Camping and Backpacking | Climbing | Gardening | Kids and Nature | Paddling | Point Reyes Walkabout | Trails

A Bobcat Day in Bear Valley

January 16, 2012 •  by

The Bear Valley trail, heading southwest from Park Headquarters to the coast, is one of the emblematic walks, and the most traveled trail, on the Point Reyes Peninsula. Jules covers about 10 miles and encounters a bobcat, an alligator lizard, early-blooming milkmaids, and very late-blooming Indian paintbrush.

50 Years of Point Reyes, 154 Miles of Trails!

January 4, 2012 •  by

This New Year marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of Point Reyes National Seashore, yet another brilliant example of “America’s Best Idea.” To acknowledge and honor this milestone, I have set a personal goal to walk all of the 154 miles of designated trails within the Seashore during 2012, one step at a time.

Twilight hiking reveals nature’s night owls

November 11, 2011 •  by

To some, daylight saving time means losing an hour of sunshine. But to Crissy Field Park Ranger Fatima Colindres, it means more opportunities to explore the night. Twilight walks are among the park’s most popular activities, and Colindres treks with groups under the dark sky twice a month.

Paddle with the Salmon on the Tuolumne

November 8, 2011 •  by

A remarkable event happens every year along the Tuolumne River, but sadly, very few people know about it: Chinook salmon run up the river to their spawning grounds, and the canoes of the Tuolumne River Trust are there to meet them. You could join them this weekend.

Insecta-Palooza Takes the Creepy out of Lots of Crawlies

October 26, 2011 •  by

With Halloween right around the corner, it’s only natural to think of cobwebs and hairy creatures lurking in dark places. Just the thought of these creepy, crawling, eight-legged, web tangling, multi-eyed arachnids can frighten even the toughest individuals. Even yours truly. Luckily, the third installment of Sonoma State University’s Insecta-Palooza is here to remind us that these crawlers aren’t so creepy after all.

A Muddy Race at Mount Hamilton

October 21, 2011 •  by

On October 9, 805 teams of two, 100 individuals, and 220 children, along with hundreds of volunteers from local civic organizations, a crack team of event organizers, and thousands of cheering fans gathered at Joseph D. Grant County Park in the Mount Hamilton area of San Jose. They came to run. They came to bike. They came to get dirty.

Book Review: The Walker’s Map of San Francisco

October 1, 2011 •  by

Pease Press Maps (peasepress.com), 2010, double-sided foldout map, $7.95. Whether you’re looking for a new lunch-break stroll or an all-day weekend hike, this map provides useful information that even a native can appreciate. You may be surprised by the multitude … Read more