San Francisco Bay Area Adventure 2024

Join me for hiking and breathtaking views in the Bay Area.  We will be hiking in Muir Woods National Monument, Mt. Tamalpais State Park, Point Reyes National Seashore, and a crosstown hike in the city of San Francisco.

Day 1: Arrive in San Francisco area and check in to lodging. Shop for food and incidentals, review itinerary for the week, explore the area.

Day 2: Muir Woods: Hike Muir Woods to Stinson Beach (12.7 miles, 3000 ft)

We start at the Visitor Center and hike through the most beautiful section of the redwood forest to an amazing overlook point with views of the ocean, tip of the Golden Gate Bridge and SF skyline(unless the fog is heavy!). We continue to hike down the mountain to the town of Stinson Beach. We will take an hour lunch break and buy lunch at one of the carryout stands or have a relaxing lunch at one of the restaurants.  We will continue the loop back to the Visitor Center passing through more beautiful redwoods, a small waterfall, and exotic flora.

Day 3: San Francisco Crosstown Trail (9-10 miles, 300-400 ft)

We will pick a starting point along the Crosstown Trail and walk northwest through a neighborhood with beautiful mosaic tiled staircases.  We will continue on the trail through Golden Gate Park then divert from the trail to have lunch at Cinderella Bakery, a Russian bakery in the Inner Richmond district area of the city.  After lunch we will proceed through the Presidio, take a break at Baker Beach where we can take photos of the Golden Gate Bridge, then proceed through the mansion district to Lands End and the northern termination of the Crosstown Trail.

This hike has little elevation gain, but be prepared for a fairly strenuous hike up and down streets with much of the trail being sidewalks.

When we finish our hike, we will Uber back to our cars.  It will be important to note the location/address of where our cars are parked. 

See links below for the Crosstown Trail and Cinderella Bakery. 

 SF Crosstown Trail – The San Francisco Crosstown Trail

Cinderella Bakery

Day 4: Muir Woods: Muir Woods to Mt Tamalpais East Peak (11.6 miles, 2900 ft)

 We start at the Visitors Center again but take a different route on the Canopy View Trail to the top of Mt Tamalpais East Peak.  We will climb to the Fire Tower Overlook and enjoy the views of the East Bay area while we have lunch.  The return trip takes us by West Point Inn (a remote bed and breakfast) where we can buy snacks and enjoy the hummingbirds that congregate around the deck of the Inn.  We will return through another stretch of the forest to the Visitor Center.

Day 5: Rest day

 Possible activities - Visit the Farmer's Market at the Ferry Building, Embarcadero, San Francisco (within 1 mile of Fisherman's Wharf), tour the city, walk the Golden Gate Bridge.

Have breakfast or brunch at Zazie (the Trip Leader’s favorite breakfast spot in San Francisco).

Day 6: Point Reyes: Alamere Falls via Coast Trail from Palomrin  (13.7 miles, 1800 ft)

This trail runs through a forest, passing by several hidden lakes.  The trail ends at a beach on the ocean near several primitive campsites.  We will walk along the beach (beach shoes or sandals recommended) for about 1/2 mile toward Alamere Falls, which spills from the top of a cliff into the ocean.  The beach is covered with all shapes and sizes of kelp, hundreds of seagulls, unusual rocks, and the occasional coyote. 

This is an out and back hike.  There are some picnic tables at the campsites where we will stop for lunch.

On the return trip, we will stop at the Bolinas Lagoon Nature Preserve to watch the pelicans and egrets.  

                         Bolinas Lagoon - Marin County Parks

We might change the schedule for this hike to coincide with low tide.  During high tide, you cannot reach the falls from the beach.

      

Time to fly home or continue exploring the Bay Area.

  ** Difficulty Rating and Attendee Qualifications

This trip has a rating of D5.  There are some D5 and some D4 level hikes.  The presence of D5s on the trip and the requirement to hike multiple days consecutively require the D5 rating.

Attendees will need to have recent multiple D5 hiking experience and be capable and willing to hike at a moderately fast pace of 2.7 - 2.9 mph.  In addition, selection for the trip will be based upon level of participation in the club and social compatibility.

It is important that all selected members train regularly for at least 3 months prior to the trip.  I will lead a number of D4s and D5s in the coming months to help facilitate attendees' training. Of course, there will be plenty of hikes led by other trip leaders that will facilitate training.

** How to sign up for this trip

Signing up will put you on the waiting list.  Each applicant will be evaluated based on the above criteria before being moved to the attendee list.  When/if you are moved to the attendee list, you will be notified of the AOC Service Fee ($25) and the due date.

** Air Transportation

The entire group will fly into San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to facilitate rental car sharing.  If participants choose to arrive earlier than the event start date, they will need to coordinate their own transportation to the lodging location.  Likewise, late arrivers will also need to coordinate their own transportation to the lodging location.

In addition to the AOC fee, the amount of $1551.27 will be paid to the AOC, as follows:

• Lodging: $1269.27

• Rental cars: $222.00

• Misc costs (gas, tolls, parking, Uber): $60*

These costs are based on 6 attendees. There is a possibility of adding a 7th person, which would reduce everyone’s cost.

Items not included in cost:

• Food
• Incidentals

Payment schedule:

May 15: $806.25 (lodging deposit + AOC fee) 

June 15: $770.02 (balance)

Miscellaneous costs are estimates only.  The estimated cost of $60 will be required as part of the final payment. Actual costs per participant will be calculated by the Trip Leader after the trip.  Any excess funds will be refunded to each participant along with an accounting of the actual costs.