Quick Weekday Morning Wake-up Hike

Let's squeak in a quick morning wake-up hike on beautiful Mt. Tamalpais!

We'll meet at the Bon Tempe Dam parking area in Fairfax. Any hike that starts along a waterfront lifts your spirits right away, and since we begin by crossing the dam between Bon Tempe and Alpine Lakes, you just might burst into song!

Once we cross the dam, Rocky Ridge Trail will take us up about 800 feet in elevation, where we'll start to nab those incredible views Mt. Tam is known for. Gaining the ridge, we'll turn onto the Lower Berry Trail and begin our descent through mixed woodland, mountain meadow(where wildflowers should be dazzling), and some fun, rocky terrain. As we reach the bottom of Lower Berry, Shady-Side Trail will take us along the gorgeous, tree-lined shore of Bon Tempe Lake and back to the dam and our cars.

This is a moderately strenuous hike with a total elevation gain of 870 feet. Rocky Ridge is a wide fire road and is often exposed(but our early morning start should beat the heat). Total mileage for the loop is about 4.4 miles, so 2.5 - 3 hours, depending on how often we stop to take pictures of our iconic Bay Area treasures: the Golden Gate, Pacific Ocean, SF Bay, and of course Mt. Tam are all possible sightings from Rocky Ridge, depending on the weather.
Make sure you bring sunscreen, plenty of water, and a snack to replenish after your climb up to the ridge. Come on and wake up your week with this tasty little nibble! And feel free to message me if you have any questions.