Frog Mom

Marin’s vibrant green landscapes come close to Granny Smith slopes in the spring and the hills around Mount Tamalpais resemble waves of green tea slushies. Yes, Marin sure is green and spring is prime time for admiring its shades while still tender before the summer turns the hills to yellow. In other words, it’s time to hike! Come March, days get sunnier, warmer and longer and a hike is in order. 

There are two reasons you may want to hike around Bon Tempe Lake and/or Lake Lagunitas this weekend: the trail is flat-ish and the hike is only 3.8 miles with a possibility for a 3-mile extension mid-way if you’re feeling peppy. That’s an easy day out under the sun and you can enjoy coffee from Fairfax’s downtown Coffee Roastery or lavender vanilla ice cream at the Fairfax Scoop on the way out.

Minutes from Fairfax, Bon Tempe Lake is a local fishing mecca and if fish is on your mind, plan to get there at daybreak to catch one of those trouts. If hiking sounds more like your kind of day, mid-morning will do and all you need is to follow these directions. After you reach the Sky Oaks headquarters (directions at the end), follow a sign for Bon Tempe Lake 0.4 mile after the entrance kiosk. The trailhead is on your left at the parking lot on the dirt road. Park there.

We started the hike at noon with a group of roughly 50 hikers and ended at the same spot at 5.30 pm, 7 miles and a Mediterranean food break later. However you can cut this hike at 3.8 miles by going around Bon Tempe Lake only.

From Bon Tempe Lake to Lake Lagunitas

Take Sunnyside trail immediately to your left. This wide dirt trail follows the lake all around and you will pass many a hopeful fisherman or woman or child staring at their fishing rods in silent anticipation. Note that the trail is dog-friendly and you will also probably see a few dogs too (or bring your own Mutt for a healthy stroll). The trail is well managed and unless it’s been raining lately, sports shoes are fine (hiking shoes are recommended for the Lake Lagunitas extension).

At the north-eastern shore you get to the paved Sky Oaks Road. Cross the road and continue on Oaks Trail. As the name indicates, the trail is lined with oaks stooping low. If you want to get back to the lake shores, make a right on Pine Point Trail after 0.2 mile, otherwise keep going straight. Eventually Pine Point Trail merges with Oaks Trail again and you’ll reach a large parking lot at the western tip of Lake Lagunitas.

From Lake Lagunitas parking lot to Pilot Knob
At the Lake Lagunitas parking lot, look for the fishing sign and follow the paved Lake view Road. This section is moderate including some climbing but the change of pace is well worth the effort. In the spring you will see Douglas Iris as well as Forget Me Not splashing spots of blue and purple along the trail. Roughly 0.1 mile in, turn left on Pilot Knob Trail.

You will be deep in oak and madrone underbrush, shaded almost all the way to your picnic spot. The trail will go through meadows before returning under the shade of trees and so forth during 0.5 mile until you reach a trail junction on the right to Pilot Knob.

At your feet are is the V-shaped Lake Lagunitas, on the right the blue waters of Bon Tempe Lake and all around, unobstructed views of the eastern side of Mt Tamalpais where a fire lookout can be seen on the ridge. This is a great spot to just sit down and relax. Get your picnic out and enjoy. Little ones will enjoy climbing in the tree’s lowest branches. If they climb high enough, they will even find a heart-shaped scar on one of the tree’s branches. When you’re ready to get going again, know that the hardest part is over and the rest is a breeze.

From Pilot Knob to Lake Lagunitas picnic area, south shore

Look for ducks and turtles around the dam and check out the cool spillway that connects Lake Lagunitas to Bon Tempe Lake. It looks like a giant water slide and that’s indeed what it is – for spawning fish, of course. 

After 1.4 mile you reach the dam that drops sharply into Alpine Lake down below. On your right the vast waters of Bon Tempe Lake, on your left the Swiss-like valley with Alpine Lake at the bottom.

• Hike: 3.8 miles for Bon Tempe, 7 miles for Bon Tempe and Lagunitas
• Download trail map here
• Directions to Sky Oaks/Bon Tempe here
• Restrooms: at Bon Tempe trailhead, Lake Lagunitas parking lot, Bon Tempe dam (south end)