In
brief:
4.8 mile loop in the hills around Phoenix Lake, on the outskirts of Kentfield.
Distance, category, and difficulty:
This 4.8 mile loop hike is easy, with about 990 feet in elevation
change.
Exposure:
Mostly exposed.
Trail traffic:
Moderate-heavy.
Trail surfaces:
Dirt fire roads and trails.
Hiking time:
2 hours.
Season:
Good anytime, best in late winter.
Getting there:
From US 101 in Marin County, exit San Anselmo/Sir Francis Drake. Drive west
on Sir Francis Drake about 3.5 miles to the intersection with Lagunitas
Road (by the Marin Art and Garden Center), turn left onto Lagunitas and
drive about 1 mile to the parking lot at the end of the road.
GPS coordinates* for trailhead:
Latitude
37°57'28.12"N
Longitude 122°34'19.98"W
(* based on Google Earth
data, shown as degrees, minutes, seconds)
Gas, food, and lodging:
Gas, pay phones, stores, and restaurants about 2 miles away, near the junction
of College and Sir Francis Drake in Ross. No camping.
Trailhead details:
Parking for about 24 vehicles, with a few designated handicapped spots -- parking spaces get snatched up fast so arrive early or be prepared to wait. No
parking or entrance fees. No paper maps available. Two portable toilets in lot
(one wheelchair accessible), and two more pit toilets near Phoenix Lake. Access to wheelchairs/strollers is unobstructed.
Drinking water on Phoenix Lake Trail, near the junction with Worn Springs
Trail. Lot is open from sunrise to sunset. There is no direct public transportation to the park, but Golden Gate Transit's
#20 bus services Sir Francis Drake, and you could walk about 2 miles to
the trailhead.
Rules:
Most trails are multi-use. Some restrict bikes, and a few are hiking only.
Dogs are permitted on leash in water district lands, but not in the state park.
The Official Story:
MMWD's Sky Oaks Ranger Station at 415-945-1181.
MMWD
recreation page
Map/book choices:
This hike is described and mapped in 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: San Francisco, by Jane Huber (yup, that's me, the creator of this website). Order this book from Amazon.com.
• Trail
map from MMWD (pdf)
• A Rambler's Guide to the Trails of Mt. Tamalpais and the Marin Headlands,
map from Pease Press (order from Pease Press) is useful.
this map from Amazon.com).
• Mount Tam Trail Map, published by Tom Harrison Maps (order
from Tom Harrison Maps). Comparable to the Olmsted map.
• The map (with accompanying text) in Barry Spitz's Tamalpais Trails (order this book from Amazon.com) is helpful.
• Hiking Marin, by Don and Kay Martin has good maps and area descriptions (order this book from Amazon.com).
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