CARSON FALLS, DUTCHMAN'S ROCK & AN ANCIENT REDWOOD GROVE
Hike Date: Saturday, February 26, 2022
Leader: Gary Weiss
Leader Email: gary@sfhiking.com
Leader Phone: 415 279-5570
Meeting Location (ONLY IF you've arranged for a ride in SF): Whole Foods;
2001 Market St. @ Dolores (on the Dolores St. side); parking on the street or below.
Please only show up at Whole Foods if you've arranged to meet your ride or driver there.
Meeting Time: 8:45 AM
Departure Time: Shortly after 8:45 AM
Rating: Level 4
Mileage: 9+ miles
Elevation Gain: 1700'
Description: This hike will include all of Mt. Tam's terrain types. We'll start off of Bolinas-Fairfax Road, climbing up to Dutchman's Rock, with spectacular views of lakes and the hills to the east. (If you've not been up here, you're in for a treat!) We then continue our climb up to the ridge, then drop all the way down to a beautiful old redwood grove before beginning the hike up to Carson Falls - the tallest and, when there's plenty of water, the most dramatic falls in the area. We'll spend the next mile or so on fire roads, then hike down the beautiful Carson Gulch, passing near the falls again. Then it's up Old Sled Trail and back down past Dutchman's Rock again to the cars. The majority of the single-track trails will be unofficial. If we've had any rain the falls will be incredible.
Well-behaved dogs are welcome.
PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU NEED A RIDE AND/OR CAN TAKE A PASSENGER, AND WHAT YOUR COMFORT LEVEL IS REGARDING PASSENGERS.
Bring / Wear: Please bring LOTS of water, lunch, sturdy hiking shoes. If you use hiking poles you may want to bring them along for a couple of steep downhills.
Weather Policy: Check with hikeleader in the event of questionable weather.
Alternate Meeting Place #1: In order to go in the fewest cars possible (parking is limited) we can meet at the Fairfax Parkade. Exit 101 at the San Anselmo/Sir Francis Drake exit. Continue on Sir Francis Drake, staying left at the large (Red Hill) intersection until you reach Fairfax, passing the huge Good Earth Store on the left and a tiny gas station. The Parkade is a block long parking lot on your left. Enter at the far right corner. The G-Maps link is for the movie theater across the street. Don't meet there: park in the Parkade lot.
Google Maps Link Let me know if you'll be meeting there.
Alternate Meeting Time #1: 9:30 AM
Alternate Meeting Departure Time #1: 9:45 AM
Alternate 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. Continue for about 6 miles (white mileage marker on the side of the road says 5.88). There will be a small dirt parking area on the right. (Google Maps may still think that the Bolinas-Fairfax Rd is closed and advise you to go all the way to Stinson Beach and back. Don't! It's open now.)
Google Maps link: Google Maps Link
Alternate Meeting Time #2: 10:15 AM
Alternate Meeting Departure Time #2: 10:20 AM
Total driving distance, there and back: 54
Passenger Carpool Fees including Bridge Toll: $9
Level-1
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Level-2
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Level-3 |
Level-4 |
Level-5 |
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easiest
< 5 miles
< 500' gain
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moderately easy
5-7 miles
< 1000' gain |
moderate
7-9 miles
< 1500' gain
|
strenuous
9-12 miles
< 2000' gain
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very strenuous
12-15+ miles
>2000' gain |
