China Camp to Marin - July 18, 2013

Walking Distance: 7 mi.
Walking Time: 2 hrs., 1 min. (3:27 - 5:28 p.m.)
Start and End Point: street parking near intersection of Birch Way and N. San Pedro Rd., San Rafael, CA

Today I returned to walk the last part (northern end) of China Camp State Park, from Santa Venetia/San Rafael. I walked back (south) along N. San Pedro Road toward China Camp, on mostly paved (sidewalks, asphalt walkway). Initially, the partly shaded walkways were very pleasant on a warm day. Flowers (wisteria, trumpet flowers, passion flowers) spilled over and through a wood fence on my left side.

Gradually, however, the sidewalk disappeared, and the setbacks on N. San Pedro became quite narrow on the last stretch into China Camp. This stretch deserved its broken green line status on the Bay Trail map.

I passed the entrance road to Buck's Boat Storage (and where there also appeared to be a place to buy cold drinks). I was tempted to walk down Buck's driveway to buy a bottle of water, but thought the better of it, since it wasn't clear whether the small store was open.

Once inside China Camp, I continued to walk along the side of N. San Pedro. I was passed by a light stream of traffic - mostly bicyclists and cars. I walked past the Back Ranch Meadows /Campground sign, and kept going until I reached the Miwok Meadows sign, where I turned around to walk back. On the return walk, I took a short detour to climb up a hill (on the Bay side of the road) for views of the water.

I continued walking back on N. San Pedro Rd., the same way that I'd come. The one exception: I walked down Vendola Drive, and decided to return to this spot in the near future -- I remembered remembered walking some interesting trails (Santa Venetia Marsh Preserve and Santa Margarita Island Preserve) by the water, during my first walk round the bay.

I continued, passing where my car was parked on Birch Way, to walk as far as a restaurant. Le Chalet Basque restaurant and bar was tucked away into this residential neighborhood and I remember enjoying a stop there for dinner on my previous walk around the bay. I turned around here and returned to my car.

Wildlife Sightings:
3 turkey vultures; 2 great egrets; 10 crows/ravens; 1 golf ball; 3 horses; 3 dragonflies; 2 deer; 1 swallow; 6 little brown jobs (LBJs)

China Camp, part 2 - June 8, 2013

Walking Distance: 2 mi.
Walking Time: 1 hr., 48 min. (1:11 - 2:59 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Back Ranch Meadow parking lot, China Camp State Park, Marin County, CA

This afternoon was a continuation of an earlier walk at China Camp. We revisited the China Camp historic area and eventually made our way from the Back Ranch Meadow parking area, up to the Bay View loop trail that headed up into the hills.

Thank you to John for joining me today, on a hot summer afternoon hike. We worked our way uphill toward an old Nike site. This trail was popular with mountain bicyclists as well, and several cyclists passed us on this hillside trail.

We enjoyed the views down to the Bay, but turned around a bit before the top, due to temperatures that were hovering at the triple digit mark (100 degrees farenheit). Colorful patches of tree bark were peeling off in the sun, and we spotted a few lizards basking in the warmth. Other than a few rustles in the bushes (likely lizards) at the edge of the trail, it was very quiet. Few birds and animals in the mid-day heat.

Wildlife Sightings:
1 blur in the bushes; 3 turkey vultures; 2 lizards; 2 squirrels; 2 white butterflies; mystery bug on path; 1 bird (little brown job)

China Camp, part 1 - Feb. 27, 2013

Walking Distance: 2.5 mi. (estimate)
Walking Time: 2 hrs., 34 min. (12:58 - 3:32 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Parking lot, China Camp State Park (Marin County), CA

I skipped ahead almost a mile this afternoon, to take a walk at China Camp, a California State Park. Thanks to Mark for joining me today.

From the parking lot, we walked downhill to a beach and a partially restored Chinese shrimp fishing village (China Camp Village) that had been most active in the 1880s. We made our way through exhibits in one building and passed the Quan Brothers snack bar (open on weekends).

After looking at some historical artifacts on display (old furnaces, equipment, examples of shrimp nets), we walked to the south to end of the beach, and stopped to look at an old stand of fruit trees that were full of white blossoms and buzzing bees -- a sign of early spring in February.

We turned around and headed back along the beach, and back uphill to the parking lot, and through a picnic area along the shore/bluffs. From an outlook (China Camp Point) we had a nice view of Rat Rock (in the Bay) and beyond.

From this outlook area we continued walking, on a narrow dirt path, passing several oak trees; and the dirt path became even narrower, until we decided to make our way back to Point San Pedro Road, the main road running through the Park. (Note: Point San Pedro Road turns into North San Pedro Road, as you head north through the park.)

We crossed this road, from the shoreline side to the hillside, close to a Ranger's Station.

Near the Ranger Station was a trailhead leading slightly uphill to the Shoreline Trail. We followed this trail and made a loop, eventually coming back down toward the car.

Next up: hike the trails in the northern part of China Camp State Park, and the rest of the North Point San Pedro Rd., eventually leading out of the park and toward the Marin Civic Center.

Note: China Camp does have some overnight camp sites. Check the website for more details.

Wildlife Sightings:
1 pelican; 2 sea gulls; 6 little brown jobs (LBJs); 5 crows/ravens; 1 cormorant; 2 Canada geese

China Camp State Park - N. San Pedro Rd. - Mar. 28, 2010

Walking Distance: 2.5 miles
Walking Time: 2 hrs., 54 min. (3:05 - 5:59 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Parked on side of (N. San Pedro) Road, just past China Camp State Park (North) entrance sign, San Rafael, CA

I was treated to another wild turkey sighting today (and the sounds of other turkeys gobbling in the vicinty), within a few seconds of locking up my car and starting to walk. It must be mating season.

It was a little overcast, but still nice spring weather overall. Birds, animals and insects were out, as were lots of wildflowers. For those sensitive to poison oak, be careful when you walk on the Shoreline and other park trails (shown in solid red and purple lines on map) above the road (shown as double yellow lines). The trail system is very nice, but there is quite a bit of poison oak close to the trail edge.

Wildlife Sightings:

1 wild turkey; 12 turkey vultures; 3 crows; 4 deer; 1 black and yellow bumblebee struggling on the ground; 4 little brown jobs (LBJs); 3 mosquitos - 1 bit me; 1 great egret; 1 rusty screw; 1 horse (on private land/farmhouse) and 1 cormorant, 1 duck, and 1 great blue heron (in farmhouse pond). Wildflowers included: blue-eyed grass; California poppies; yellow "buttercups"; little yellow flowers (unidentified); scotch broom (yellow flowers); purple irises; unidentified pink/purple vetches

China Camp State Park, March 24, 2010

Walking Distance: 6 miles
Walking Time: 3 hrs., 29 minutes (1:00 - 4:29 p.m.)
Start and End Point: $5.00 Vehicle Day Use spot, Bullhead Flat parking lot, China Camp State Park, CA

The stretch I covered today was as far south as McNear's beach, and as far north as the Miwok Meadows area in the park (NW of Buckeye Point). I walked along San Pedro Road (double yellow lines on map), the beaches, and the Shoreline Trail (solid red line), to see as much as possible. I also made a stop at the China Camp Village historic site, where there is a visitor center and some interesting information about the remnants of this old fishing village and shrimping area.

China Camp was a great park that I'd never visited. Great views; lots of wildlife; and, this time of year, some nice wildflowers as well. I met several mountain bicyclists on the Shoreline trail. And, there was some poison oak sprouting up alongside the trail, so I stepped aside to let the cyclists pass -- very carefully.

Wildlife Sightings:
49 unidentified brownish shorebirds; 25 ducks; 10 sea gulls; 2 hummingbirds; 2 willets; 2 ladybugs; 1 Western grebe; 5 snowy egrets; 2 Canada geese; 1 deer; 5 turkey vultures; 1 lizard; 1 reg. (tree) squirrel; 3 orange and brown butterflies/moths; lots of beautiful wildflowers (wild purple iris, blue-eyed grass; yellow scotch broom, etc.); 1 wild turkey; 1 blue jay; 2 great egrets; 3 little brown jobs (LBJs); 1 big fat black and yellow bumblebee; and 1 dragonfly.