Bagging Mt. Tam before it’s too late

(This article appeared in the 17 June issue of the Piedmont Post.)

The proposed closure of nearly 80-percent of California’s 279 State Parks after Labor Day this year is tantamount to a doomsday prophecy for the state’s legion of avid hikers, outdoor enthusiasts and even casual nature peepers. One park potentially on the chopping block is Mt. Tamalpais State Park, home to the most salient geographical feature in the immediate Bay Area. Mt. Tam rises to 2,574 feet and is accessible via a maze of trails.

The Matt Davis Trail from the Bootjack picnic runs along the mountain’s cool southern flank and passes through varied terrain resplendent with shady mountain streams, haunting stands of tightly packed young redwoods and not a few salamanders. You pick up the trail at the north-eastern end of the picnic area and tread along relatively flat terrain, emerging intermittently from the forests of redwood, Douglas fir, canyon oak and California bay onto chaparral ridgelines of manzanita, coyote brush and dense chamise. All four river crosses along the way are crossed by well-maintained wooden bridges, and you might consider lingering for a time in the sublime tranquility of those places.

Take a right at the junction with the Nora Trail to continue on the Matt Davis, and coming upon a fork in the trail after crossing Fern Creek, bear left onto the Hoo-Koo-E-koo Trail. The Hoo-Koo soon crosses the Hogback Fire Road and then continues along the 1,200 foot ridgeline until it meets the Old Railroad Grade Fire Road. Roughly .2 miles up that road, you’ll encounter a trail junction connecting the Old Railroad and the Hoo-Koo-E-koo fire roads and, less obviously, the Vic Haun Trail, which leads off from the trail post between the two fire roads. Thus begins the tough part of the hike: a gravel-lined trail switchbacking the 1,120 feet ascent to the peak with sun-weathered southern exposure and little shade provided by the surrounding chaparral. On the upside, you’ll be treated to increasingly stunning views of almost the entire Bay Area from a unique perspective on your way up. The Vic Haun terminates at its intersection with the Temelpa Trail, and the Temelpa covers the steepest part of the climb, but the payoff at the top is well worth the effort.

After a rest at the top, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the Vic Haun on your way down the Temelpa. Layering is probably a good idea for this hike, as the Matt Davis wends through a moist, windy and chilly environment, while the south-eastern side of the mountain can be quite warm, and you’ll certainly work up a sweat on the ascent.

Bootjack to Mt. Tam

Distance: less than 10-miles round trip

Elevation gain: approximately 1,200 feet

Difficulty: 3 out of 5

Time commitment: Four hours and thirty minutes at a good pace with one break at the pinnacle, plus two hours total driving time.

Kid friendly?: Yes

Dog friendly?: No