Ring Mountain - Jan. 1, 2013

Walking Distance: 3 mi. (estimate)
Walking Time: 2 hrs., 55 min. (11:15 a.m. - 2:10 p.m.)
Start and End Point: side of road, Paradise Drive - across street from Ring Mountain trailhead, Tiburon, CA

There are many interesting hiking areas that connect to the San Francisco Bay Trail. The Ring Mountain Open Space Preserve (part of the Tiburon peninsula) is one such spot.

Perhaps the best access point is one that connects indirectly with the Bay Trail via Paradise Drive. Although Ring Mountain is not marked as part of the Bay Trail on Bay Trail maps, this access point is close to where the dark green dotted line (undeveloped trail) turns into a solid green line (Bay Trail) in near Corte Madera.

I had heard many good things about the trails on Ring Mountain last time I walked through Marin County (during my first walk around the Bay 2009-2011), including reports of ancient petroglyphs (rock carvings), interesting boulder formations, as well as great views of the Bay and the surrounding hills. So, this time around I decided to investigate.

Thank you to Ellen for hiking company today. We started our climb up Ring Mountain via the trailhead that was accessible from Paradise Drive (near the Tiburon - Corte Madera border). We passed one or two small streams that we could cross easily, and followed a few different trails over a 3 hour period.

While hiking to the top, we enjoyed views of Richmond, the Brothers islands and the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge to the east. 

As for rocks, this is a great place to find very interesting ones. A few minutes later, I was struck by a rock formation that looked a little like a sitting buddha statue, and later in the afternoon we passed by turtle rock, that looked -- yes, like a large stone turtle (with tiny people climbing on it). 

We enjoyed lunch perched up high, looking down on Tiburon below and as far as the San Francisco skyline in the distance to the south. 

Wildlife Sightings: 

3 crows/ravens; 3 turkey vultures; 1 red-tailed hawk + 1 other bird of prey/hawk; 2 little brown jobs (LBJs); 1 bee

Paradise Drive, Triangle Marsh - Dec. 24, '12

Walking Distance: 1.8 mi.
Walking Time: 47 min. (4:18 - 5:05 p.m.)
Start and End Point: side of road, Paradise Drive, Tiburon, CA

For me, there is no better way to celebrate the holidays than to enjoy a walk between festivities. I returned to Paradise Drive for another late afternoon walk -- once again trying to eke out as much daylight time as possible before sunset.

Sometimes you have to squeeze in walking time whenever you can find it during the day. And daytime is the best time for walking or riding on Paradise Drive (not technically part of the SF Bay Trail, and shown as a dotted, dark green line on the newest 2012 - 2013 Bay Trail Maps), due to stretches of winding road through trees, with limited set-backs. However, views of San Quentin, the Richmond - San Rafael bridge, and boats passing below help justify this walk.

I started this afternoon's amble by heading south on Paradise Drive to Ranch Drive (where I'd ended my previous walk last week). I then walked down (and back up) Ranch Drive, back to Paradise Drive.

Along the way, I enjoyed bright spots of winter color. Red berries, evergreen trees and green foliage -- perfect for Christmas week in Northern California, along with interesting mosses and lichens on rocks.

After turning around, I then headed North. I passed my parked car along the way, and continued north on Paradise Drive. I felt I was returning to civilization, or at least a more urban setting. I passed Marin Montessori, and Marin Country Day School (MCDS), and was able to walk on sidewalks for part of the time.

At the other (north) end of today's loop walk, I turned around at the intersection of Paradise Drive and Westward Drive, near the city boundary (cross-over point for me), between Tiburon and Corte Madera.

I enjoyed passing Triangle Marsh, at the base of Ring Mountain on the Tiburon peninsula, where I returned to the shoreline, after enjoying the views from above for the past few weeks, up in the hills and trees. I was rewarded by the sight of a few black-necked stilts (shorebirds) in the marsh, and the sight of a rising moon.

Wildlife Sightings:
2 crows; 3 sea gulls; 3 little brown jobs (LBJs); 2 robins; 3 black-necked stilts