Mountain biking along
Pine Mountain
- Pine Mountain
- Carson Falls
- Repack
- Lakes Loop
- Bald Hill -
- Tamarancho
- Photos
- Links
- Home -
The Marin Municipal Water District, just north of Mount Tam,
contains the reservoirs that serve Marin County, and
the fire roads therein are available for mountain biking. It is bordered to the south
by the Mount Tamalpais ridge, and to the west by Bolinas. Coastal moisture creeping over
these ridges falls as rain or condenses into the top soil, accounting for the dense foliage
particularly in the lower valleys. As moisture seeps down the hillsides it gathers into
little streams that fall quickly to Lake Lagunitas, Bon Tempe lake, Alpine Lake, and Kent Lake.
To the east, the lakes are surrounded by oak savannas on hilly plateaus. Moving westward, thick mossy
forests pack the steep valleys between grassy ridges.
Little waterfalls are common on Pine Mountain after a heavy rain, and makes the muddy trails well worth the effort.
While Mount Tamalpais is the landmark generally associated with the formation of off-road
biking groups around Marin, the Old Railroad Grade to the top is fairly mellow and that probably didn't motivate any
evolutionary change from standard single-speed balloon-tire bikes that had been around for decades.
The steeper slopes along Pine Mountain would more likely have motivated the use of
multiple gearing systems resulting in the basic design of mountain bikes as we know them today.
So Pine Mountain may really be the "mountain" in mountain bike, but the person to ask is Gary Fisher.
Where it mainly gets it's place in mountain bike history is in 1977 where the first race at Repack was held.
Pine Mountain Loop
"A lone trout hovered quietly in the shallows of Kent Lake; its surface still, except for ripples
as I stepped onto a fallen trunk protruding from the shore.
Slowly, inch by inch, the fish glided along the lakeside, whether asleep or slowly stalking prey I could not tell for sure.
Gazing beyond the reflections of storm clouds, I felt the clarity of the cold serene water.
Gone were the predictions of rain this evening when we were already well behind schedule, and
lost in the fluid silence was the mud that caked our wheels, causing my chain to lock in the bottom ring
and Kenny's brakes to fail.
A fleeting memory became the fears that a recent patch over a pinch flat would blow on these rocky trails.
For this was at the farthest point of the ride, deep in the
watershed, at the heart of the Marin wilderness, with rain forests tucked deep within steep ridges that hid any
evidence of civilization for miles.
Slowly the trout faded into the depths with slow and deliberate motions,
and when its shadowy form had vanished, we felt the pressure to hurry along."
(b. February 18, 2002)
Directions: You'll want to have a map because after the peak there are few if any trail
markings to identify the multiple branches; generally stick to the main fire road and keep going straight.
The AAA San Rafeal map details fire roads in the watershed well.
By car, start at the same parking lot as the Carson Falls ride above.
On bike, follow San Geronimo Ridge Road to Pine Mountain Road to the peak and down to
Kent Lake. At the end of the final steep descent there is a fork where you should keep right. Ride
along Kent Lake for a little while, then crank back up to the crest of San Geronimo Ridge.
At the intersection, turn right onto San Geronimo Ridge Road and follow it to the car.
The total distance is just over 13 miles.
Profile: Doesn't the definition of road somewhere imply they've moved the rocks out of the way?
Anyway, there are two major uphill grades.
The first is from the parking lot (elev. 1000) to the top of Pine Mountain (elev. 1726) over two miles
with much of the climb on two particulaly steep and rocky, but brief sections.
Get used to it because there is a lot more of that coming.
After a brief coast along Pine Mountain Ridge, it's a quick and dirty drop down to Kent Lake (elev. 500)
then a couple miles of flat road as you ride alongside it.
Then you will ascend 800 feet up to San Geronimo Ridge along a smooth grade.
This part was surpisingly good fire road compared to the rest of the ride, especially given the remoteness of the location.
Not sure of the distance but it was manageable grade in the middle ring, maybe 8%.
There are a couple of stream crossings about halfway up.
Once at the crest, the San Geronimo Ridge Road is the rockiest section of the ride (think stream bed) on a roller coaster
of steep grinds and descents.
The trails were disproportionately muddy given the amount of rain we had, so they
certainly don't call it the watershed for nothing.
Comment [7]: As could be seen from all the tire tracks in the mud, this is a popular ride.
I attribute this to two reasons: the historical interia of being at ground zero of the mountain biking movement,
and being one of the more challenging rides in Marin. It's challenge, however, is due only to the
embedded and loose boulders so dense as to be unavoidable-- take those away and it has
an intermediate profile.
Overall the vistas are nice but nothing special by Marin standards.
And yes, the patch over the large pinch flat did fail, right when it started to pour.
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Map Link -
mtbREVIEW
Carson Falls
"Up the valley wall we climbed, gripping carefully slippery singletrack, reaching grades of over thirty percent,
alongside the rushing creek.
We had ditched our bikes
of course, hidden under ferns and covered with mossy tree bark, disguised so well in the disorienting density of
redwoods that we took great caution in order to subtlely mark the spot where they had been left.
In the midst of the rainy season,
our shoes sank deep into the soupy mud as we pressed upward through the murky growth.
Large ferns thrived on the hillside and moss carpeted the trees and rocks;
only the whiteness of the rushing rapids passing below disrupted this abundant green.
At the western base of Pine Mountain, we were deep in the Watershed District,
where steep ridges gathered coastal precipitation into trickling creeks that grew into fast flowing rivers
near the valley floor.
Blueschist formations in the clay soil acted as gutters, channeling the frequent waterfalls hidden in the trees,
and the stream we followed would take us to the greatest of them all, dropping a hundred feet
from Oat Hill Ridge down into the forested ravine.
As we approached the tree line, the sound of water from beyond the woods left little doubt
in our minds that the falls were not much further ahead." (b. January 6, 2002)
Directions: By car, heading north on 101, take the "San Anselmo" exit onto
Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. In downtown Fairfax, Turn left on Claus, another quick left
on Broadway, and a quick right on Bolinas Road. Follow it into the Watershed Area, to the
parking lot at the top of the ridge. On bike, follow the Pine Mountain fire road west,
making a left on Oat Hill FR, then right
on Old Vee FR. At the bottom, turn right on Alpine-Kent Pump road and follow it to the three-way fork
near the pump station.
Take the first right turn and follow it up into a redwood grove until the trail seems to end.
The rest is hiking so you'll need to figure out what to do with your bike. We hid ours in the undergrowth.
On foot, the trail to Carson Falls begins on the other side of the stream.
When you're done, find your bike and follow Alpine-Kent Pump FR past Old Vee to Alpine Dam.
Turn left on Bolinas-Fairfax Road and ride back to the starting point.
A very easy alternate route would be to start at Alpine Dam.
Profile: Overall, this is not a particularly strenuous ride. It's 15 miles with a lot of potential
diversions so allow a few hours.
The worst of it is the first mile, along Pine Mountain Road to the Oat Hill turnoff. It isn't so much
the steepness, although it is pretty steep, as it is the erosion and slippery watermelon boulders embedded in the road.
Also, there were a LOT of hikers here which didn't help since they tended to be standing right on my line.
Beyond that, Oat Hill fire road is mostly flat and the pedestrian traffic thins considerably
after the first turnoff to Carson Falls, which is illegal to bikes.
The decent along Old Vee Road is fast and steep. Alpine-Kent Pump Road once was paved, and is flat except
for a short climb to the Alpine Dam.
The final 4 mile climb to the parking area along Bolinas-Fairfax road is a manageable 400 feet, most
in the last mile.
Comment [8]: The ride is memorable because of the lush green of the woods and the waterfall at the end.
Anyway, the two highlights of the trail are the views along Oat Hill trail and Carson falls.
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Cascade Canyon Road (aka "Repack")
"The exhaled mist briefly backscattered illumination from the helmet light, while I gazed upward
at the half moon high in the night sky.
It was true what people say, that depth perspective is lost when light shines from too close to the eye, and
and having left the handlebar lights in the car to save weight,
leaves, branches, grasses and stones now formed a flat matte cut from aged parchment,
framed by the spotlight, and held up against the stark blackness of dark and wintery air.
As the hypothermic chill of night drew her fingers across my skin,
noises from the creek below became cheering crowds urging me quickly down the mountain.
But now that every erosion and boulder appeared as smooth trail by our one and only light, caution prevailed,
restraint took the lead, and
we carefully descerned the stable lines slowly to the empty finish line ahead."
(b. February 9, 2003)
Directions: Repack is widely accepted to be the site of the first timed mountain bike
race, back in the 1976.
By car, take the same route to the Pine Mountain parking lot described in the two rides
above.
On bike, head out on the San Geronimo Ridge Trail, keeping to the right at the Oat Hill turnoff and the Pine
Mountain turnoff. A couple hundred yards after the worst of the rock gardens,
the unmarked Repack trail branches to the right, and drops down to a bridge in Cascade Canyon.
After that, four stream crossings leads to Elliot Nature Preserve, and Cascade Road eventually returns you to Bolinas-Fairfax
Road, which you can ride back up to the start.
(To avoid about two-thirds of Bolinas-Fairfax, find the fire road
behind Deer Park school, at the end of Porteus Drive, and climb up
to Five Corners, head up Shaver Grade to the Sky Oaks ranger station, go through the meadow turning right at the fork,
and follow the golf course to the clubhouse, and then Bolinas-Fairfax to the top.
The AAA San Rafael map details most of the route.)
Profile: Repack is so steep that in the old days contrails of smoke would erupt from overheated coaster brakes,
and they would have to be repacked with grease after the ride. My Hayes hydraulics likewise
made some frightening screeches. The ride up San Geronimo fire road has loose gravel and
boulders everywhere, and gets pretty steep for one quarter-mile stretch. After the Pine Mountain turnoff it starts to
get so rocky you hardly see any road, but it thins out just before Repack.
The parking lot starts at 1100 feet, with a 2 mile ride
to the top of Repack (elev. 1500). Then it's 2 miles down to Fairfax (elev. 200) along
a fire road, but with plenty gullies from the latest storms. At the bottom, there are four stream crossings as you
pass through the canyon.
Comment [8]: for historical interest, without which it rates closer to a 5 or 6.
Downhillers and freeriders will probably find it dull by modern standards.
As a cross country trail it is alright, but over with
quickly. Scenery is okay, but Marin is much nicer closer to the coast.
Consider doing it on a beach cruiser.
You can easily combine Repack with the Pine Mountain Loop if you begin in Fairfax and ride Bolinas-Fairfax road up to the
Pine Mountain Loop, then finish off with this.
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Web Page -
Map Links #1 and
#2 (1.01Mb PDF) -
mtbREVIEW.com
Although "mountain biking" today implies cross country riding, it's competitive origins are downhill.
The first timed race on Repack was October 21, 1976, and was won by Bob Burrowes.
The fastest time was set by Gary Fisher, at 4:22 for the 2-mile course.
The fastest legal time today, obeying the 15 mph speed limit for bikes, is 8 minutes.
Here's a description
of the 20-year anniversary Repack race
from Dirt Rag.
FYI, That great moment in law enforcement when radar guns were first used against bikers happened
at Mount Tam in 1989.
Phoenix, Lagunitas, Bon Tempe and Alpine Lakes
"After the brief ride to Phoenix lake, we began our ascent
along the Shaver Grade
trail. For the first mile it was gentle and the roads were wide, but after Five
Corners it got a lot steeper. Fortunately this stretch was brief and well
justified the effort, for it led us above the oak forests to a pleasant plateau of
lakes and meadows which hold the reservoirs." (b. October 7, 2000)
Directions: This route connects the four lakes in a fairly gentle loop (slightly
modified from the one described above).
As far as I know these trails offer the only connection between the fire roads of western Marin and Pine Mountain.
By car, follow 101 north and get off at the
"San Anselmo" exit and follow Sir Francis Drake to Ross (about 3 miles).
Turn left at Lagunitas Road and follow it to Greene
Park. On bike, a quick wide fire road leads to Pheonix lake. Turn right at the junction, and at the other
side the lake take Eldridge Grade to the upper plateau. Turn right onto the Lakeview fire road and coast down
to Lake Lagunitas. It's nicely forested, and is the only lake that can legally be circumvented.
Check it out, then follow Sky Oaks Road down to the Bon Tempe and Alpine Lakes turnoff.
Check out the Bon Tempe dam, and then
continue along the dirt road to the Bullfrog fire road which returns you to Sky Oaks. Turn
left, and at the corner of Bolinas-Fairfax road look for the Concrete Pipe fire road. Follow
that to Five Corners, then drop down Shaver Grade to Phoenix Lake and back to the car.
Profile: The starting elevation at Greene Park is 100 feet, Phoenix 200, and Eldridge takes you up to 900 feet
in a couple miles. (Neither of us has actually ridden this part of the Eldridge grade,
but this is the way I'd take if I went back, and generally it climbs smoothly at 5%.)
The rest of the ride is flat or downhill (except the short and sweet climb to Bon Tempe dam).
Lake Lagunitas is around 800 feet, Bon Tempe maybe 50 feel below that,
and Alpine Lake another 75 feet down. fire roads here are generally well maintained.
Comment [6]: It's a small grind up to the lakes, but
once there the rest is pleasant and relaxing. All the "no biking"
signs around the lakes greatly limit the scope riding here, unfortunately,
but I still find the area basically enjoyable. Bring a fishing pole.
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Bald Hill OSP: Upper West and Worn Springs loop
"Above the oak forest, above the grasses and shrubs, across the field
of stones that covered the desolate peak, a rare wind came from the east.
Feeling the dry sting of inland air, my eyes squinted while gazing across the bay.
Along this short path up Bald Hill, a quick drive from home with sunset at hand, cranking hard up
the steep grade, I had sought the budget route to clarity.
Sitting cross-legged at the summit, in these disparate times, I hoped for a respite in the conflict between
id and reason that left this tired ganglia of nerves an old weathered battleground.
All this from the ongoing psychic stuggle to find
that rare angle in life where light and shadow are in balanced contrast, the color
rich, and objects find perfect composition within the frame.
On my bike again, such thoughts would be swept aside in a few minutes of
undisturbed focus during the fast, steep and loose descent back to the lake." (b. November 25, 2002)
Directions: This loop connects the unnamed fire road starting where Upper West Road in Ross deadends,
turns left onto Worn Springs road, crosses over Bald Hill, and descends down to Phoenix Lake.
By car, take 101 north from SF to the
"San Anselmo" exit and follow Sir Francis Drake west to Ross, just past Marin College.
Turn left at Lagunitas Road and follow it to Natalie Green Park (gates lock at sunset).
On bike, From Green Park backtrack along Lagunitas and turn left Glenwood Drive and another on Upper Road.
Climb for a bit, then turn left again on Upper West Road.
Climbing further, you'll pass a handmade "Private Road" sign,
but there are plenty of official city signs suggesting otherwise.
There is a clear gated trailhead where Upper West Road ends that passes through Ross city property to the
Marin Water District.
Continue up the fire road to Worn Springs fire road (it's unmarked, but the only major fork along the way)
and turn left toward the peak.
After a brief detour to the pebbly summit, Worn Springs continues steeply down to Phoenix lake.
Turn left at the lake and follow the fire road past the lake back down to Natalie Green park.
(NOTE: for a longer loop, I understand Oak Avenue in San Anselmo also deadends in a fire road that connects with
Worn Springs, but I haven't seen it.)
Profile: Ross lies just under 100 feet, and the Bald Hill Peak is at 1141.
Starting at Glenwood and Upper you'll climb for just over 1½ miles to get there.
That's around a 13% average grade split between streets and fire road.
The grade is mostly even, worsening once you hit the trailhead, with a handful of fairly flat sections to
catch your breath.
The return trip down Worn Springs to Phoenix Lake is quick,
and although fire road it gets pretty loose with gravel and has steep twisty turns to keep it fun.
Comment [6½]: I'd really like to have something similar to this close to home for a training ride.
If you want to work up a sweat it's a nice change from the subdued
grades throughout much of the Mount Tam area, but it's over too quickly for any kind of deeper mountain biking satisfaction.
It delivers well the standard formula: climbing up
a peak with some nice views, and looping back to the bottom along a fast descent.
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Web Page
The Camp Tamarancho Loop
Reaching the first ridgeline, as we turned left onto the loop,
moths fluttered across our path, in scattered dances through the air.
Their wings glittered in shafts of light, filtering through the forest grove,
like random functions in Cartesian space in motion solely for movement's sake.
Survival was their only destination, to be counted at the end of each passing day.
So, with powerful thrusts we cranked up steep switchbacks, as tire grip strained against stony gravel, and
fearfully maneuvered around hairpin turns in endless sequence, winding their way
up ridge after ridge and doing the same down the other side.
Through woods, then meadows, across bridges, and over stones, back and forth we went,
up and down, with uncertain, if any purpose, as the day went by."
(May 29, 2004; Memorial Day Weekend)
Directions: This 8-mile singletrack loop, right in the middle of the Marin mountain biking culture,
was designed and built during the 90's by the Bicycle Trails Council of Marin (BTC).
It circumvents the privately held Camp Tamarancho Boy Scout property.
By car, heading north on 101, take the "San Anselmo" exit onto
Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. It's around 10 miles to Fairfax, then park around the downtown area.
I hear you can use the Albertson's parking lot, but we didn't, so check first to make sure you won't get towed.
On bike, briefly continue along Sir Francis Drake, then turn left on Azalea, right on Scenic,
right on Manor, left on Rock Ridge, then ride up Iron Springs for about a mile to the trailhead
(there is no parking along Iron Springs).
Continue up the singletrack ("Alchemist") to where it connects with the Tamarancho Loop.
At that point, you can go either way, although the consensus at mtbREVIEW.com
suggests a right turn going counter-clockwise is better. Trails are well-marked
with signs pointing clearly the direction you should go at junctions.
Profile: For a loop designed by mountain bikers for mountain bikers, Tamarancho is okay.
From the trailhead at the end of Iron Springs (elev. 400), it's a tough little circuit,
going up and down many times over remote ridges and valleys, climbing a few hundred
feet here and there, and somewhere between B17 and Wagon Wheel reaching an elevation of 1200 feet.
It never gets particularly steep, but is never truly terrifying or inspired either.
There are a few very difficult sections that only the most accomplished bikers will be able to clean,
but mostly what makes it technical are the rock gardens on Wagon Wheel,
and endless switchbacks that a mountain bike can just barely fit around.
If tight cornering isn't your thing, either you are going to be a lot better by the end
of this ride, or it's gonna be slow going.
Comment [8]: If you are looking for singletrack harder than China Camp
and it has to be in Marin, then here you go.
Scores of 8 or higher are reserved for rides that we would recommend to someone
from out of town, and winding trails through
the woods can be found in many places elsewhere. So, do the spectacular and unique views on Wagon Wheel and Broken Dam
make the ride something more than a local attraction? Maybe, barely. We'll give it the benefit of the doubt.
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Web Page -
Map Link -
mtbREVIEW.com -
Photo Exhibit
What about the "Friends of Tamarancho" pass? We were afraid we might get in trouble by
some roaming patrol of Boy Scouts,
but all indication from our one-time exposure is that it operates on the honors system.
The policy, that was in effect until 2003, of only selling a year-long pass for $40 suggests an
attitude that discourages non-locals
from riding these trails, echoed in a statement from BTC:
"if you don't want to pay to ride your mountain
bike, that's fine, just ride somewhere else."
BUT, this property is privately owned by the Boy Scouts,
and you have to admit
they did mountain bikers a favor by allowing this trail to happen, so the $5 day pass available now
is a reasonable fee.
You can conveniently pick on up at Sunshine Bikes,
in downtown Fairfax, 737 Center Drive, across from Albertson's.
Photos
Click to expand
In the midst of a good ride there's nothing like a little quiet contemplation.
Here's Carson Falls falling down the southern face of Pine Mountain, shortly after a good rain.
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Links
The Pedaling History bike museum offer history and pictures
of the bicycle, and it's precursers going back to the early 1800's.
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