Uvas Canyon County Park: windy with waterfalls

   Waterfalls you say?!? But there's no water in California! Ok, so these are mini waterfalls. Still - it's not often we get to be near rushing water so I'll take it where I can get it (and even hike through it - which is this case with today's hike).

   First off - you have to get there. It is way up in the middle of nowhere - but you can navigate via Google Maps to the park (map link HERE). However, be careful on that last stretch - I had someone who was walking her Pit Bull scream at me (who also looked like a meth addict) to slow down. I was only going 30 mph but down the road saw another sign for 10 mph. Still - that 10mph is most important when you get to the one-lane road that goes through the private Swedish community that you'll be driving through. At the end, you'll have to pay $6 to park (the machine takes card or cash) and can also use the restroom before starting the uphill battle.

   From the parking lot, go up the paved road and veer left towards Waterfall Loop. You'll hit another sign post where Waterfall Loop then goes Right, but we went Left on the Alec Canyon trail. This is a moderate-steep incline, so get ready to get your heart pumping (I just wrote 'pumpkin' instead of 'pumping'...Thanksgiving is on my mind!).

photo credits to Annie, the A of JAG

   Eventually, this trail leads to another fork - we went left to Manzanita Point to take in the views and then circled back to take the other side of the trail.

View from Manzanita Point

photo credits to Annie

   You'll now be on Contour Trail - which goes up, down, around, and is really only wide enough for one person for most of the time. I love the smell of the woods, of the greenery (even though we're in a drought, you have plenty of green here!), and the water. You'll be walking towards that rushing water sound (over the sounds of Annie and I arguing about how skinny she was on her wedding day). We passed a few people, but the trail is in no way crowded. It'll eventually hit Swanson Creek where you can play in the mini waterfall and enjoy the shade. From here, it's just a bit more downhill to get back to the parking lot.

   I'm doing a crazy 6-day cleanse right now so we couldn't eat anything after (I like food after my hikes!). But Annie and I both agreed that this was a beautiful hike and felt very far removed from any kind of city life.

Mt. Burdell: frog kingdom

     It was a clear and sunny day in SF, but we went north to Novato to check out Mt. Burdell, after I read a great write-up on Weekend Sherpa. The trail leads over some small creeks and through beautiful green landscapes...but as the link above suggests, DO download a map! We were confused a few times and it really helped out. Halfway up, you already get some great views of the Marin/Novato area.

Handsome man not guaranteed on this hike

Turn around to look up the hill, and you can spot a few of those 'Tim Burton'-esque trees, like this lonely guy:

Continuing the trend of creepy-ness, we then saw this jawbone! Greg refused to bring it with us, so we can't no fore sure...but I'm guessing coyote...

After that smaller summit, we approached a hill with an extremely steep trail (the 'unsigned trail' mentioned in the post), so we decided to skip that and head down to Hidden Lake. On the way there, Greg caught this great panoramic shot of the trail and beautiful surroundings:

Down the road you'll run into Hidden Lake, and you can hear the frogs long before you see the lake. Just keep following that fire road back to the parking area. It was only about a 2 hour hike (probably because we skipped the uphill part), and we both agreed that it was delightful. 

     Although things weren't too strenuous, we were famished, and stopped by the nearby Novato Cafe for brunch while on our way back to SF. Placed oddly enough at the EconoLodge, we took our chances and went in.

Greg was very much pleased with the Monte Cristo, but I was pretty disappointed with the open-faced turkey melt, which seemed like it was something you'd make with whatever was left in the fridge - and didn't satisfy. Although I can say the mixed greens were great, as well as our mimosas. I'd try it again, but wouldn't say this one was a 'must' on your trip up here. 

Sunshine and bikers on Morning Sun Trail

     What a gorgeous day in the Bay Area today! JAG reunited for a quick commute over Golden Gate Bridge for our hike in the Marin Headlands, led by Greg. We really enjoyed this hike and I'd love to go explore some of the other off-shoots at some point. You can get there by heading North on 101, exit #443 on Monte Mar Dr. towards Spencer Ave. and then turn left on Spencer and park in that little driveway. You can spot the parking area closest to Sausalito on the National Parks map of the area - and I'd really recommend printing out a big map if possible, or picking one up at the Marin Headlands Visitors Center, as there are a lot of different paths to take.

Annie and Greg are pumped at the Morning Sun Trailhead

     We began at Morning Sun Trailhead around 10:45am (bring some water - you'll need it for the uphill trek). The hike starts out in the shaded woods and all uphill - another one with a tough uphill battle to start...but it's all pretty gradual after the long ascent. Put on sunscreen for the rest of the way when the trail breaks out in the sun - and follow it to Alta Trail. You'll see a tall white structure - so just head that way (but not inside the fence, where the sign threatens anyone who tries).

     Then we headed onto Bobcat Trail for a long walk downhill (note that you could instead take the trail up a bit more if you want to extend your hike). We opted to go down, but not before taking in the sweeping views of the city, Golden Gate, Sutro Tower, and the Pacific (my camera phone isn't doing it justice - you'll just have to go).

     Bobcat Trail re-joins Alta trail for a steady uphill climb, where mountain bikers continue to zip past - so heads up! They also kick up a lot of dust, so my legs were covered in dirt by the time we got back to the parking lot. We returned down Morning Sun Trail to the parking lot, ending the hike around 1:30pm - making it about a 2hr 45min. hike. And how to reward ourselves? Bloody Marys at lunch, of course! 

     In probably the fastest ride over Golden Gate any of us have had, we went to the Presidio Social Club where we snagged a coveted table out on the back patio area (again...more sunscreen needed). Kelly (last seen on the Presidio Trail) was with a friend nearby, so they joined us for a drink, too. The Bloody Marys are spicy but refreshing and tasty - but the winning dishes were the burger and herb scramble. Apparently there was also a luau party on Sunday evening with Mai Tais and a roasted pig - wish I could have stayed!