Having the Marin hills virtually on our doorstep means by no means going too far to discover a mountain climbing path. However the huge community of trails and fireplace roads additionally means a hike might haven't any finish except you pinpoint a purpose of your personal making.
Huge Rock Path in Lucas Valley makes that call straightforward as a result of it takes hikers to the second-highest peak in Marin, trailing solely Mount Tamalpais. And that peak is simple to seek out as a result of it’s topped by radio towers which are seen from the trailhead and from many different vantage factors within the northern a part of the county.
Making it to the towers will get you a 360-degree view of Lucas Valley and Ignacio Valley from Huge Rock Ridge, which rises between the 2.
The trailhead is simple to seek out. Simply take Lucas Valley Street about 5.5 miles west from Freeway 101 till you see a giant rock in your proper. The rock itself is on non-public property. Simply throughout the way in which is roadside parking, however making a U-turn in the event you’re westbound is hard as a result of it’s a little bit of a blind rise for eastbound drivers. You possibly can go a bit method down Lucas Valley Street and switch round extra safely, after which park close to the trailhead on the south facet of the street.
A tunnel that's house to many swallow nests runs below the street and connects the Loma Alta Hearth Street on the south facet to Huge Rock Path on the north facet. Undergo the tunnel, heeding indicators that ask for quiet for the sake of nesting swallows. Whenever you emerge, you’ll be on Huge Rock Path. As a result of that is Marin, there might be cows. And since that is Marin, there may even be views.
The path is about 6.5 miles spherical journey, an out-and-back journey. A few 1.5 miles in, as the trail climbs gently upward by way of rolling grassy hillsides, you may look down on Skywalker Ranch in your left. Maintain shifting ahead because the path narrows to single monitor at some factors, crosses a few bridges and depends on switchbacks to hold vacationers to the highest. The path forks in some locations the place hikers have clearly taken shortcuts, however indicators ask customers to please keep on the primary pathways.
Towards the height, the ridge runs east–west. Heading east will take you to the radio towers that high out the Huge Rock Path. From this vantage level, you may see Ignacio Valley to the north and look down on Lucas Valley to the south.
I swear I additionally caught glimpses of the Nicasio reservoirs whereas descending Huge Rock on a latest Sunday. That day, we encountered few vacationers, however as a result of the path is multiuse. Customers on foot would do nicely to maintain an ear out for cyclists, particularly on the path’s narrower components with restricted sight distance.
Huge Rock Path tops out at about 1,800 toes, a lot shy of Mt. Tam’s 2,579 however nonetheless affording putting views. From the Lucas Valley trailhead, you’ll achieve about 1,100 toes in elevation. It’s not a strenuous climb, but it surely’s a steady one, simply sufficient to get the center charge rising steadily for the upward portion.
We obtained fortunate on our final outing as a result of a small gopher snake favored us with its presence simply as we approached the towers. The standard mixture of bay, oak, coyote bush and manzanita might be acquainted to aficionados of the Marin hills, and chicken fanatics will discover lots to tweet about in the event that they carry on alert.
It’s crispy and parched within the hills as September continues the dry march of summer time, however the day of our hike was cloudy and funky, a welcome respite from the latest warmth wave. As we made our method down, the layers of sky and clouds within the west took on completely different hues with the strategy of sundown, and we encountered just one different hiker alongside the way in which.
• Getting there: Take the Lucas Valley Street exit from 101 and head about 5.5 miles west, conserving a watch out for a giant rock on the correct, simply because the winding street emerges from the bushes. Canine are allowed on this path, as are bikes.
Emily Willingham is a Marin science journalist, guide writer and biologist. You could find her on Twitter @ejwillingham.