For a stroll through through both redwood forest and chaparral, head for a 3.5-mile, mostly shady “lollipop” hike in Gary Giacomini Open Space Preserve.
Like Mount Burdell Open Space Preserve, this preserve barely escaped being developed. The plans for a gated community called Skye Ranch were thwarted by community opposition and acquisition by the county began in 1991. The heart of the preserve was purchased by the county with the help of the Marin Community Foundation in 1995. Originally named San Geronimo Ridge Preserve, the name was changed to honor the late Gary Giacomini when he retired after serving 24 years as a county supervisor for District 4, which includes San Geronimo Valley.
There are not many loops in the Gary Giacomini Open Space. That, combined with difficult parking at some of the entrances, make this remote and beautiful preserve one that many people have not explored.
I started the hike on the Manzanita Fire Road, which passes by some houses and goes fairly steeply uphill. After passing by acacias and both French and Scottish broom, you leave invasives behind and enter a Douglas fir forest.
I heard the trill of an orange-crowned warbler as I passed sticky monkeyflower bushes covered with orange flowers and yellow bush poppies. I found several species of ceanothus in bloom on this hike, including buckbrush with its twigs that point away from the stem at almost a 90-degree angle, the better-known blueblossom and musk brush. Pass Contour Trail on your right and keep heading uphill.
Alerted by his song, I spotted a male Townsend’s warbler with its striking black cap, eye mask and throat set off by the yellow face. Townsend’s warblers are named for naturalist and ornithologist John Kirk Townsend. Townsend thought he had discovered a new warbler when he found out botanist and zoologist Thomas Nuttall was about to write it up and name it for him. Since an ornithologist cannot name a bird for themselves, Townsend gave Nuttall’s manuscript priority and ended up with the warbler named in his honor.
Townsend also was the first ornithologist to write up the Townsend’s solitaire, which John James Audubon named for him. Of course, most of the birds that bear ornithologists’ names were already known to Native Americans. While some animals like the raccoon, chipmunk and caribou have names derived from Native American words, I have not found any birds and would appreciate hearing from readers who know of any.
Turn right on the signed San Geronimo Ridge Road. Just past the turn there is a lovely patch of fairy slippers. You are now in redwood forest, with its classic understory of huckleberry, Western sword ferns and tan oaks. Soon there is a view of Mount Barnabe, the mountain named for a beloved mule owned by Samuel P. Taylor’s family. Entering an area of chaparral, look for golden banners just starting to bloom, red chaparral paintbrush, tiny pink gypsum spring beauties and the low-growing white hairy hog fennel.
In .43 miles, turn right on Boulder Springs Trail, which puts you back in the redwoods. Chain ferns and lady ferns grow in the moist areas. If you are someone who hikes with poles depending on the trail, bring them for this section. Look for the leaves of coming attractions like Pacific star flower and the lily Clintonia, or return later to see them in bloom.
Pass Caterpillar Trail, cross a dry creek and you will see a sign that you are on Contour Trail, which is as wide as a fire road in many sections. Hooker’s fairy bells and wake-robin will still be in bloom if you do the hike soon.
Pass Candelero Trail on your left, and in .1 miles you are back to the Manzanita Fire Road, where you turn left to complete the hike.
Take Sir Francis Drake Boulevard to Meadow Way in San Geronimo. From Meadow Way, turn right on Sylvestris Drive, which becomes Tamarack Road. Park at the junction of Tamarack Road and Juniper Avenue. Note that parking is limited. Dogs are allowed under voice control on fire roads (but be aware there is plenty of poison oak for them to get into), and on leash on trails.
Wendy Dreskin has led the College of Marin nature/hiking class Meandering in Marin since 1998, and teaches other nature classes for adults and children. To contact her, go to wendydreskin.com
