In
brief:
1.7 mile loop through mostly wooded low hills close to Novato.
Distance, category, and difficulty:
This 1.7 mile out and back hike is easy. Trailhead elevation
is about 215 feet. The hike climbs to about 600 feet before descending back
to the trailhead. Total elevation change is about 350 feet.
Exposure:
More sun than shade.
Trail traffic:
Light.
Trail surfaces:
Dirt trails.
Hiking time:
1 hour.
Season:
Too hot in summer. Best in late winter and early spring.
Getting there:
From US 101 in Marin County, exit #463 (San Marin Drive/Atherton Avenue).
Drive west on San Marin Drive about 3 miles, then turn right onto Novato
Boulevard. Drive about 2.5 miles on Novato Boulevard, then turn left into
the park. Once past the entrance kiosk, turn right and continue to the end
of the paved parking area, about 0.4 mile from the entrance.
Get driving or public transit directions from Transit and Trails:
http://www.transitandtrails.org/trailheads/431
GPS coordinates* for trailhead:
Latitude
38° 6'34.54"N
Longitude 122°38'25.66"W
(* based on Google Earth
data, shown as degrees, minutes, seconds)
Gas, food, and lodging:
Gas, stores, and restaurants back in Novato. No camping.
Trailhead details:
$5 single vehicle entrance fee ($2 to walk in); pay at the automated machine
at the entrance if kiosk is unattended. Lots of parking in a paved lot,
with some spillover parking in a dirt lot. Nice restrooms and drinking fountains
throughout the park. No maps (at least when the kiosk is unattended). There's
a pay phone just off the right side of the park road as you drive to the
parking lot. There is no direct public transportation to this park. The
nearest bus service is on Novato Boulevard and San Marin Drive. From there
it's 2.5 miles to the park.
Rules:
Park is open from 8 a.m. to dusk. No dogs. No bikes on the trail.
The Official Story:
Marin County Park's Stafford Lake page
Map Choices:
• Trails of Northeast Marin County is helpful navigating to
the park and on the trail (available from Pease
Press).
• Hiking Marin by Don and Kay Martin (order this book from Amazon.com) has a useful map and descriptions of this hike.
Stafford
Lake in a nutshell -- a printable, text-only guide to the featured hike.
Go to Bay Area Hiker Home page