 Level-5
easiest moderately easy
 moderate
  strenuous 
very strenuous
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