Mt. Tamalpais-Early Spring Walk

Please pack a lunch or hearty snacks. Our lunch spot is very scenic. Option to stop for lunch in Mill Valley afterwards.

Distance will be about 3-4 miles. Elev. gain about 500'. Wear sturdy footwear, hiking boots highly recommended. Bring water along, wear a hat and sunscreen. Wear layers. If you use a hiking stick, bring it.
It's early Spring on Mt. Tamalpais.
Here is a link to Google Maps for the Rock Spring parking lot.

As far as directions to the Rock Spring Trailhead Parking Lot, on Mt.Tam are concerned, I can't advise trusting GPS directions. Sometimes GPS will take you through Fairfax onto Bolinas-Fairfax Rd. That's the long route to take and you will be late.
Here are directions:
Take highway 101, and exit at the, Hwy.1, / Stinson Beach/Muir Woods exit.
Follow Hwy.1, to Panoramic Hwy. At the Ranger Station take the right fork up about a mile, straight into the Rock Spring parking lot.

It is not necessary to read further. But I it helps explain what is so unique about Mt.Tam.

Here is why I think hiking along the trails of Mt.Tamalpais, is so alluring.

No other region of North America has the great diversity of natural areas, flora and fauna or awesome natural beauty found in the 158,693 sq. miles of the great state of California. The Audubon Field Guide to California goes on to explain why.

The habitats of Calif. are divisions of the natural landscape defined by their plant communities. In turn as well, the creatures who can exist there are dependent on those plants for their survival.

Factors that influence an area’s habitats; availability of water, the shape or contouring elevations of the land, soils, underlying rock types and climate (temperature, precipitation, exposures and wind). The Guide goes on to list the nine characteristic habitats found in California.

1. Sierra Nevada Habitats
2. Habitats of Other Mountains: Coast, Transverse, Cascade, Peninsular Ranges, Desert Mountains and the Klamath Mountains. (There are 60,000 named mountains in Calif.)
3. Coastal & Island Habitat: Rocky or Sandy and Dune coasts, the Channel Islands.
4. Deserts: Great Basin, Mojave and the Colorado deserts.
5. Grasslands of the Central Valley: namely Grasses and Vernal Pools
6. Coniferous Forests: Redwood, Yellow Pine, Temperate Rain Forests, Douglas Fir & Mixed Evergreen Forests.
7. Chaparral (a habitat unique to Calif.) & Coastal Scrub
8. Foothill Oak Woodlands: Calif.Oaks, 20 oak species found in Calif. 10 of which are endemic.
9. Urban & Suburban Areas: Many introduced plants and “artificial” man-made habitats.

You may ask, okay, but why the above discussion when describing a hiking tour of the Mt.Tamalpais area? In a very small area in some cases, or in a much larger area in others,, almost all of the above nine habitats can be identified in areas of Mt.Tamalpais. From the Pacific Ocean shoreline to the top of East Peak. The 2571’ high peak is reached in only 4.03 miles as the crow flies from the Pacific shoreline. Going from habitat to habitat on Mt.Tam, is like going from room to room in a house.

Aided by year around fog drifting in off the ocean into the low lying valleys and stream beds providing the large quantities of water needed by redwoods. Called fog drip as the fog condenses as it flows through the redwoods and other trees and plants. But this life giving moisture is limited to what are called micro-climates which exist next to areas a stones throw away that don’t get the fog and receive very little water most of the year. Here we’ll find habitat #7 existing a stones throw away from habitats #5, #6 and #8. We can and will walk through these various habitats like almost walking through rooms in a house. It always fascinates the way nature organizes itself into these magnificent patterns chock-a-block right up against one another depending on the factors mentioned above.

The area is extremely photogenic so bring some camera equipment or a good smartphone camera.

As far as hiking weather is concerned, normally anytime of the year is great for hiking this area. If you want to see the dozens of varieties of wildflowers in bloom, hike in April. If you want to see and smell the Western Azaleas do mid-May. For the Tiger Lillies it’s June. In summer hike where the fog goes to stay cool. I love the fall to be reminded nature is changing with the seasons and the holidays are coming up.