In
brief:
4.6 mile out and back flat hike past water treatment ponds teeming with
birds.
Distance, category, and difficulty:
Trails are completely flat, and this 4.6 mile out and back hike
is very easy. A good choice for parents with strollers and people in wheelchairs.
Exposure:
Totally exposed.
Trail traffic:
Light-moderate.
Trail surfaces:
Dirt fire roads.
Hiking time:
2 hours.
Season:
Good anytime.
Getting there:
From US 101 in Marin County, exit Lucas Valley Road/Smith Ranch Road. Drive
east about 0.7 mile on Smith Ranch Road, then at the McInnis Park entrance,
turn left to remain on Smith Ranch Road. Drive on Smith Ranch Road about
0.8 mile, to the signed trailhead at the end of the road.
GPS coordinates* for trailhead:
Latitude
38° 1'32.33"N
Longitude 122°31'3.68"W
(* based on Google Earth
data, shown as degrees, minutes, seconds)
Gas, food, and lodging:
Pay phone, gas, restaurants, and stores back toward 101 on Smith Ranch Road.
No camping.
Trailhead details:
Parking for about 10 vehicles in a gravel lot. No parking or entrance fees.
One designated handicapped parking spot, and trails are wheelchair-accessible,
though likely to be muddy in winter and early spring. Wheelchair-accessible
restroom in the building near the start of the trail. Drinking water near
the information signboard, a short distance from the trailhead. No maps
available. There is no direct public transportation to the wildlife ponds,
but several Golden Gate Transit buses stop at the Lucas Valley Bus Pad on
101. From there it's 1.5 level miles to the ponds.
Rules:
Dogs allowed on leash. No posted rules regarding horses, which you are unlikely
to encounter. Bikes are permitted, but not on the last mile of the public
trail.
The Official Story:
Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary
District website
Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District office 415-472-1734
Map Choices:
• Trails of Northeast Marin County (map) is a great map of the area (available from Pease
Press).
• Hiking Marin by Don and Kay Martin (order
this book from Amazon.com) has a good map of the wildlife ponds and
nearby McInnis Park.
Go to Bay Area Hiker Home page