King Mountain

King Mountain loop trail, Kentfield

Thursday, March 7, 2024; 12:30 to 4:30 pm     Leaders: Betsey Crawford and Ann Elliott

Please sign up for this field trip  Meetup Registration   Please sign the Field Trip Waiver

 The two-mile King Mountain loop contains multitudes: redwood forest, bay forest, oak canopy, California buckeye, a variety of woodland shrubs, views of Mount Tam and Baltimore Canyon, and even some patches of chapparal. Among the flowers I’ve seen in March are hounds tongue (Cynoglossum grande), common pacific pea (Lathyrus vestitus), death camas (Toxicoscordion fremontii), blue dicks (Dipterostemon capitatum), mission bells (Fritillaria affinis), Iris douglasiana, milk maids (Cardamine californica), monkey flower (Diplacus aurantiacus), morning glory (Calystegia macrostegia), drops of gold (Prosartes hookeri).

King Mountain Loop is a very popular and easy to manage trail with an interesting beginning and end. We will enter at Ridgecrest Drive, which means we will go down a few switchbacks on 106 (I counted) easy-to-use railroad tie steps on the way in. Then up about 300’ (not elevation, just 100 steps sloping up) on the last stretch back to Ridgecrest. The latter is the only tricky part — a bit steep and stepping up some root “steps” at one point.

Directions: Take the Sir Francis Drake exit off 101 north or south. Drive west to College Ave and make a left at the light. College turns into Magnolia Ave. Drive to the junction of Estelle and Magnolia. There is parking in the lot of several defunct stores. We will meet there to carpool.

Bring: Water, snack; hiking poles helpful but not necessary       Rain cancels.        Questions? Text Betsey at 631-484-1949