Ring Mountain Preserve in Marin County California

 

Ring Mountain Preserve: Marin County California

Ring Mountain is a rad little hike in Corte Madera California which is located about 9 miles north of the Golden Gate bridge as you head away from San Francisco. There are plenty of great hikes in Marin County, but this is one of the best vantage points to get a view of San Francisco and the bay. This hike has more of a “neighborhood” hike type of vibe with very few tourists. There are a couple of interesting rock formations along the loop where you may spot some local rock climbers practicing their bouldering skills. 

 

View of San Francisco Bay from Ring Mountain

The Ring Mountain Preserve has 4 different trails with access points to the loop at the top, but parking is complicated. There are a few spots at the different trailheads, emphasis on “few”.  Neighborhoods in this area have a lot of restrictions for parking.  I recommend parking at Blackie’s Pasture and crossing Tiburon Blvd to access the preserve by walking up until the end of Reed Ranch Road.  There is room for about 5-6 cars at the top of Reed Ranch road, but these spots are often taken.

If you start as Blackie’s Pasture, follow Reed Ranch Road to the trailhead and do the loop at the top, the total distance of the trail would be about 5 miles roundtrip with 500 feet of elevation gain. This is a fairly easy hike, but I don’t really recommend it for families with small children under 8 years old because the initial hill through the neighborhood is a little steep and you’ll have to cross a busy intersection on Tiburon Blvd. There are also mountain bikers to contend with. This is definitely not a hike to push a stroller on. 

Ring Mountain Preserve Trail in Corte Madera

 

Be aware that Blackie’s Pasture may have parking restrictions in place due to Covid.

The Ring Mountain Preserve is dog friendly, but leashes are required.  The trail is fairly heavily trafficked by local hikers, pet owners, mountain bikers. It’s best to hike this one on a clear, sunny day. From the top, you get panoramic views of San Francisco Bay, Mount Tamalpais, San Francisco and Marin County. Bring plenty of water because the trail is exposed to the sun.

 

Trail stats

Distance 5 miles roundtrip from Blackie’s Pasture if you do the loop at the top

Elevation Gain: 500 Feet

Dog Friendly: Yes

Bike Friendly: Yes

Best months:  Year-round on a clear day

Not Suitable for very young children who can’t hike 5 miles with a steep hill

 

Location of Trailhead on Google Maps:

https://goo.gl/maps/Skc6vCW9wyMkYxMf6

 

 

Ring Mountain Loop in Tiburon

Also in the area:

While you’re in the Tiburon area, I highly recommend taking the Tiburon Ferry across to Angel Island for a bike ride. There is a bike rental location in Tiburon before you cross over to Angel Island, but it’s not cheap at $64/day not including the cost of the Ferry, so bring your own bike if you can.

If you’re looking for a good place to eat, I’d recommend skipping the lousy touristy restaurants in the area and grabbing a picnic lunch to go at The Woodland’s Market in Tiburon. They have fresh food made daily by a team of chefs. The roasted chicken is the best meal I ate anywhere on Marin County. The market also has an excellent selection of beer and baked goods. Grab a Pliney the Elder and the best box of chocolate chip cookies you will ever eat in your life.

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Indian Cove Campground. Joshua Tree National Park

Indian Cove Campground in Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park is one of the best places for a fall camping trip in Southern California. The weather is mild and breezy, the night sky is cloudless and perfect for stargazing, the crowds are relatively thin and the chance of rain is basically zero. Joshua Tree is a short 2 hour drive from the beach in Orange County.  If you absolutely hate camping, you always have the option of staying in nearby Palm Springs about 50 minutes outside the park. If you’re headed to Joshua Tree from San Diego, you might even consider a stop in Temecula to visit a winery.

I've stayed inside the main part of the park on past trips, but this time we opted to stay in the Indian Cove Campground located in the northern part of Joshua Tree,  just outside of the town of TwentyNine Palms. The Indian Cove Campground is less cramped than many of the campground located in the main part of the park. Most of the campsites in Indian Cove are situated in between giant rock formations that offer a fair amount of seclusion from neighboring campsites.  The tent sites are extremely reasonable for only $15 a night. You can even avoid paying the 15$ entrance fee into the main part of Joshua Tree by hiking the trails located within the Indian Cove Camping area.

The best trail in the Indian Cove section of Joshua Tree has to be the Rattlesnake Canyon Trail. The word “trail” is a bit misleading, as Rattlesnake Canyon is really a maze of giant boulders you’ll have to hop, squeeze through and climb until you've had your fill. There are countless small caves and crevices to explore among the boulders. We even found a few small arches. This is also a popular spot for rock-climbing.  We saw several groups of people climbing in this area of the park.  We spent 3 hours in the canyon navigating through the boulders up the mountainside. We took a break at the top of a large pinnacle of rocks. We came back down limping like wounded birds and covered in scrapes and got ourselves into a little trouble while exploring a pool in a slot canyon when I accidentally disturbed a wasps nest. They chased me up the side of an eight foot granite wall, but I avoided getting stung. I didn't notice how tired I was until we reached the car. This not a hike for beginners or small children. If you plan on hiking to the top of the boulders, do not be mislead by other sites claiming this is a moderate hike. Rattlesnake Canyon will kick your butt. With that said, this was one of my all-time favorite desert hikes.

A few words of warning: The sun can be intense in Joshua Tree and you can end up severely sunburned, even when the temperatures are cool.  Sun tan lotion and plenty of water are the two most important things you can have in Rattlesnake Canyon. I also recommend bringing a pair of leather gloves because the granite in Rattlesnake Canyon is rough and will tear your hands up.

Rattlesnake Canyon was closed for 5 months this year due to graffiti in the canyon. If you see someone vandalizing the park in any way, please report them immediately by calling park headquarters at
760-367-5502. 

Indian Cove Campground can be booked in advance by visiting http://www.recreation.gov/

Rattlesnake Canyon in Joshua Tree National Park

Directions to Rattlesnake Canyon Trail-head:  From TwentyNine Palms Highway 62, turn right onto Indian Cove Road and drive approximately 3 miles. You will pass both the ranger station and the group camping area. Make your first left onto Indian Cove East and continue one mile through the campground until you reach the parking area for Rattlesnake Canyon. 

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Sand Hollow State Park. Utah

Sand Hollow State Park Utah from john fakor on Vimeo.

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Red Rock Canyon, Las Vegas

Red Rock Canyon, Las Vegas

Red Rock Canyon is a thirty minute drive from Caesar’s Palace on the Las Vegas strip. It offers a great opportunity for rock climbing, hiking, and rock scrambling. Although part of the Mojave Desert, the park has numerous seasonal waterfalls and creeks. Not surprisingly, you will likely encounter a wide variety of unique wildlife. The last time I was in Red Rock, I shared a seat with a sun bathing iguana that was at least 3 feet long. He refused to give up his rock while I rested. He just watched me jealously as I munched on a granola bar. His angry glare reminded me of the old guys who play 1-2$ Hold Em' at the El Cortez Casino downtown. 

Although I’ve never had the opportunity to go rock climbing in Red Rock myself, it seems to be a very popular destination for climbers. Most of the park is hard packed sandstone. The park gets it’s red hue from Iron Oxide (rust) trapped in the rocks.  I always cross paths with at least a few people who are toting climbing gear around the park.

My favorite thing to do in Red Rock Canyon is the rock scramble to the top of the mountain. Forget about a trail. It’s every man for himself. The distance to the top can be misleading. What looks like a 15minute climb, will probably take 90 minutes or more. When you reach the Summit, you get a 360 degree panoramic view that stretches for 100 miles in every direction. The pictures you take in Red Rock will make you envy of your Facebook friends. 

A few words of warning about Red Rock: You can pretty much forget about doing this park from June-August. The daily temperatures are usually in the 110+ degree range. That’s the kind of heat that can kill anyone, regardless of your physical condition. The last time I was in Red Rock Canyon, I drank 2 liters of water in 2 hours and I still felt dehydrated. Its a great hike to work off all the free beer and all you can eat buffets. The best time to plan your trip is Spring or Fall when temperatures are usually in the 80s. 

To reach Red Rock Canyon from the Las Vegas Trip, Take the Las Vegas Beltway (215) North towards Summerlin. Exit onto Charleston Blvd (159) and follow route 159 South for about 6 miles until you see the right hand turnoff for Red Rock Canyon Road (Scenic Loop Drive). Follow the signs to the parking area. Parking is 5$. (one hand of blackjack). I usually hike inside the loop, but there are plenty of slot canyons, creeks and geologic oddities to explore in the immediate area around the loop. 

Red Rock Canyon, Las Vegas

Red Rock Canyon, Las Vegas

Red Rock Canyon, Las Vegas

Red Rock Canyon, Las Vegas

Red Rock Canyon, Las Vegas

Red Rock Canyon, Las Vegas

Red Rock Canyon, Las Vegas

Red Rock Canyon, Las Vegas

Red Rocks Las Vegas

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Yosemite Roadtrip Video

This past month was my my big Yosemite trip. My brothers flew in from Louisville Kentucky for the trip. We had 7 days to drive from Newport up Coastal Highway through Big Sur, cutting east at Monterrey to the park. 7 days was just enough to see the major attractions and do a little extra exploring on the way. I'll be posting info this month on all of the major stops we took along the way. My brother Chris compiled this awesome video of highlights from our trip.

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