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Driving to Sky Oaks is more difficult than getting to Phoenix Lake Trailhead (details below), but there's plenty of space to park, and a couple of trails here aren't as steep as the first part of Phoenix Lake's trail, though others are quite adventurous enough for the crazies among us. Filter Plant Road is the only paved road diverging from Sky
Oaks Road, on the left about a mile past the entrance. Prominent signs
forbid entry, but they mean no cars, and parking is provided there.
There's a short steep stretch at the start, but past that it's
a very pleasant smoothly paved level 0.7 mile walk along the wooded
hillside. It has no grand views, and ends at the plant where water from
the lakes is processed (surprise!). But the trees, second growth redwood,
madrone, oak and fir, give welcome shade on warm days, and a little
stream was still trickling down the hillside on our August visit. Past
the filter plant, the pavement ends and the gravel road (Eldridge Grade)
drops steeply. If serious steepness doesn't bother you, you can get to Phoenix Lake (or get from Phoenix Lake to Bon Tempe) via Fish Grade, which is a well-graded gravel track going off from Filter Plant Road near the trailhead, and dropping at least 500 feet over less than half a mile (details below). The only other trail I've found from Sky Oaks that may be relaxing
to travel, at least in the dry season, is Bull Frog Road, which
includes pleasant stretches of grassy oak-studded meadow and riparian
woods. The trail begins at the end of a gravel road on the right shortly
after the entrance, and is very level and fairly smooth for 0.4 pretty
miles near Alpine Lake. Then there's a steep drop about 30 feet long,
with difficult erosion as of September 2006, which could easily make
it unusable by next spring. After that, the dirt trail crosses a couple
of shallow depressions which I judge would be impassable throughout
the rainy season, and reaches a boardwalk across a marsh. Not relaxing, but worth some effort, is Lagunitas-Rock Spring Road climbing from the picnic area below Lagunitas Lake, up to the dam, and then another 700 or so feet in the next mile to a junction with Rocky Ridge Road, which was as far as we chose to go. Between three very steep stretches were some nearly level parts where we could relax and enjoy the mixed forest shading the trail, and occasional openings to views over over Alpine Lake and surrounding hills. Rocky Ridge Road was impassible due to erosion, so we returned the same way.
Trails from the Sky Oaks entrance that were not usable when we were there: Lakeview Trail, Shadyside Trail, Pine Point Trail, Kent Trail, and the trails skirting Lake Lagunitas. The Phoenix Lake trail may be inaccessible due to very limited parking (see details below). It's a wide well maintained but bumpy gravel road which climbs steeply from the parking lot to the lake, about 0.2 mi., probably needing a good power chair and/or good assistance. Once at the dam, heading west the trail is nearly level well-graded dirt for at least another 0.5 mile in mixed forest and sunlight around the north edge of the lake and along a tributary stream. There are usually lots of bicyclists and dogs on weekends. Benches are provided along the trail, and the lake view is pretty, though the trail here stays 15 or 20 feet above the water. As throughout the watershed, wading or swimming is not permitted (nor could you get a wheelchair to the water's edge in any case). The trail divides just below the lake and the left fork crosses the
dam and climbs steeply in a short rocky stretch that we chose not to
tackle since a hiker told us we would only be able to go a quarter mile
further along the lake before reaching a stretch of steps. Taking the
righthand trail along the lake's edge, we came, a few hundred yards
past the dam, to another junction, and turned right on Worn Springs
Road, which climbs the hillside north of the lake. Details: Both trailheads have a $7 parking fee (waived if disabled parking placard is displayed). The picnic grounds at the Phoenix Lake and the end of Sky Oaks Road are both pleasant and offer accessible toilets, but none of the trails I've tried except Phoenix Lake is provided with benches Phoenix Lake trailhead is about 2 gently uphill miles south of Sir Frances Drake Blvd at the end of Lagunitas Rd. in Ross. Golden Gate Transit stops at that intersection. The small parking lot has two van-accessible disabled spaces, but on pleasant weekends may be full by 11, and has no overflow parking within half a mile of the trailhead. There is a very pleasant, accessible, well shaded picnic and barbecue area by the stream adjacent to the parking lot, which has two chemical toilets, one accessible. Drinking water is available here and also about 0.4 mile along the trail around Phoenix Lake. Benches are provided on the dam and along the lake's edge only. Last visit Fall 2005 To reach the Sky Oaks entrance stay on Sir Francis Drake until Fairfax. Past a small hill, look for a “Naft” gas station on your left, and turn left immediately past it, at the wooden “Fairfax” sign, on Pacheco St. At the first stop sign turn right onto Broadway. At the next stop sign make a left onto Bolinas Rd. Go up Bolinas road approximately 1.5 miles to a sign for Lake Lagunitas. Turn left onto Sky Oaks Road; go about 0.3 mile to the entrance. (If you get to the Meadow Club golf course you have missed the Sky Oaks Road turn-off.) The Lagunitas picnic area is about 1½ miles beyond the entrance, and has accessible toilets and designated disabled parking; other trailheads on Sky Oaks do not |
This
is steep country on the slopes of Mount Tamalpais, so though a number
of the trails are otherwise useable, there are no routes here that don't
have some slopes, and only Filter Plant Road is really smooth.
Judging by the map, it becomes impassable long before reaching Phoenix
Lake.
Then it climbs a bit, with some erosion, to meet Meadow Club Road, where
a right turn takes you on a nearly level well graded gravel track (but
watch out for soft spots) back to Sky Oaks Road near the entrance.Don't
try to make a loop of this; Sky Oaks Road is very narrow, with no shoulders,
not a very comfortable place to walk even though the speed limit is
15 mph. Meadow Club Road is also usable in the dry season as
it skirts the golf course for about 0.7 mile to reach Bolinas Road--not
a particularly appealing walk.
The
other very pretty route we tried is Sunnyside Trail, a footpath
from Sky Oaks Road where it first reaches Bon Tempe Lake. It's nearly
level, skirting the north shore, and goes about 0.2 miles before you
encounter bars placed to control erosion, which are difficult to get
over, and stopped me after about another 0.1 mile.
This
trail is well graded enough for an ordinary car, but has several seriously
steep spots totalling at least 0.2 mi. of its length. A sign says 1.8
miles to Bald Mountain, and sure enough, climbing about 1000 feet, mostly
over open grassland above mixed woods with spectacular views of the
lake below and Mount Tamalpais, the Richmond Bridge over San Pablo Bay
and even Mount Diablo in the distance, we got to a hilltop that really
was bald, having had the grass scraped off for some unknown purpose.
No benches were here or anywhere along this road. The trail continues
toward Deer Park off Bolinas Rd.near Fairfax, and may be no tougher
than what we had already traveled. An adventure worth going back for,
but please note these dirt trails would be muddy in wet weather, and
are mostly very sunny and hot in summer.