Rec and Sports

Hyperbole Aside, Marin County Has a Whole Lot of Hiking Trails

A fairly impressive Web site, (www.marintrails.com) states categorically that Marin County has the finest urban park systems in the world with over 600 miles of wonderful trails. While this statement might be overblown by about 100 miles since a mere 500 miles of trails are claimed elsewhere in the site, who cares? Its clear that Marin County is heaven for hikers.

Hiking experts, Don and Kay Martin collected information about the specifics and routes of 141 separate hikes within Marin County for a book entitled, Hiking Marin, 141 Great Hikes in Marin County. The book provides detailed 3D maps for each hike and directions to each trailhead.

One cannot argue that Marin County is a hikers paradise since it features amazing outdoor parks and open spaces, including 3 national parks, 6 state parks, 24 county open space lands and 7 other parks and open space areas. An amazing 42% of these lands are open to the public, leaving more hiking than most of us could possibly hike in a lifetime.

The most important consideration before choosing a specific hiking trail is the weather, say the experts. What is a great hiking trail in sunny weather can turn to a dismal one with bad weather with fog, drizzle and only 100 feet of visibility. Other essential considerations include the distance of the hike, the elevation changes during the hike, the difficulty level of the trail and the availability of shade along the way.

December and January, the early winter months, arent the best hiking weather, but between occasional rain showers, one can hike along the ocean and see whales and elephant seals. While it is the rainy season, the late winter months of February and March are the best times to hike. For those not bothered by allergies, various spring flowers begin to bloom in late winter.

Naturally, as the weather gets better and everything is green and flowery, more great hiking may be experienced in the spring months of April and May. As the summer months of June and July bring both heat and dryness, there are still cool and foggy areas that beg to be hiked: Muir Woods, Steep Ravine and the Marin Headlands are a few of them.

The best places to hike during the hotter and drier months of August and September are on the coast and the beach areas, as well as north-facing trails. The early morning is the best time to hike when the sun hasnt started to burn through the fog. Because of fire hazards, it is best to avoid Mt. Tamalpais and the hills and ridges of central and north Marin.

October and November can be gusty with occasional rain, yet many sunny days that are ideal for hiking along the coast, south-facing trails and woodlands in central Marin and around the lakes.

It is essential to wear good hiking boots, and take along water, or other fluids, a first aid kit, a light jacket, extra food and a poncho in winter and sunscreen in the summer. These are just some of the important items to take. Others include a knife, a hat, book or map, flashlight, binoculars, a compass, a whistle, and a cell phone, which may or may not work in western Marin County, which is cut off by hills and mountains. While it seems like a lot to take along, they would certainly come in handy in case of an accident or if you get lost.