Primavera Expert Web Site + *Mt.Tamalpais Hiking

*Notice: All comments pertaining to Mt.Tamalpais State Park are my own and in no way represent or are intended to represent the California Department of Parks and Recreation.

Overview based on things to see:

2nd weekend of March

I was talking to docents from Big Basin Redwoods SP at Park Advocacy Day, on Monday, March 8th, 2010. I asked them when is the best time of the year to visit your Park? Their answer was this: "Come after the rains stop and before the Park has dried. The mud will be gone and the flowers will be blooming and the days will be sunnier and brighter in the Redwoods."

At Mt.Tam State Park (MTSP) With all the different micro-climates and biosphere regimes there is much more to consider than only the Redwood groves. But the docents advice is perfect when a hike in MTSP Redwood groves is your heart's desire.  If you want to follow the docents advice here are the trails to hike early in spring: Steep Ravine, TCC, Matt Davis bet. coastal and Stinson Beach (more Doug Firs than redwoods, but there is abundance of early spring wildflowers (WFs), like mission bells and trillium.

As spring proceeds into late March and April, Muir Woods meets the docents criteria.

But the docents advice applies to other areas if you are there before the more exposed areas dry out.

What happens in Spring here is we will get warm, bright sunny days, a balm for hikers, and then the fog will come, graying the landscapes with its wet revival of the flora.

Where to hike this weekend: (2nd weekend of March)

For those on the Southside of the mountain: like California Alpine Club, who are in the perfect location to enjoy the exposed early spring wildflowers, when hiking south facing trails, especially those in the open sun.

 Best trails for early spring WFs at this time are: Temelpa, Fern Creek, Matt Davis, Sunrise.

With that in mind, if seeing the WFs is your desire, than a loop encompassing the Fern Creek and Telmelpa, with lunch served at East Peak, is perfect this weekend.

For Northside hikers, it's still muddy on some trails, but the deep greens
are still there still on the  trails especially the ,Lower Northside , Azalea Meadow, Kent and Helen Markt.  (Your feet will take care of the mud, let your eyes enjoy the rest.)

There are so many loop possibilities on the Northside I don't need to recommend one to experienced northside hikers. For those just learning these trails, the backbone trails of the northside are the Lagunitas-Rock Spring Fire Road,
 Kent, Helen Markt, High Marsh and Cataract. You won't get lost learning these trails and they offer some of the best nature scenes on the northside.

I think of all the alluring scenes on the northside now, the areas around the lakes are the most enticing: the lakes are high, surrounded by an emerald green setting, virtually like diamonds in the sun.