Thursday, March 8, 2012

Puffing up Slacker Hill

I only had time for a short Marin Headlands hike yesterday, and I found a destination that packs a whole lot into just 0.8 mile -- Slacker Hill!

The small trailhead sits at the junction of Conzelman and McCullough. I followed a path to the north, crossed McCullough, and begin climbing on the wide signed trail. The grade is moderately steep throughout as the rocky trail climbs through nearly treeless coastal scrub, with sagebrush and coyote brush common. I saw quite a bit of zigadene in bloom, as well as some purple bush lupine, California poppies, ookow, paintbrush, and checkerbloom. At 0.2 mile, Coastal Trail heads off toward the Golden Gate Bridge, and the dead-end trail to the viewpoint sweeps right.

More climbing. Views back to the north are incredible and include all the Headlands hills and Mount Tamalpais. A pipevine swallowtail fluttered along. Near the top the trail splits once more, but the path to the left was signed as closed. The last bit to the top was somewhat overgrown and I was surprised to see native bunch grasses here.

The very top is wide open and level and offers simply the best views of the Headlands, Golden Gate Bridge, ocean, San Francisco, and just about everything else for miles and miles. The best part? I had the hilltop completely to myself.

Changes in the Marin Headlands

Local cartographer Ben Pease recently alerted me that construction in the Marin Headlands was altering the trailhead for my Gerbode Valley hike. After reading the project actions flyer I got the idea that the work was completed, so yesterday I cruised the scene.

Work is definitely not completed. At first I couldn't find the trailhead -- piles of dirt and rubble block access to the eastern leg of the little spur road, and construction equipment is staged all around. The new bridge is in place (but closed until autumn) to the west of the old trailhead, but there is no formal trailhead parking near it, so I can't guess what is planned there.

You can easily access the Gerbode Valley hike by parking on the side of Bunker Road west of the stables -- look for a small path signed to Miwok Trail, about 30 feet west of a reduced speed sign. If you get to the road junction at Fort Barry you've gone too far.

Other Headlands improvements are obvious and pretty wonderful. The road junction at Conzelman and McCullough is now a roundabout. Conzelman is nicely paved and hosts new parking pullouts. I'm excited to explore more and this is a great time of year to do it.