Cascade Canyon Cascade Canyon Open Space Preserve
Thursday, May 11, 2023 –10 AM to 1 PM
Field Trip Leaders: Carolyn Longstreth & Linda Novy
Please sign up for this field trip by emailing Carolyn Longstreth. Carolyn will send you a link to the waiver.
This classic Marin County outing will start on the Cascade Fire Road, passing a few sargeant cypress (Hesperocyparis [formerly Cupressus] sargentii) individuals, and pipe vines, (Aristolochia californica) and then continuing on the High Water Trail to visit a rock outcropping where there are some less common species, including nude buckwheat (Eriogonum nudum) and Canyon live-forever (Dudleya cymosa). After passing through an undisturbed oak-madrone woodland with many native understory species, including checker lily (Fritillaria affinis), the route will then rejoin the Cascade Fire Road and lead up to Cascade Falls along a stretch of San Anselmo Creek (also called Cascade Creek). Along the way, we’ll see many creekside plants including Western Columbine (Aquilegia formosa), Hazelnut (Corylus cornuta var. californica), Gooseberry (Ribes menziesii), Seep monkeyflower (Diplacus guttatus), maidenhair fern (Adiantum jordanii) and others. From Cascade Falls we will retrace our steps to the Cascade Fire Road. We may take a quick detour and ramble along the San Anselmo Creek Trail (a short stretch) for more of a riparian/forest ecotone and a creek crossing into a secluded bay forest area with a hillside of native fern species. Our return will be via the Canyon and Cary Camp Trials.
This field trip will cover about 2.5 easy to moderately strenuous miles.
To avoid parking problems, the group will meet at Doc Egger Park at the base of Cascade Drive and carpool from there to Linda’s house, which is near the trailhead, and park in her driveway.
To reach Doc Egger Park, take Sir Francis Drake Blvd. west from Highway 101 6 miles to the town of Fairfax. Turn left by the Fairfax sign on Pacheco Avenue. Then turn right immediately on Broadway. In one block, turn left on Bolinas Road; continue for 0.3 mile to the three-road intersection with the large brick pillars. Bear right-center onto Cascade Drive (the middle road) and look for a parking spot next to the Park.
To sign up, email Carolyn at cklongstreth@gmail.com.
