Sunday, August 14, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
Tomales Bay State Park has botanical treasures any time of the year. The Johnstone-Jepson Trail will take us through the Zen-like bishop pine forest and mixed hardwoods to ledum swamps, decomposed granite beaches, and a small freshwater wetland. We’ll eat huckleberries, marvel at the fruit on the California honeysuckle, search for the CNPS Listed 1B marsh harebell (Campanula californica), and have lunch at a beautiful secluded beach.The four-mile round-trip hike is mostly in shade with plenty of birds, shrubs, and berries.
Take Sir Francis Drake Blvd. west through Marin, several miles past Inverness. Enter the National Seashore at the top of a hill and then continue down to a fork in the road. Bear right and go about a mile. Meet at the (unsigned) small parking area at the top of the Jepson Trail. If you reach the entrance to Tomales Bay State Park, turn around and go back 100–200 yards.