Should you take the time to make the climb, the mysteriously named Hill 88 is well worth the effort. Rising 1,053 ft over widespread Rodeo Seashore and Fort Cronkhite within the Marin Headlands, the hilltop as soon as was clearly a army web site, full with a hurricane fence–lined method and heavy obligation concrete buildings. However the gate on the finish of the fencing is open to the general public, and the buildings are gutted of every little thing besides a positive and placing show of public artwork that displays extra about our current struggles after surviving a Chilly Warfare previous.
To succeed in Hill 88 from Rodeo Seashore, merely comply with the Coastal Path up from the north aspect of Rodeo Seashore after which shift to Wolf Ridge, following the indicators after which a spur to Hill 88. The path is widespread for a lot of the climb, which may imply some crowds and clustering the place the beneficiant former street narrows into single tracks and a few steep stair climbs.
The primary a part of this there-and-back journey is fairly flat and straightforward, however finally, it begins a climb that ought to get an increase out of most cardiovascular techniques. From Rodeo Seashore to Hill 88 is about two miles (relying on which supply you seek the advice of, the least correct being my step tracker), for a spherical journey of about 4 miles.
The ascent passes some attention-grabbing stops alongside the way in which, to catch a breath and catch extra of the infinite views of the Pacific and surrounding Bay Space in nearly each route. A glance up throughout the best months — often late summer season into late fall — would possibly give a glimpse of the hawks that frequent the realm seasonally.
A pause at Battery Townsley, one other remnant of the previous, can yield a valuable peek at California newts that in some way make their method right into a pool inside one of many battery’s open turrets. It’s enjoyable to spend time within the echoey opening across the pond and spy the little reddish amphibians residing their greatest lives excessive on a Marin hill, however do to not contact them as their pores and skin emits a strong neurotoxin.
The spur from Wolf Ridge takes you as much as a path lined with that daunting-looking hurricane fencing. As soon as inside the realm of the previous army station, spend a while exploring the work on the partitions, which provide some highly effective examples of public artwork. An overlook platform affording magnificent vistas bears a lavender spray-painted message that reads, “Welcome to hill 88,” so that you may be certain you’re in the best place.
A mysterious concrete-lined, water-filled gap intrigued our group, as did a discarded T-shirt that learn “Antioch Faculty.” And on all sides, a view to astound, towards Marin within the north, town to the south, the Pacific to the west (in fact) and the day we had been there towards sundown, a rising moon eastward.
The hill presumably takes its title from a former Nike missile web site, SF-88, simply throughout Rodeo Lagoon to the south at what was Fort Barry. SF-88 was one in all three such websites in that space of Marin, together with Fort Cronkhite, designated as SF-87, and Fort Baker, designated as SF-89.
When it was energetic, SF-88 housed Ajax after which Nike Hercules missiles, and the Hill 88 complicated served as its radar station.
You received’t discover any remnants of the radar gear on Hill 88 (that’s housed on the Nike Missile Website), however you'll discover the stays of the buildings. The Nationwide Park Service warns that the buildings are unstable and guests ought to keep exterior of them. That hasn’t stopped many artists armed with their spray paints from gaining entry and leaving a chronicle of the way in which we reside now on partitions left behind from the way in which we lived then.
• Getting there: To start out the path at Rodeo Seashore, take Bunker Highway from Freeway 101 by the one-way tunnel after which maintain left when on the fork onto Mitchell Highway because it approaches Rodeo Seashore. On the seashore, park within the lot or in allowed parking areas alongside Mitchell Highway resulting in the seashore. From the parking space, head north (to the best of the seashore), and comply with the gently rising switchbacks of the start of the Coastal Path. Canines are allowed on a leash.
Emily Willingham is a Marin science journalist, e-book writer and biologist. You will discover her on Twitter @ejwillingham.