MT Tam: Cataract Falls/Potrero Meadows Loop - 6.5 mi Moderate Hike
Details
CARPOOL REQUEST COMMENTS ARE NOT PERMITTED DUE TO THE LARGE SIZE OF THE GROUP. Please read below how to carpool.
Level: Moderate
Total Distance: 6.5 miles round-trip
Hiking Time: 4 hours
Elevation Change: 1,400 feet
Best Season: Anytime
Official Trail Use: No Dogs
Shade: Don't forget your sunhat for your own personal shade. Shade does not matter if you have your sunhat. I never leave home without it.
Facilities Pit toilets at the trail head and at Laurel Dell.
Parking: If parking lot is full, go to secondary parking at Quarry Parking Lot. Eight minute walk back to starting point.
Quarry Parking Lot (most cars) GPS DMS Format:
37°54'52.1"N 122°36'33.4"W
Quarry Parking Lot (google maps) GPS DD Format:
37.914465, -122.609274
PLEASE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO GO BEFORE YOU ARRIVE SO WE CAN START ON TIME.
Recommended Map:
http://www.mappery.com/maps/Mount-Tamalpais-State-Park-Map.pdf
• Please use the Google Maps link above to familiarize yourself with the trip and explore various route options from your home. Zoom in all the way.
• The GPS locations below and the map link above are accurate enough to find us by looking around with your eyes when you get there.
(Most Cars) GPS Degrees Minutes Seconds Format:
37°54'39.1"N 122°36'46.0"W
(Google Maps) GPS Degrees Decimal Format:
37.910861, -122.612784
Nearest street address:
For people with older GPS units that do not accept GPS coordinates:
The intersection of Pan Toll Rd and Ridgecrest blvd, Mill Valley, CA 94598
Google Maps address:
Ridgecrest Blvd & Pan Toll Rd
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
California 94970
The Google Waze app will route around "restricted access" roads, unlike the Google Maps app, using the same map data as Google Maps. Therefore, Waze is recommended over the Google Maps app for your phone.
If you have the Waze app installed on your phone, click this URL:
http://waze.to/?ll=37.910861,-122.612784&navigate=yes (http://waze.to/?ll=48.149491,17.108636&navigate=yes)
Just click it. It will open Waze and start navigating to the trail head.
• As always, it is good practice to confirm the night before that any app you use takes you to where you expect by comparing the destination with what is posted above on your PC/Mac.
• Most street addresses provided are approximate, and may be up to a couple of miles from the hike location. Use GPS coordinates when driving, if possible.
Meeting place:
Rock Springs Parking lot at the intersection of Ridgecrest blvd and Pan Toll Rd.
Parking:
There are four parking lots within a quarter mile of the trail head. Plan to arrive 15 MINUTES EARLY to find parking and walk to the trail head.
Carpooling
We will use this link for carpooling:
https://www.groupcarpool.com/t/uhm3qx (http://www.groupcarpool.com/t/3iwq48)
Please sign up here.
CARPOOLING MANNERS:
Please refrain from trying to negotiate your carpool in the comments, as it is equivalent to sending multiple "Reply All" emails to everyone.
Please start your carpool quest, by first adding yourself to the carpool link above.
Then, use the contact info provided by the driver or rider in the link above to contact them directly and privately.
Please be considerate of others and resist the urge to "Reply All".
Thank you for understanding.
HIKING SUMMARY:
One of Mount Tamalpais’s most compelling assets is its broad variety of possible hikes. You can order up your hike like a San Francisco burrito: hot or mild, small or grande, with just rice and beans or the works. This 6.5-mile loop is one of the mountain’s wildest, with only two short segments on fire roads and the rest on narrow and rocky hiking-only trails. This entire loop is a tour de force of the mountain’s magic: you’ll experience dense forests, aromatic chaparral, rushing creeks, waterfalls, and flower-dotted meadows.
After winter storms, water crashes down over huge boulders here— this is one of the most scenic waterfalls in the Bay Area.
HIKING DIRECTIONS:
The hike begins at a meadow, just off the Rock Spring parking lot. Here, Cataract Trail starts a long journey from Tam’s high ridges down to the shores of Alpine Lake. Follow Cataract Trail 0.1 mile to a junction with Simmons Trail, and continue to the left on Cataract.
At 0.8 mile, signed Ray Murphy Trail crosses the creek toward Laurel Dell Fire Road. Continue straight on Cataract Trail.
Mickey O’Brien Trail departs on the right at 1.1 mile —stick to the left on Cataract Trail as it continues to Laurel Dell. The trail passes some pit toilets and reaches a junction with Laurel Dell Fire Road at 1.2 miles. Cross the fire road and remain on Cataract Trail. Once past a few picnic tables, the trail begins to descend again along the right bank of Cascade Creek.
At 1.4 miles, Cataract Trail meets High Marsh Trail at a signed junction . Continue on Cataract downhill a short distance to the waterfall viewpoint.
After winter storms, water crashes down over huge boulders here— this is one of the most scenic waterfalls in the Bay Area.
The trail (and creek) continue steeply downhill toward Alpine Lake, but for this hike, retrace your steps back uphill and turn left onto High Marsh Trail.
Pass Bare Knoll Trail heading uphill to Laurel Dell Fire Road at 1.7 miles, and as High Marsh Trail prepares to head back into the woods. Once under tree cover again, High Marsh Trail begins a campaign of rolling ups and downs, with some level interludes.
At around the 3-mile mark, unsigned Music Stand Trail heads uphill on the right— continue straight on signed High Marsh Trail.
High Marsh Trail steps across the creek (transformed into a waterfall in winter), and at 3.3 miles you’ll reach a two-part junction with Swede George Trail (also known as Willow Trail). The first leg of Swede George Trail is unsigned and doubles back to the right, then climbs along the creek. To the left, Swede George and High Marsh run together briefly, then Swede George departs to the left (the High Marsh part of this junction is now signed).
Continue on High Marsh .
Cross Country Boys Trail departs to the right at the edge of the marsh, at 3.4 miles, but continue straight. The trail heads back into the woods.
At 3.5 miles, you’ll reach a junction with Kent Trail. Turn right and begin a moderate climb alternating between quiet dark woods and patches of chaparral. This narrow path is very rocky in stretches. Kent Trail meets Cross Country Trail at 4.1 miles— continue straight. Kent Trail emerges from the woods and passes through a big patch of manzanita dotted with towering Douglas-fir. Here the views extend far to the north. As the trail continues uphill, bunchgrasses line the way in places. At 4.5 miles, Kent Trail ends at the Potrero Meadows picnic area, on the right.
When ready , retrace your steps back to the picnic area, then turn left onto a wide, unsigned dirt service road. The road climbs briefly then ends at a T-junction with Laurel Dell Fire Road. Turn left and walk about 50 yards to the signed junction with Benstein Trail. Turn right to remain on Benstein Trail.
At 5.5 miles, Benstein feeds into Lagunitas– Rock Spring Fire Road. Go with the flow to the right briefly, then abandon the fire road for the path as Benstein veers off to the right.
At 6 miles, a signed path heads left toward Ridgecrest Boulevard. Bear right, remaining on Benstein.
Benstein Trail ends at 6.3 miles. Turn left onto Simmons Trail , which sweeps across a meadow back toward Rock Spring. At 6.4 miles, turn left onto Cataract Trail and retrace your steps back to the trailhead.
Some content from Huber, Jane (2013-07-22). 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: San Francisco: Including North Bay, East Bay, Peninsula, and South Bay (Kindle Locations 1145-1148). Menasha Ridge Press. Kindle Edition.
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