The causal hiker might not realize it, but the trails on Mount Tamalpais are managed by four separate agencies: California State Parks, Marin Municipal Water District, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and Marin County Open Space. Of the three, MMWD has the most acreage -- nearly the entire north slope of the mountain.
MMWD maintains nearly 90 miles of trails, with most recreation use concentrated around
Bon Tempe,
Lake Lagunitas, and
Phoenix Lake. The watershed trails stretching from the those lakes uphill to East Ridgecrest and Tam's three peaks are some of the mountain's loneliest, traversing rugged terrain, steep, heavily-forested hillsides, and crossing some vague junctions with "casual" trails. Since last year M
MWD has been working to close old unsafe "unofficial" trails and improve signage.
This year
Project Restore is "undertaking restoration work in two locations: (1) along the Temelpa Trail below the Verna Dunshee Trail (East Peak Mt. Tamalpais), and (2) in the vicinity of the Cross-Country Boys Trail, Lower Northside Trail and Lagunitas-Rock Spring Rd below Rifle Camp. Work at the latter location will also include improved trail connections and signage to help people identify official trails and minimize the likelihood of people getting lost. Unofficial trails in this area are notorious for misleading hikers resulting in many of the district's search and rescue efforts."
While I've never hiked Temelpa, I've tramped around the trails described above (#2) and vigorously agree that those trails need improved signage. A good map is essential, but it is still very easily to get disoriented, since the tree cover is dense and some junctions are not signed. I look forward to
hiking one of my favorite Tam routes next year -- I'll be on the lookout for the improved signs!
Read about
volunteering for Project Restore here.
(Photo is junction of Willow and High Marsh trails)