Rock City, Mount Diablo State Park, recording, (925) 837-2525; kiosk, (925) 837-0904; climbing guides, (800) 509-3954 or www.adventureout.com; Interpretive Association, (925) 927-7222 or www.mdia.org.
Wind Caves, Las Trampas Regional Wilderness (925) 837-3145 or www.ebparks.org. Free brochure/trail map, 1-888-327-2757
Tafoni Monolith, El Corte de Madera Open Space Preserve,(650) 691-1200 or www.openspace.org.
Vasco Caves, Vasco Regional Preserve Reservations at (510) 636-1684, $32 ($4 discount for East Bay residents); www.ebparks.org.
For more information, see the book Tom Stienstra’ Bay Area Outdoor Recreation at www.TomStienstra.com.
Apr. 5: Best Hidden Bay Area Trail Camps
Trail Camp, Butano Redwoods State Park, $12 per night, $6 per vehicle, no reservations. Info: (650) 879-2040 or www.parks.ca.gov.
Kirby Cove, Marin Headlands. $25 for up to three cars and 10 people; reservations required at 1-877-444-6777 or www.recreation.gov. Info: (415) 331-1540 or www.nps.gov/goga.
Stewartville, Black Diamond Mines, Reservations required, $8 per reservation, $5 per person per night, at 1-888-327-2757, free map/brochure available.
Black Mountain, Monte Bello Open Space Preserve, $2 per person per night; reservations required at (650) 691-1200, two-night maximum; www.openspace.org -- click on preserve locator.
Trail Camp, Sunol Regional Wilderness, $8 per reservation, $5 per person per night; reservations required at 1-888-327-2757.
Advance reservations are a necessity to get a spot at one of these popular trail camps:
Marin: Wildcat, Sky, Coast and Glen camps at Point Reyes National Seashore; Hawkcamp at Marin Headlands; Angel Island hike-in at Angel Island State Park.
Peninsula/Santa Cruz Mountains: Sunset at Big Basin Redwoods; Trail Camp at Castle Rock; Youth Group Camp at Sam McDonald.
East Bay foothills: Stewart’s Camp in Ohlone Regional Wilderness.
For more information, see the book California Camping by Tom Stienstra at www.TomStienstra.com.
Mar. 29: Showdowns on State Parks and Salmon Bay Area outdoor showdowns – one easy, one hard:
Proposed state parks shutdown, California State Parks Foundation, www.calparks.org;
California State Department of Parks, www.parks.ca.gov.
Proposed salmon season shutdown, Water For Fish, www.water4fish.org;
California State Department of Fish and Game, www.dfg.ca.gov.
Mar. 15: Bay Area Wildflower Puzzle Point Reyes National Seashore, (415) 464-5100; www.nps.gov/pore;
East Bay Regional Park District for a free brochure/trail map, 1-888-327-2757, then follow menu; or download PDF file at www.ebparks.org.
Best spot for sunset photos: Mount Tamalpais summit, (415) 388-2070 or www.parks.ca.gov.
Best spot for wildlife photos: Pierce Ranch, Point Reyes National Seashore, (415) 464-5100 or www.nps.gov/pore.
Best sweeping view of S.F. Bay: Grizzly Blvd., Berkeley, near Tilden Park, 1-888-327-2757 or www.ebparks.org.
Best view of fog overlying coast foothills: Skyline Ridge, San Francisco Peninsula, near Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve, (650) 691-1200 or www.openspace.org.
Stairstep Falls/Barnabe Peak, Samuel P. Taylor State Park
This trip gets missed 6 miles. Free.
To find this spot, drive west on Sir Francis Drake past the main entrance for Samuel P. Taylor State Park for one mile to the dirt pull-out on the left, across from the access road for Devil’s Gulch Horse Camp. Park on the left, cross Sir Francis Drake, and walk up the access road for the horse camp to the signed trailhead on the right for Devil’s Gulch and Bill’s Trail. (415) 488-9897; www.parks.ca.gov.
How to get there: From San Francisco, take U.S. 101 north to Marin to the exit for Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. Take that exit and drive west to the town of Olema and the junction with Highway 1. Turn right on Highway 1 and drive 100 yards to Bear Valley Road. Turn left on Bear Valley Road and drive two miles to Sir Francis Drake Highway. Turn left on Sir Francis Drake Highway and drive 5.6 miles to Pierce Ranch Road. Bear right and drive 1.2 miles to the entrance road on the right for Tomales Bay State Park (well signed). Turn right and drive 1.5 miles to the parking area and the trailhead at Hearts Desire Beach.
Contact: (415) 669-1140 or www.parks.ca.gov -- then click on Find A Park.
How to get there: From San Francisco, take Highway 280 south to Palo Alto and the exit for Page Mill Road. Take that exit, turn west and drive (becomes twisty) to Skyline Blvd. Cross Skyline and continue west (straight) on Alpine Road for three miles (twisty) to Portola State Park Road. Turn left and drive three miles to park entrance. Park near visitor center.
Contact: (650) 948-9098 or www.parks.ca.gov -- then click on Find a Park.
$5 parking, map/brochure at trailhead; Ridge Trail Loop, 4-mile round trip; no dogs, bikes or smoking anywhere in park. (650) 879-0212 -- www.eparks.net – then click on Parks
How to get there: From San Francisco, take Highway 280 south to Woodside and the exit for Highway 84. Take that exit, turn west and go to Sky Londa. Continue straight to La Honda and continue a half mile to La Honda/Pescadero Road. Turn left and drive 2 miles to a Y. Bear right (Pescadero Road) and drive a short distance to the park entrance on the right.
Reservations required at (415) 646-0702 up to three months in advance; $35 per adult, $17.50 for those under 18, $700 for groups of up to 20 reserving the entire inn. No website.
For lodging options, see the book NorthernCalifornia Cabins & Cottages at www.TomStienstra.com.
Nov. 10: John Muir's Mount Tamalpais
Mount Tamalpais State Park
801 Panoramic Highway, Mill Valley, CA 94941
(415) 388-2070 www.parks.ca.gov -- then click on Find A Park.
Party boats: Emeryville Sportfishing, (510) 654-6040; Berkeley Marina Sports Center, (510) 849-2727; Capt. John’s, Princeton, (650) 726-2913; Huck Finn, Princeton, (650) 726-7133; Bodega Bay Sportfishing, (707) 875-3495.
Pacifica Pier (650) 359-7025.
Bay closure: No Dungeness crabs can be taken in San Francisco Bay. No restriction on rock crabs.
Size and take limit: For the Bay Area coast on personal sport boats, Dungeness crabs must be 53/4 inches (measured from point to point on the shell) with a 10-crab limit; on party boats, Dungeness crabs must be 6 inches with 6-crab limit. Note that from Mendocino County northward, party boats have same limit as personal sport boats. Fishing license required.
Vacation home rentals: Start at $200 per night, two-night minimum, average is $300 per night: Rams Head Realty & Rentals, (800) 785-3455 or www.ramshead.com; Coasting Home, (800) 773-8648 or www.coastinghome.com; Ocean View Properties, (707) 884-3538 or www.oceanviewprop.com; Sea Ranch Escape Vacation Home Rentals, (888) 732-7262 or www.888searanch.com; Sea Ranch Vacation Rentals, (800) 643-8899, www.searanchgetaway.com.
How to get there: Take U.S. 101 to Marin and the exit for Stinson Beach/Highway 1 exit. Take that exit, turn west and drive one mile to the stoplight at the T intersection with Highway 1/Shoreline Highway. Turn left and drive about 2.5 miles uphill to Panoramic Highway. Bear right on Panoramic Highway and continue up the hill 5.5 miles (past the turnoff to Muir Woods) to Pantoll Road. Turn right on Pantoll Road and drive about 1.5 miles to the T intersection. Turn left on Ridgecrest Road
Contacts: Mount Tamalpais State Park, (415) 388-2070; website: www.parks.ca.gov.
Del Valle Reservoir: Del Valle Marina, (925) 449-5201, website: www.ebparks.org; for map/brochure, phone 1-888-327-2757, ext. 5, then follow the directions and leave your name, address and park brochure requested.
Recorded fishing information, (925) 248-3474, then press 2.
Los Vaqueros Reservoir: Los Vaqueros Marina, (925) 371-2628; website: www.ccwater.com (click on Los Vaqueros);
Local youngster catches 200 species of fish Free DFG Fishing Passport: Phone (916) 322-8978 or (916) 322-8911 E-mail request to: publications@dfg.ca.gov Info at www.dfg.ca.gov -- clickon Fishing Passport
Trail synopsis: 13-mile round trip, including 1-mile hiking; easy to moderate; no bikes permitted past bike racks at Waddell Creek.
Rancho del Oso, (831) 425-1218; Rancho del Oso Nature Center, 831/427-2288; Big Basin Redwoods State Park, (831) 338-8860; websites: www.parks.ca.gov (click on Find A Park), www.mountainparks.org.
Directions: From Half Moon Bay, take Highway 1 south for about 30 miles (three miles past Ano Nuevo State Reserve) land look for the signs for Big Basin Redwoods State Park/Rancho del Oso (just past Santa Cruz County line) on the left
Tom Stienstra Outdoors is a KCBS feature by San Francisco Chronicle outdoors writer Tom Stienstra. It airs Saturdays at 7:35 am, and is repeated at 9:35 am and 12:35 pm.
