Headlands for the Holidays (and Sundays): Rodeo Beach to Tennessee Beach

This hike takes advantage of the Muni 76 bus, which runs from San Francisco to the Marin Headlands on major holidays and on Sundays. Starting at Rodeo Beach and Fort Cronkhite, this hike’s route travels up and out of the Rodeo Valley on the Coastal Trail and down into Tennessee Valley to Tennessee Beach and back. Optional side trips offer additional views on this scenic coastal hike.

Places visited: Rodeo Beach, Tennessee Beach (both part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area)
Approximate Length: 7.5 miles (8-8.5 with optional side trips to the SF-88 site and to Tennessee Point)
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Map: Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Marin Headlands
Terrain: Paved and dirt trails, some steep sections
Transit schedule: Muni 76 Marin Headlands
Start and end point: Muni 76 stop, Fort Cronkhite
Getting to the start point:

• From San Francisco, catch Muni 76 anywhere along its route through San Francisco. The 76 route map shows the connections with numerous other Muni bus and Metro lines. Get off at the final stop in the Marin Headlands, which is in the Fort Cronkhite parking lot.
• From the Peninsula and South Bay, take Caltrain north to its final stop at Fourth Street and King Street in San Francisco. Catch the Muni 76 bus outside the Caltrain depot. Get off at the final stop in the Marin Headlands, which is in the Fort Cronkhite parking lot.
• From the East Bay, take a San Francisco BART train to Embarcadero station. Exit the station on the south side of Market Street. Turn left at Fremont Street, and cross the street to the Muni bus island to catch Muni 76. Get off at the final Muni 76 stop in the Marin Headlands, which is in the Fort Cronkhite parking lot.
• From North Bay, take Golden Gate Transit 10 or 70/80 southbound over the Golden Gate Bridge. Get off at the toll plaza stop. Head down and underneath the toll plaza, and up to the transit stop on the east side of the bridge. Take the Muni 76 to its final stop in the Marin Headlands, which is in the Fort Cronkhite parking lot. If you want to avoid going over the bridge and back, another option for Golden Gate Transit 10 riders or those in south part of Sausalito would be to walk through Fort Baker and take the trail underneath the bridge to the west-side parking lot, then continue a short distance to the Muni 76 stop at Conzelman Road.

Notes:

• The Muni 76 line runs only on Sundays and on the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, July Fourth, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. I recommend taking one of the first two buses (arriving around 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.) so that you have plenty of time to spend exploring and relaxing at the beaches. The last bus leaves at 6:30 p.m.; there are no other nearby transit options, so plan on being back in time if you do not want a long hike back to San Francisco or Sausalito! Also note that based on my experience and that of other frequent Muni 76 riders, this bus may not be running on schedule. Luckily, it is probably one of the most scenic places you’ll have to wait for the bus; but be prepared to wait awhile and remember to bring warm layers on this trip.
• Bring food with you on this hike, as there is nowhere to buy food near the trailhead. If you are connecting to the Muni 76 from BART, you could walk to the Ferry Building first for some food; many of the other take-out restaurants in the Financial District are closed on the weekends. If you are connecting to Muni 76 from Caltrain, there is a Safeway half a block east on King Street.
• This hike can be done year-round, but if it has rained expect some mud on the Coastal Trail between Wolf Ridge and the Tennessee Valley Trail. On sunny days, the views are excellent on this hike. On the other hand, the beaches will be less crowded on colder and foggier days.
• This is a well-signed hike. Despite the posted warning signs and the past injuries and deaths, you may see hikers off the trail in the cliff-side areas between Tennessee Point and the Fort Cronkhite. I highly recommend staying on the main trails here and heeding the warning signs.
• If you are interested in military history, you may wish to plan your trip on the first Sunday of the month when Battery Townsley is open to the public. On other days, you can use the National Park Service’s Fort Cronkhite History Walk brochure to take a self-guided tour of the grounds near the bus stop.

Rancho San Antonio Trails to Black Mountain Peak

This challenging hike uses the Rhus Ridge and Black Mountain trails in Rancho San Antonio to reach the 2810-foot peak of Black Mountain just across the border in Monte Bello Open Space Preserve. The route from Foothill College also provides a small sampling of the extensive Los Altos Hills town path system.

Places visited: Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve, Monte Bello Open Space Preserve (small portion), Los Altos Hills paths
Approximate Length: 11.75 miles (see notes for shorter option)
Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
Map: Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve, Foothill College campus map
Terrain: Steep and very steep trails in Rancho San Antonio; flat paved streets and paths to and from the trailhead
Transit Schedule: VTA Route 40
Start and end point: VTA Route 40, Foothill College stop

Getting to the start point:

• From San Francisco, take Caltrain south to the San Antonio stop. Walk out to the street in front of the Caltrain, which is Showers Drive. Cross at the crosswalk (Pacchetti/Showers) and turn left on Showers. Stay on Showers as it veers right. Cross California and continue on Showers to the VTA bus stop (make sure you are at the one marked with line 40) on your right. (The walk from Caltrain to the VTA stop takes approximately 10 minutes.) Take VTA route 40 to Foothill College, getting off at the first stop (Campus Center) after the bus enters the campus.
• From the Peninsula, take Caltrain to the San Antonio stop. Walk out to the street in front of the Caltrain, which is Showers Drive. Cross at the crosswalk (Pacchetti/Showers) and turn left on Showers. Stay on Showers as it veers right. Cross California and continue on Showers to the VTA bus stop (make sure you are at the one marked with line 40) on your right. (The walk from Caltrain to the VTA stop takes approximately 10 minutes.) Take VTA route 40 to Foothill College, getting off at the first stop (Campus Center) after the bus enters the campus. Mountain View and Los Altos residents should check the map to see if they can pick up VTA Route 40 elsewhere along its route.
• From the East Bay, Take BART to its final stop in Millbrae. Walk to the southbound Caltrain platform, and take Caltrain to San Antonio station. Walk out to the street in front of the Caltrain, which is Showers Drive. Cross at the crosswalk (Pacchetti/Showers) and turn left on Showers. Stay on Showers as it veers right. Cross California and continue on Showers to the VTA bus stop (make sure you are at the one marked with line 40) on your right. (The walk from Caltrain to the VTA stop takes approximately 10 minutes.) Take VTA route 40 to Foothill College, getting off at the first stop (Campus Center) after the bus enters the campus.
• From the North Bay, take Golden Gate Transit Route 70/80 or 10 to San Francisco. Get off at Howard and Fourth Street, and walk south on Fourth Street to the Caltrain station at Fourth and King streets. (Note that on the way back you will pick up the Golden Gate Transit bus on Folsom rather than Howard. Take Caltrain south to the San Antonio stop. Walk out to the street in front of the Caltrain, which is Showers Drive. Cross at the crosswalk (Pacchetti/Showers) and turn left on Showers. Stay on Showers as it veers right. Cross California and continue on Showers to the VTA bus stop (make sure you are at the one marked with line 40) on your right. (The walk from Caltrain to the VTA stop takes approximately 10 minutes.) Take VTA route 40 to Foothill College, getting off at the first stop (Campus Center) after the bus enters the campus.

Notes:

• This is a strenuous hike, with especially steep sections near the top of the peak. Bring plenty of water, even in cool weather. If you have not been hiking in some time, you may want to work up to the full hike gradually by going part of the way up and coming back down again. You will still get plenty of exercise and enjoy good views along the way!
• Please note that this trip as described can be done on weekdays and Saturdays, but not on Sundays. On Sundays, the VTA route does not run all of the way up to Foothill College. Although you could find an interesting route from bus route’s Sunday endpoint (San Antonio and Lyell) using more of the Los Alto Hills paths, it would add more distance and elevation to an already challenging hike. Therefore, I have not included an option from the Sunday endpoint for this particular hike. I will include a link here to any future hikes posted here that describe the route from the Sunday endpoint. On Saturdays, the last bus leaves Foothill College at 6:23 pm. Weeknights the last bus leaves at 10 p.m., making this is a potential evening hike during daylight savings time.
• This hike’s starting point is most easily reached from the Peninsula/South Bay and San Francisco. It is a long transit ride requiring three modes of transportation for East Bay and North Bay residents. If you are interested in visiting the Bay Area’s highest peaks, it’s definitely worth the trip!
• If you are not familiar with Foothill College, I recommend printing and bringing along the campus map. Note on the map that Foothill has three bus stops. Although you can get on and off at any of these stops for this hike, I recommend exiting at the first campus stop (campus center) at the beginning of the hike. There should be plenty of students getting off at this stop, but you can always ask the bus driver if you are uncertain. This gives you a chance to visit the restrooms (none at the trailhead), apply sunscreen, etc. On the way back from the hike, you can wait at the third of the three bus stops (at the edge of campus in Lot 8), which is a shorter walk.
• You will notice some additional paths on your route back to Foothill College. Feel free to explore these paths if you have the energy, or you could make a separate trip to wander and explore the Los Altos Hills paths. The path map is not available online, but you can pick up a printed copy at Los Altos Hills town hall.  The entrance to a Los Altos Hills path is generally indicated with a wooden post engraved with “PATH”.  Avoid wandering down other unmarked paths as they will very likely take you onto private property.
• Pack a lunch for this hike. Food vendors at Foothill College are closed on the weekend. Near the VTA bus stop at Showers and California there are plenty of options for food before or after your hike: Trader Joe’s, Safeway, the Milk Pail Market, Whole Foods Market (all of these indicated on the Google Maps map of the area) and several takeout chain restaurants. If you are connecting with Caltrain on the way back, you can eat your food on the train.

San Francisco Waterfront: Ferry Building to Fort Point

This urban hike along a section of San Francisco’s waterfront visits a mix of natural and man-made points of interest and provides views of the Bay Bridge, Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and ships and sailboats on the Bay. Fort Mason, Fort Point, the Wave Organ, and other stops along the way make this an ideal route to revisit multiple times. It is also a nice hike for visitors to San Francisco who would like to get some exercise while visiting some of the city’s popular tourist stops.

Places visited: Aquatic Park, Fort Mason, Golden Gate Promenade, Crissy Field Marsh, Fort Point, Wave Organ (on optional side trip)
Approximate length: 9.5 miles (10.5 with optional side trip to Wave Organ)
Hiking time: 4-6 hours
Map: Aquatic Park to Fort Point (download the close-up map of Golden Gate National Parks), Fort Mason (download the Fort Mason map)
Terrain: Mostly flat
Transit Schedule: Multiple, for route to start point (see links for each region); Muni F-Market & Wharves (end point back to start point)
Start Point: San Francisco Ferry Building
End Point: Muni F-Market & Wharves stop at Jones and Beach Street
Getting to the start point:

• From San Francisco, take Muni Metro J/K/L/M/N/T or BART to the Embarcadero station. Exit the station and walk east on Market Street for a short distance to the Ferry Building. Numerous Muni buses stop within three blocks of the Ferry Building as well.

• From the Peninsula and South Bay, take a San Francisco BART train to Embarcadero station. Exit the station and walk east on Market street for a short distance to the Ferry Building. If you are closer to Caltrain, take Caltrain north to Millbrae, transfer to BART and take a San Francisco train to the Embarcadero station.

• From the East Bay, take a San Francisco BART train to Embarcadero station. Exit the station and walk east on Market Street for a short distance to the Ferry Building. Alternately, take the Alameda/Oakland Ferry to the San Francisco Ferry Building from the Alameda Ferry Terminal or Jack London Square in Oakland.

• From the North Bay, take the Sausalito or Larkspur ferries to the San Francisco Ferry Building. Alternately, take Golden Gate Transit Route 70/80 or 10 to San Francisco. Get off at Mission and 1st Streets, walk north one block to Market Street, turn right on Market, and walk 5 blocks to the Ferry Building.

Notes:

• There are numerous opportunities for food along this route: the Ferry Building at the start of the routes, along the piers, at and near Fort Mason, and at the Warming Hut. With the many scenic picnic opportunities along the way, this is an ideal hike for either bringing your own lunch or picking up some takeout food along the route to eat later at a view spot of your choice.

• This route passes through tourist areas and popular recreation and exercise spots. Take this hike on a day when you are in the mood for being around lots of people. If you would like to skip the crowds at Pier 39 and Fisherman’s Wharf, take a brief detour around this spot by turning left at North Point street from the Embarcadero. Turn right at Hyde, walk two blocks to Jefferson, and turn left to continue the route as described.

• This is an all-season walk; you’ll enjoy excellent views on a clear, sunny day but the route is nice at other times of the year of the year as well. The weather can vary greatly depending on the time of year. As with most San Francisco walks, clothing layers are recommended.

• You may want to spend some times at some of the stops along this route, such as Fort Mason, Fort Point, and the Wave Organ. I recommend doing this route multiple times, each time picking one spot to explore in more detail.

Transit Tip: TransLink

This is the first in a series of tips on using the San Francisco Bay Area public transportation system, with an emphasis on details that are useful for outdoor trips on transit.

Like some other U.S. metro areas, the San Francisco Bay Area has several transportation systems serving different parts of the region. It doesn’t take long to get used to the specifics of a transit system that you will be using regularly for trips to work, school, or other frequently visited destinations. But traveling somewhere new on the weekend may put you on a bus or train that is unfamiliar to you. Planning for the trip takes some time with a system you do not use on a regular basis. While I look forward to many aspects of the planning process, I find it inconvenient to navigate multiple payment systems. Every transit agency has different fares, payment methods, and rules about whether or not you need a ticket before you board.

Although it currently is far from including all of the transit agencies in the Bay Area, the TransLink card helps a great deal with fare logistics. TransLink is a payment system that can be used (as of Fall 2009) on AC Transit, BART, Caltrain, Dumbarton Express, Golden Gate Transit buses and ferries, and Muni. The card can be loaded with electronic cash and various passes offered by the transit agencies. Instead of buying a ticket or paying your fare with cash or credit card, tag the card at a TransLink machine to make your payment. Here are some advantages of using TransLink:

• You do not need to buy a ticket ahead of time for any of the systems that use TransLink. If you’ve ever missed or almost missed BART or Caltrain because you were waiting in the ticket machine line, this will probably be enough to convince you to get the card.
• No worries about exact change for systems that use cash. Until ATMs start offering bills in smaller denominations, there is always the potential problem of being without the exact change that most buses require. Having the card is especially handy on the return trip from a park or trailhead that may be nowhere near a business where you can get change.
• The card offers an autoload option, where you choose an amount you want charged to your credit card or checking account when it gets below $10. If you pay any of your bills automatically, you are already familiar with this process. I prefer this option, because I never have to worry about the card running out of money. If you don’t want use autoload, however, you can add high values (up to $300) so that you do not have to re-load the card very often. Please note that TransLink currently uses RFID technology. Although I have privacy concerns about RFID in some other uses, I don’t particularly care if the government tracks me going back and forth to parks and trails! But if you do care about this, use cash only to buy and load your TransLink card.
• The fare on Golden Gate Ferry (Sausalito and Larkspur) is much less expensive using TransLink instead of cash. At this writing, it is $4.20 vs. $7.85 one way for the Sausalito ferry and $4.90 vs. $7.85 one way for the Larkspur ferry. If take a ferry trip even once, I highly recommend getting the card. A 10-20% discount is also given using TransLink on the Golden Gate Transit buses, and you can load discount or high-value tickets from other agencies onto the card.

I wanted to see how in intuitive and easy it was to use the card, so I got the card first and used it a number of times before reading all of the details on the TransLink website. I successfully paid for fares a number of times on different transit systems without any problems. If you use discount passes, are enrolled in a workplace commuter program, or have other specific questions, you may want to read about these topics on the TransLink website first. If you normally just pay cash for transit rides I recommend ordering a card online (the $5 cost is waived if you order autoload at the same time).

To use the card, you “tag” your card by placing it flat on the card reader on or near the transit system. If you use a transit system that has different rates depending on the zone traveled, you may have to tag off as well. Here’s a quick guide:

• AC Transit: Tag your card when you board the bus.
• BART: Tag your card at the turnstiles when you enter and exit a BART station. Note that TransLink cannot be used for the AirBART connector bus.
• Caltrain: Tag your card at the reader on the Caltrain platform before you board the train and after you get off the train at your destination. Note that the maximum one-way fare is charged on the card when you tag on, and then adjusted to the appropriate zone when you tag off.
• Dumbarton Express: Tag your card on the bus.
• Golden Gate Transit buses: Tag your card when you board and exit the bus.
• Golden Gate Transit ferries: Tag your card at the fare gate.
• Muni: Tag your card when you board or (for stations) at the gate. Note that as of Fall 2009 TransLink is still in the trial use phase. I did not have problems using my card on Muni Metro. However, you may want to make sure you have some cash available for fares until their trial period is officially over. Also note that TransLink cannot be used on cable cars.

Based on my experience so far with TransLink, I give it a big thumbs-up and see it as a positive step in the direction of a more efficient and coordinated transit system in the Bay Area. As with any electronic device and new system, there are bound to be issues or problems. I’ll update this post if I experience anything worth reporting, and if other transit agencies are added (apparently SamTrans and VTA are next; if you really interested in following the progress, TransLink Management Group meeting materials are publicly available online.

Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline: A Trip Along the California Riding & Hiking Trail

Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline Panorama — by Joe Reifer

This hike explores the eastern section of Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline, accessible by a short walk from the Martinez Amtrak station past historic homes. After a steep climb up to the ridge, you will have a chance to enjoy excellent views of the Carquinez Strait area. Continuing on the California Hiking and Riding Trail, the hike travels through cattle grazing lands and back down to Martinez via a trail through a city park.

Places Visited: Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline, California Riding & Hiking Trail/Bay Area Ridge Trail (portion)
Approximate Length: 6.5 miles
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Map: Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline
Terrain: Steep uphill climb at start of trailhead; otherwise mostly flat on dirt trails and sidewalks.
Transit schedule: Amtrak Capitol Corridor
Start and end point: Martinez Amtrak Station

Getting to the starting point:

• From San Francisco, Amtrak runs a San Francisco-Emeryville bus that meets the Amtrak Capitol Corridor train at its stops in Emeryville. The bus can be caught from the Caltrain station, Pier 39, Market & 4th St., and the Ferry Building. Take the eastbound Capitol Corridor train to the Martinez station. Logistically, this a good option because it is timed with the train. If you’d rather not go downtown, another option is to take a Richmond BART train from San Francisco. Take BART all the way to the Richmond station, then walk over to the Amtrak waiting area. Take the eastbound Amtrak Capitol Corridor train one stop to Martinez.
• From the Peninsula and South Bay: In the South Bay (Mountain View and South) take the Amtrak Capitol Corridor train from San Jose (connects with San Jose Caltrain and VTA Light Rail) or Santa Clara/Great America (connects with VTA Light Rail) to Martinez. If you are near Caltrain on the Peninsula, take a northbound Caltrain to San Francisco. From there, catch the Amtrak connector bus and Amtrak Capitol Corridor train, following the San Francisco directions above. If you are closer to BART on the Peninsula, take northbound train to San Francisco, getting off at the Powell Street station. Exit BART at 4th and Market. Take the Amtrak connector bus and Amtrak Capitol Corridor train, following the San Francisco directions above.
• From the East Bay, you can take the Amtrak Capitol Corridor from Fremont, Hayward, Oakland Coliseum (connects with BART), Jack London Square, Emeryville, West Berkeley, or Richmond (connects with BART).  Take a northbound train to the Martinez station. If you are near a station on the Pittsburg/Bay Point BART line, you have the option of taking BART to Pleasant Hill station and transferring to County Connection Route 316. This route makes a stop at Martinez Amtrak. However, the Amtrak train ride is part of the experience of this outing, so I recommend the train at least once!
• From the North Bay, take Golden Gate Transit Route 42 (from the San Rafael Transit Center) to El Cerrito Del Norte BART. Take a Richmond BART train one stop to the Richmond station. Walk to tracks/waiting area for Amtrak. Take the Amtrak Capitol Corridor train north one station to Martinez. Another (more expensive) option is to take the Sausalito or Larkspur ferry into San Francisco. From the San Francisco Ferry Building, take the Amtrak connector bus and Amtrak Capitol Corridor train, following the San Francisco directions above.

Notes:

• Capitol Corridor tickets can be purchased ahead of time online. At staffed stations (San Jose, Jack London Square, Emeryville, and Martinez) you must purchase a ticket before boarding the train. At unstaffed stations, you can buy a ticket from the machine at the station or purchase one onboard. Capitol Corridor offers several discounted rates, and 2-for-1 fare discount coupons can also be found in the EcoMetro Guide coupon book for the Silicon Valley and the East Bay.
• Food and beverages may be purchased onboard the Capitol Corridor train, and your own food may be consumed on the train as well. Main Street, a couple of blocks from the Martinez train station (see the last step of the hike directions) has several restaurant options.
• On your way to and from the Amtrak station to the trailhead, keep an eye out for the historic plaques on homes along the route. Many of the plaques have interesting notes about the early history of Martinez. Several other historic plaques can be found around town, including one in front of the train station. If you have time before catching the train back, walk on Alhambra away from the train station to the corner of Masonic Street to find the plaque “Martinez – Birthplace of the Martini.”
• The trail that is featured in this hike is part of the California Riding & Hiking Trail, a route that is partially completed. It is also named the Hulet Hornbeck Trail, and is part of the Bay Area Ridge Trail. You may see some or all of these three names on signs along the way; they are all the same trail for this hike.
• The original plan for this hike was to include an optional stop at the John Muir National Historic Site, down the hill from the turnaround point. Sadly and ironically, it is not possible to easily or safely hike off of the trail and visit the historic home of the greatest advocates of walking. See the extended note at the end of the directions for more details. I will update this description should the situation change.

Tiburon Tour: Ring Mountain and the Tiburon Peninsula

This route takes you through Ring Mountain Open Space Preserve (part of the Marin County Open Space District) and adjacent Tiburon open space for unique views of Angel Island, San Francisco, and the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. After a hike up and down Ring Mountain, the route flattens out and travels along the Tiburon bicycle/pedestrian path past Blackie’s Pasture and Richardson Bay Park to its end point at the Tiburon ferry terminal. Along the route, you will also have a chance to sample a couple of the stairways in Tiburon’s city path system.

Places visited: Ring Mountain Open Space Preserve, Tiburon bicycle-pedestrian path, Tiburon town paths
Approximate Length: 6.75 miles (8 miles total with optional side trip)
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours (4-5 hours with optional side trip)
Map: Ring Mountain Open Space Preserve
Terrain: Uphill climb on road and trail to Ring Mountain; flat, paved route along the Tiburon Peninsula.
Transit schedule: Golden Gate Transit Route 10, Blue & Gold Fleet Tiburon ferry
Start point: Golden Gate Transit stop at Strawberry Village (Reed and Belvedere)
End point: Tiburon Ferry Terminal
Getting to the starting point:

• From San Francisco, take Golden Gate Transit Route 10 bus from Mission Street and 1st Street (stop is right in front of the Walgreens on Mission). You can also pick up Route 10 at different points along its route along Mission, up Van Ness, and west on Lombard to the Golden Gate Bridge. Check the current San Francisco System map to see if there is a stop closer to you. Take the Route 10 bus to its end point at Strawberry Village.
• From  the Peninsula and South Bay, take Caltrain to the final San Francisco stop. Walk on 3rd Street towards Market, turn right on Mission, to the Golden Gate Transit stop at Mission and 1st. Or, from BART, take a San Francisco BART train to Montgomery Street station. Exit the station, walk Market Street towards the water/ferry building, turn right on 1st Street, and walk one block to the corner of Mission and 1st. Take the Golden Gate Transit Route 10 bus from here (stop is right in front of the Walgreens on Mission) to its end point at Strawberry Village.
• From the East Bay, take a San Francisco BART train to Embarcadero station. Walk on Market Street away from the water/ferry building to 1st Street, turn left on 1st Street and walk one block to the corner of Mission and 1st. Take the Golden Gate Transit Route 10 bus from here (the stop is right in front of the Walgreens on Mission) to its end point at Strawberry Village.
• From the North Bay: Coming from Sausalito and Marin City, take Golden Gate Transit Route 10 north to its end point in Strawberry Village (Reed and Belvedere). From San Rafael and Mill Valley, take Golden Gate Transit Route 17 to the Strawberry Village stop. From downtown Tiburon, take Golden Gate Transit Route 19 to Strawberry Village. From San Anselmo, Ross, Kentfield, and Larkspur, take Golden Gate Transit Route 22 south to Strawberry Village.

Notes:

• In hot weather, get an early start for this hike. Much of Ring Mountain is open and exposed; the second part of the hike along the Tiburon Peninsula is shadier and cooler.
• This hike, which starts at a Golden Gate Transit stop and ends at the Tiburon Ferry, allows you to hike one way without back-tracking on the same route. It is also less expensive than taking the Tiburon Ferry in both directions.
• The start point for this hike is at Strawberry Village, which provides the opportunity for getting food before starting the hike. The options here (casual/to-go restaurants and a Safeway) are less expensive than the tourist-oriented area of Tiburon at the end of the hike. Particularly if you are on a budget, I recommend eating here or taking some food to go for the hike. Other food options (small grocery, deli, etc.) can be found along Tiburon Blvd. after you emerge from the trail and begin walking along street to the end point of the hike. Snacks and beverages are available aboard the ferry.
• The optional side trip is scenic and not very long, but you head downhill a ways first and then have to climb back up again to fire road. If it is a hot day or you are tired, save this side trip for another day.
• If you have the time and energy at the end of the hike, you can wander near the ferry and see a number of historical buildings. Download the Tiburon Walking Tour map ahead of time to take on this trip. On the other hand you may just wish to relax at the park near the ferry landing.
• The Tiburon ferry ride is longer on the weekends than during the weekend commute. Discount coupon booklets cannot be used on the weekend. See the end of the route directions for instructions on getting back to San Francisco, the East Bay, and the Peninsula/South Bay from the ferry.

Sweeney Ridge and Milagra Ridge Along the Bay Area Ridge Trail

This excursion to Sweeney Ridge starts at the Skyline College trailhead and travels to the remains of one of the Bay Area’s Nike missile site control stations and on to a plaque at the site of Spanish explorer Juan Gaspar de Portola’s discovery of the San Francisco Bay. An optional side trip continues along the ridgeline (part of the Bay Area Ridge Trail) on the other side of Skyline College to Milagra Ridge. Milagra, the habitat of several rare and endangered species, also has military remains including a World War II gun battery.

Places visited: Sweeney Ridge (and Milagra Ridge on optional side trip), both part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area; segment of the Bay Area Ridge Trail
Approximate Length:4.5 miles (7.75 miles with optional side trip to Milagra Ridge)
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours (4.5-6 hours total with optional side trip to Milagra Ridge)
Map: Skyline College campus, Sweeney Ridge (PDF), Milagra Ridge (PDF)
Terrain: Moderate ups and downs on dirt, stairs, and paved trails.
Transit schedule: SamTrans 140

Start and end point: SamTrans bus stop at Skyline College, San Bruno
Getting to the starting point:

• From San Francisco, take an SFO/Millbrae BART train to San Bruno. Exit the station at the Bus/Garage side and turn right for a 2-3 minute walk to the SamTrans bus area. Take SamTrans Route 140 to the Skyline College stop (this is not the end of the line, but will be an announced stop).
• From the Peninsula and South Bay: San Bruno and Pacifica residents can pick up SamTrans Route 140 along its route from San Bruno BART to Pacific Manor Shopping Center in Pacifica. If you are north of San Bruno, take the SFO/Millbrae BART train (from Daly City, Colma, or South San Francisco) and follow the same directions for San Francisco. If you are south of San Bruno, you can either take BART  from Millbrae north to San Bruno, or take Caltrain and transfer at Millbrae to BART. On weekends, the northbound BART train will go through SFO and then to San Bruno, and will be an SF/Pittsburg/Bay Point train. Exit the station at the Bus/Garage side and turn right for 2-3 minute walk to the SamTrans bus area. Take SamTrans Route 140 to the Skyline College stop (this is not the end of the line, but will be an announced stop).
• From the East Bay, take an SFO/Millbrae BART train to San Bruno. If you are coming from a line other than Pittsburg/Bay Point on the weekend, you will transfer to the SFO/Millbrae train at either MacArthur or 12th Street. Exit the station at the Bus/Garage side and turn right for a 2-3 minute walk to the SamTrans bus area. Take SamTrans Route 140 to the Skyline College stop (this is not the end of the line, but will be an announced stop).
• From the North Bay, take Golden Gate Transit Route 70/80 or 10 to San Francisco. Get off at the Hyde St. and Grove St. (just before Market Street). Walk to Market St. and down the stairs into Civic Center BART station. Take an SFO/Millbrae BART train to San Bruno. Exit the station at the Bus/Garage side and turn right for a 2-3 minute walk to the SamTrans bus area. Take SamTrans Route 140 to the Skyline College stop (this is not the end of the line, but will be an announced stop).

Notes:

• Sweeney Ridge and Milagra Ridge can be foggy, especially in the summer. Bring extra layers for this hike, as this ridgetop is also exposed to the wind in parts.
• This route is structured so that you visit Sweeney Ridge first, with the option of continuing on to Milagra Ridge. Feel free to reverse the trip, or go only to Milagra Ridge if you wish. If you visit Sweeney Ridge first, however, you will be able to see Milagra Ridge ahead of you on the way back to the college and get a good idea whether it will be foggy or clear.
• Pack a lunch or snack for this hike, as there are nice spots to sit and enjoy the view near the Portola Discovery site. There aren’t many food options except at the Tanforan Mall, which is at the San Bruno BART station and SamTrans 140 stop. If you wish to stop at the food court (standard food court fare; there are also restrooms here), walk straight ahead as you exit the BART station. When you enter the mall, you will be in the food court.
• On weekends the SamTrans bus runs at hour intervals, and the last bus leaves Skyline College at 6:20 pm. To time your hike so that you are not waiting too long for the bus at the end of your hike, make a note of how long it takes you to get from Skyline College to the Discovery Site, and assume the same time to return. Then you can decide how long you want to spend at the Discovery site and/or exploring the Nike missile site remains. The bus stop has a lawn beside it and is a pleasant place to wait for the bus.
• During daylight savings time, Peninsula residents could easily do this as an early evening hike on weekdays (the last 140 bus leaves Skyline at 10:45 pm).  Also on weekday evenings, SamTrans 121 runs up until 10:18 pm from Skyline College to Colma and Daly City BART.
• The National Park Service has a short essay on the Portola Discovery Site, in addition to the information provided in the map and brochure listed above.
• Milagra Ridge is quite small, and you will note that other trails cross and loop to and from the suggested route. Once you have entered Milagra Ridge, feel free to wander on your own to get to different vantage points in the park.

Why Car-Free Outdoors?

While I am excited about making more car-free adventure routes available, this week’s post expands on the About page to give you a more detailed overview of why I started this project, and what I hope it will provide for others.

An idea generated on a walk

Back in 2007, while walking in the Berkeley hills, I observed that an AC Transit bus stopped right at Tilden Park. I wondered just how many other parks and trails in the Bay Area were accessible either directly by transit or by finding an interesting neighborhood route from a transit stop to the location:

I hope eventually to research the best car-free ways to get to parks and recreation areas in the Bay Area, as it is often confusing to figure out and sometimes involves two or three different transit agencies. …. I also want to know what the shortest route on foot is from the North Berkeley and downtown BART stations to Tilden. One of the nice things about Berkeley’s stairways is that a pleasant walk could be had up the various stairways from the flatlands to the park, avoiding some of the steep and winding streets.

This idea was added to the growing list of thoughts generated while walking and observing Berkeley. After finishing the Walking Berkeley project at the end of 2007, I revisited the idea and eventually started gathering a list of possible parks, trails, and routes. I tried out a couple of hikes, which turned out to be fun adventures. Finally, after lots of research, I was ready to start documenting the adventures and presenting them for you to enjoy!

An outdoor guidebook where every trip can be done without a car

While I greatly enjoyed the idea of getting outdoors without a car, I was not sure at first whether the results of my research were worth sharing with a wider audience. There are plenty of good books and websites for hikes, camping, and cycling in the San Francisco Bay Area. A variety of maps and tools are available online for planning your transit trip, and a few park agencies and print guidebooks even note transit-accessible hikes.

Planning a car-free hike required a lot of time and resources. Every time I went out, my backpack was loaded with guidebooks, maps, printed transit schedules and directions. In short, it was a lot of work just to get out for a hike! Additionally, I started discovering that more parks and trails were actually accessible than I first thought; even if a transit stop was a ways from the trailhead, some could be reached by using stairways and paths, rail-trails and multi-use paths, and other interesting routes through surrounding neighborhoods.

What I really wished for was something exactly like a standard outdoor guidebook except that each and every trip could be done without a car. If I hoped for car-free outdoors guide, I figured there were at least a few more people out there who would find it useful as well. My goal for Car-Free Outdoors is to present thorough hike descriptions to help save hours of planning and research on your part. If you just want to get out for a hike, you can follow the routes exactly as described. Or, you can adapt the routes to incorporate your own ideas or preferences.

Focus on what is possible

Although I have not owned a car for several years, I have often found it faster and easier to walk and ride a bicycle to reach a destination. Some buses don’t run very often, don’t run late enough in the evening, and don’t run on weekends. Transit systems are not always as efficient as they could be and they do use some fuel and resources. Decisions about changes to existing transit and the development of new transit are endlessly debated and argued by government agencies, transportation policy groups, and the press. Meanwhile, there a lot of people out there who don’t own a car or don’t want to drive as often, but just want to get outside for some fun and exercise! Car-Free Outdoors is focused on finding solutions for getting outdoors using what is currently possible using existing transit systems.

Car-free outings are fun

Perhaps a more lofty goal I have is to show that car-free outings can be just as fun if not more so than driving to the trailhead. As my partner Joe (who has come along on many of the hikes and who has enthusiastically supported the project) mentioned: “The adventure starts when you walk out the door.” When you go on a car-free hike, you get the experience not just of the hike, but the transit ride, the neighborhoods surrounding the park or open space, and the connections and distinctions between urban/suburban and natural areas. While public transit can seem challenging at times, I have found the car-free hike experience is a whole lot more fun and interesting than driving a car to a trailhead, taking a hike, and getting back in the car and driving home again. I hope some users of this resource will have that experience as well!

Southwest San Francisco Nature: Lake Merced, Fort Funston, and More

Battery Davis at Fort Funston — by Joe Reifer

Starting at Balboa Park BART station and traveling through San Francisco’s Ingleside neighborhood to end at West Portal Muni Metro station, this urban hike takes you to some of the natural areas in the southwest corner of San Francisco: to the Merced Heights landmarks of Brooks Park and Shields Orizaba Rocky Outcrop, around Lake Merced, out to Fort Funston (part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area), and through Pine Lake Park and Stern Grove. At Fort Funston, you have a chance to see the remains of the World War II era Battery Davis and (if you are lucky) a hang glider or two flying along the coast. This hike will give you a taste of each of these nature areas and of the Southwest city neighborhoods; If you find a favorite location from the hike, you can plan a future visit for more in-depth exploration!

Places visited: Lake Merced, Fort Funston, Pine Lake Park/Stern Grove, Brooks Park, Shields Orizaba Rocky Outcrop
Approximate Length: 10 miles
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
Map: Lake Merced, Fort Funston
Terrain: Mostly flat, with the exception of one steep block up to the rocky outcrop and a moderate stair climb into Fort Funston
Transit schedule: BART (select Balboa Park as your arrival station)
Start point: Balboa Park BART/Muni
End point: West Portal Muni

Getting to the starting point:

• From San Francisco, take BART to Balboa Park Station. Or, on Muni, take the J, K, or M Muni Metro lines, and get off at Balboa Park Station (trains do not go inside station). Several Muni Bus lines (26, 29, 36, 43, 49, 54) stop at or near Balboa Park BART  and City College of San Francisco. If you get off the bus on Ocean Ave. or San Jose Ave., walk to the Balboa Park BART station to start the walk.
• From the Peninsula and South Bay, take Caltrain to Millbrae. Transfer to a San Francisco BART train, and go to Balboa Park station.
• From the East Bay, take a San Francisco BART train to Balboa Park station.
• From the North Bay, take Golden Gate Transit Route 70/80 or 10 to San Francisco. Get off at the Hyde St. and Grove St. (just before Market Street). Walk to Market St. and down the stairs into Civic Center BART station. Take a Daly City, SFO, or Millbrae train to Balboa Park station. Note that on the way back to Marin, you will board the GGT transit bus on 7th Street just North of Market St. Golden Gate Transit has downloadable maps of its routes in the Civic Center area and San Francisco.

Notes:

• Don’t be scared off by the distance of this hike, It’s mostly flat, and includes opportunities to stop and rest before continuing on with your journey.
• This part of San Francisco is often foggy and colder than other parts of the city. It could also be windy out at Fort Funston, so make sure to bring extra clothing layers.
• I recommend packing a lunch for this hike. Despite its urban setting, the hike does not pass many commercial establishments until the end. At SFSU, there is a coffee and sandwich stand (Station Cafe) visible from the corner of 19th and Holloway. Other eating establishments may be open on the campus depending on the time of your hike. Numerous restaurants and cafes can be found along West Portal near the end point of this hike.
• Unless you enjoy constant booming sounds, get an early start for this hike. A rod and gun club is open from 11 am to 5 pm on Wednesday/Saturday/Sunday on Lake Merced. You pass it on the first part of your hike before heading out to Fort Funston, so you will miss most of the noise if you get started by 9:30 or so on the weekend.
• If you would like your walk through Stern Grove to be a more peaceful experience, check the Stern Grove Festival schedule during the summer months so as not to take this hike on a concert day. On the other hand, you could plan this hike as an activity before one of the events; just be aware that Stern Grove will be extremely crowded.
• If you would like to learn more about the history of this part of San Francisco, the Western Neighborhoods Project website has stories and photos about places such as the (now gone) Ingleside Racetrack. They have information on Brooks Park, which is also covered by an extensive website dedicated to the park history and activities.

Circling the Lafayette Reservoir

After an easy walk alongside a creek on a wide multi-use path (completed in summer 2009), this hike’s route heads up and around the rim of Lafayette Reservoir.  This hike features a side trip on the narrow and shady Moraga Road to Reservoir Rim Trail. Lafayette Reservoir, with its close proximity to BART and its multiple access points from surrounding neighborhoods, is a good example of nature and recreation that is easy to reach without getting in a car. If you live or work in the East Bay, the shorter option of this route would be a good after-work or end-of-the-weekday chance for exercise and nature.

Places visited: Lafayette Reservoir (East Bay Municipal Utilities District – EBMUD), Moraga Road to Reservoir Rim Trail (City of Lafayette trail system)
Approximate Length: 8.5 miles (7.25 mile shorter option)
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Map: Lafayette Reservoir (PDF), Moraga Road to Reservoir Rim Trail
Terrain: Flat and paved to and from the reservoir, continuous rolling ups and downs (some steep) on the  dirt rim trail.
Transit schedule: BART (selection Lafayette as your Arrival station)
Start and end point: Lafayette BART station
Getting to the starting point:

• From San Francisco, take BART from any station. Board a Pittsburg/Bay Point train. Exit at Lafayette station.
• From the Peninsula and South Bay, take Caltrain to Millbrae, transfer to BART in the station. Take a Pittsburg/Bay Point train, which travels direct from Millbrae on weekends. Get off at Lafayette station.
• From the East Bay, take a Pittsburg/Bay Point BART train to Lafayette. If you are travelling south from a station on the Richmond line, transfer to the Pittsburg/Bay Point line at MacArthur; north from Fremont, transfer at 12th St; from Dublin/Pleasanton, transfer at Bay Fair to a Richmond train, and at 12th Street to a Pittsburg/Bay Point train.
• From the North Bay, take Golden Gate Transit (GGT) Route 42 (from the San Rafael Transit Center) to El Cerrito Del Norte BART. Take a San Francisco or Fremont train to MacArthur station. At MacArthur, transfer to a Pittsburg/Bay Point train to San Francisco.  Alternately, if you live in the Marin City/Sausalito area, take GGT Route 10 to San Francisco. Get off at the Civic Center stop and walk two blocks to Market Street to Civic Center BART. Take a Pittsburg/Bay Point train to Lafayette. (During weekday commutes, several other GGT lines run to Civic Center.)

Notes:

• If you do this hike in the summer, be aware that it can get very hot in Lafayette. Particularly if you are coming from San Francisco or a location near the Bay (and accustomed to much cooler hiking temperatures), I recommend an early morning or late afternoon start.
• This route offers a number of options for food before and after your hike. Heading out on the hike, at the intersection of Happy Valley Road and Mount Diablo Blvd., you will see (just off to your left) the Diablo Foods grocery store. Shortly after you turn on Mount Diablo, there is a Trader Joe’s on your left. Also to and from the reservoir are shops with sandwiches. When you return from the hike, continue on Mount Diablo Blvd. past your turn at Happy Valley to shortly come across several other casual restaurants.
• There is a parking fee at Lafayette Reservoir, but no fee if you walk into the park.
• In addition to the Rim Trail, a shorter paved path circles the lake. I did not include a walk along this path as part of this hike, but you could add this on to your hike if you wish. Be aware, though, that this path can be extremely crowded on the weekends. If you have been hiking along the Rim Trail in relative quiet and at a good pace, you may find it frustrating to then walk on the paved trail. I would recommend the paved path for a different trip, when you want a more leisurely or social outing or as a good option for children in strollers.
• Along the route, and as noted in the directions, are a few trails heading down to the lake. If you would like to shorten or vary this route, cut down on any of these trails to continue the route on the flat lakeside path. And if you really like hills, you could try zig-zagging back and forth from the rim to the lakeside trail around the reservoir.
• Additional activities at the reservoir include fishing, boating (boats are available for rental), picnicking and barbecuing.
• Before heading back on BART, you may be interested in going behind the station and through the parking lot to look at the “Lafayette crosses.” This is a large collection of crosses on a hillside, put up as a memorial to U.S. soldiers killed in the Iraq War.