Saturday May 21, 2022 10 am to 3 pm
Field Trip Leader: Terry Gosliner
The route from Bootjack requires a short climb to the relatively level Old Stage Road. We pass through mixed evergreen forest into a chaparral area that alternates between serpentine rock and greywacke sandstone with sharp contrast between the different rock and soil types. We will continue on about a mile and a half to the West Point Inn, before we head downhill via the Nora Trail to the Matt Davis trail. We return back to Bootjack along the Matt Davis Trail. Interesting plants we may see include many serpentine endemics such as Jepson’s Ceanothus (Ceanothus jepsonii), the Mt. Tamalpais manzanita (Arctostaphylos montana ssp. montana). We will also see chaparral pea (Pickeringia montana) and yerba santa (Eriodictyon californicum) as dominant bushes and pass through the unique serpentine Sargent cypress forest (Hesperocyparis sargentii). At a wonderful serpentine spring we should see blooming western Azalea (Rhododendron occidentale) and seep monkey flower (Erythranthe nasuta). Many other chaparral species are evident such as the bush poppy (Dendromecon rigida) and we even pass by a small second growth grove of redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens). Numerous other surprises await us as we hit this area of Mt. Tam’s rich diversity.
Meet at the Bootjack parking/picnic and campground area. There is an $8.00 parking fee.
Trail length round trip is approximately 3.5 miles with a short initial steep climb and some downhill and switchbacks along the Nora Trail.
From US 101 take the Stinson Beach exit at Mill Valley towards Stinson Beach on CA After 2.6 miles, veer right and up on to Panoramic Hwy towards Mt. Tamalpais and Muir Woods. Continue on Panoramic Hwy past the Muir Woods turnoff. Continue 4.1 miles to the Bootjackpicnic area and campground parking lot. Proceed to the kiosk to pay your parking fee. Exact change is required. A bathroom and water are available at the parking lot.
