WEST MARIN: GARY GIACOMINI OPEN SPACE PRESERVE

WEST MARIN: GARY GIACOMINI OPEN SPACE PRESERVE

Leader: Gary Weiss

Leader Email: gary@sfhiking.com

Leader Phone: 415-279-5570

Meeting Date and Day: Saturday, October 14, 2023

Meeting Time: 8:45 AM, leaving shortly afterwards

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.

Rating: Level-4

Mileage: 7.5 miles

Elevation Gain: 1500'

Description: Giacomini Preserve is a stunningly beautiful preserve, oddly with very few visitors.  It's located between the Mt. Tam Watershed lands and Samuel P. Taylor State Park, just beyond the foothills of Mt. Tamalpais.  The Preserve is deeply forested for the most part - primarily redwoods, but we'll pass through several different terrains - even one brief stretch of chaparral.  The hike will be about 90% shaded - my guess. There are several spots where you get to peek out of the forest to spectacular views of the Bolinas Ridge and northern Marin, Sonoma and Napa counties.
We'll start in the town of Woodacre, passing through Forest Knolls and Lagunitas. We'll hike the majority of the east-west length of the Preserve, and hike our return along San Geronimo Ridge, within the Marin Watershed lands.
The reason I'm making this hike a 4 is that it includes some hefty ups and downs.  Here's a graph of the elevation, the pointy section in the middle being the most extreme - - but, especially with the final descent on the spectacular Hunt Camp Trail, it will be worth it!  Well-behaved dogs always welcome.

The best change since I led a hike here 2.5 years ago, is that there are parking areas right near the trailhead, instead of 1/2 mile down a paved road.

Bring/Wear: Lots of water, lunch, snacks (if you like chocolate bring some!), sunscreen, layers - and sturdy hiking shoes with good treads for a couple of slippery downhills. If you use poles they'll be very helpful on the pointy section in the middle.

Rain Policy: Contact hikeleader if weather is questionable.

Alternative Meeting Place:  The Fairfax Parkade - a block long parking lot across the street from the Fairfax Theater @ 9 Broadway St. 
"A" is where we'll meet; "B" is the entrance to the Parkade; "C" is 9 Broadway, the theater right across the street (in case you'd rather see Barbie):

From US 101, exit at San Anselmo/Sir Francis Drake Blvd.  At the large intersection of Red Hill, continue west towards Fairfax.  Once in "town" you'll see the parking lot (Parkade) on the left.  Entrance from the far end.
From the Parkade we'll merge into the fewest cars possible.  I'll lead everyone to the really hard-to-find trailhead.  Google Maps Link

Alternative Meeting Time:  9:35 AM

Alternative Meeting Departure Time: 9:50 AM

Driving Distance: 55 miles total from SF, 65 from Rockridge