Weather looks spectacular for hiking Saturday! Mostly sunny in the area with temps from about 51-58 depending on elevation. Friday rain should bring nice flows to Cataract Falls. Some spots could be slippery so I recommend boots with good tread. See you all at parking lot - Steve

Contact: Steve G
cell: [masked]

EVEN NEWER REMARKS: I’m not a particularly fast hiker, so if you like to go quickly ahead of the group, make sure to print out and bring the trail map/s. There are many trails and trail intersections in this area and it is easy to get sidetracked or lost. I would like everyone to wait up at the lunch spot to make sure we are all together at this point.

ADDITIONAL NEWER REMARKS: The lunch spot is a very beautiful location for a break but it is a grassy hillside and could be damp, so bring something like a small tarp, etc., to sit on. Although dogs are allowed on leash I don’t recommend it as we will be hiking mostly on narrow trails. There is not usually much poison oak on the north side of Mt. Tam, but there may be some so be on the lookout.

NEW REMARKS: I've added the "strenuous" designation to this hike to be more in keeping with the ratings on similar hikes currently being offered. I placed a limit on number of participants due to parking availability at the trailhead. If you are not planning on attending, please update your RSVP.

Please note: This hike has some very steep sections, both up and down, including many stairs along way. Not recommended for beginners or young children.
Duration: about 6-7 hours with lunch and breaks to enjoy views (plus about 4 hours round-trip driving time)
Distance: about 10 miles
Overall elevation gain: about 2400 ft.
Difficulty: Intermediate to advanced

This loop hike will take us past two lakes, a series of waterfalls, and a secluded marsh. Along the way we will pass through redwood and fir forests, chaparral covered slopes and grassy ridge tops. There will be a steep climb along the Cataract Trail, lots of up-and-downs along the way and a possible tricky stream crossing depending on recent rains. The hike is on Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD) land. Please respect their regulations. Dogs are allowed only on leash. No swimming or pets are allowed in the lakes, as this is drinking water for Marin County.

Bring a snack to eat before lunch. It's about 5.5 miles to the lunch spot and worth the hike!

From the parking area cross the earthen dam of Bon Tempe Lake (sign should point toward “shadyside”) and veer on the fire road toward the right. At the next junction take the fire road to the right until you reach the Kent trail and follow it along the shores of Alpine Lake. Follow the Kent trail for 2 miles.

Next take the Helen Markt trail to the right and follow it for 1.7 miles.

At the junction with the Cataract Trail, turn right and cross the bridge. We will follow the trail downhill for about a quarter mile for extra waterfall viewing, then turn around and head uphill. At the second wide viewing spot in the trail with a wood railing, stop, take in the view for a break, then turn around and head back toward the bridge. After re-crossing the bridge, stay right on the Cataract Trail and follow it uphill for .8 mile. It is steep, and may be slippery if wet, and has many stairs along the way. If there has been recent rain there will be unfolding views of the creek as it spills over rocks and into pools all through Cataract Canyon.

At the junction with the High Marsh Trail, make a hairpin left turn to follow High Marsh. The sign for High Marsh may be facing the other direction, so make sure you don’t miss it. At a short distance along the High Marsh, the trail traverses a steep grassy hillside. As the trail rounds the bend on the edge of the ridge, a fire road climbs steeply to the right. Follow this road up the hill a short distance for a spectacular view of the Bolinas Ridge and the hills to the north of Mt. Tam. We will have lunch here.

(Note: We do not go to Laurel Dell Camp. If, after hiking up the Cataract Trail, you find yourself at a picnic ground with tables, you have gone too far. Turn back down the Cataract Trail and in about a quarter mile you will find the intersection with High Marsh.)

After lunch, return to the High Marsh Trail and follow it for the remaining 2 miles. Shortly after passing the marsh, we come to the junction with the Kent Trail. Turn left on Kent trail for .6 mile to the junction with the Stocking Trail.

Turn right on the Stocking Trail (the sign post says "To Rocky Ridge" on the front, and "Stocking Trail" on the back) and follow it for .6 mile.

At the junction with the Rocky Ridge Road, turn right and follow this rough fire road for the final 1.4 miles to our starting point at Bon Tempe Lake.

Weather that will cancel: heavy rain

Trail map: http://files.meetup.c...

I recommend also bringing MMWD map for overview of area: http://www.marinwater...

Local roads to parking area: http://files.meetup.c...

Driving directions on MMWD site: http://www.marinwater...

Driving directions to Bon Tempe Lake
93 mi – about 1 hour 50 mins

Starting at: 11th St & P St, Sacramento
1. Head west on P St toward 10th St. - 0.7 mi
2. Take the I-80 W ramp to San Francisco - 0.8 mi
3. Merge onto US-50 W - 3.1 mi
4. Continue on I-80 W - 48.2 mi
5. Take the State Hwy 37 exit toward San Rafael - 0.7 mi
6. Merge onto CA-37 W - 20.6 mi
7. Take the 101 South exit - 0.3 mi
8. Keep left at the fork, follow signs for San Francisco/US-101/San Rafael and merge onto US-101 S - 10.2 mi
9. Take exit 450B to merge onto Sir Francis Drake Blvd (WEST) - 5.6 mi
10. As you enter downtown Fairfax, there is a road divider on left with trees and a large wooden "Fairfax" sign. Turn left here and immediate right on Broadway
11. Turn left at Bolinas Rd - 0.4 mi
12. At a 3-way split in the road, stay left to stay on Bolinas Rd - 1.1 mi
13. Turn left at Sky Oaks Rd (sign says Lake Lagunitas and Bon Tempe) - 0.8 mi
14. Follow signs for Bon Tempe. Once past the entrance kiosk, you will pass a parking area on the right, continue on road until you see a parking area along a side road to the left. Park here. Trailhead is the wooden gate. There is a porta-potty at parking area and another along way at far end of the dam.

Parking is $8 per car (bring cash for self-service machine)

Carpoolers, please remember to bring $3 per hour for your driver (approx. $12 for trip)