Ready, Set, Bloom — 5 Flower-Filled Hikes in the North Bay
1. Ring Mountain (Mill Valley)
Intermediate | 2.16 Miles
Ring Mountain, nestled between Tiburon and Corte Madera, has it all. The slopes offer stellar views of Mount Tamalpais, the Bay, and the city. Trails wind through rock formations, between creeks and wildflower-dotted hillsides. The unique terrain is home to plants that grow nowhere else, such as the Tiburon Mariposa Lily, blooming from late May to mid-June. Hiding among rocks and grasses, it is sometimes easier to spot the long, shiny bronze leaf than the blossom.
2. The Yolanda Trail in Ross Valley (Mount Tamalpais)
Beginner | 5.15 Miles
Located on the north slope of Mount Tamalpais and across from the Golden Gate Bridge, the Yolanda Trail is easily one of our favorite spring wildflower hikes. It’s a popular hike not only with hikers but with trail runners and equestrians, too. Sorry, no mountain bikes allowed! As the flowers bloom, you’ll be able to see everything from sticky monkey flowers and white milkmaids to Indian paintbrushes.
3. Estero-Glenbrook-Muddy Hollow Road Loop (Point Reyes National Seashore)
Beginner-Intermediate | 7 Miles
Another great hike for spotting spring wildflowers is the Estero-Glenbrook-Muddy Hollow Road Loop. This area was actually burned back in 1995 by the Vision Fire, and now there are bishop pine trees growing where there used to be open grassland. Compared to other areas of the park, this trail isn’t as frequented, so you might just get all the flowers to yourself. Keep an
eye out for clovers, irises and California buttercups.
4. Chimney Rock (Point Reyes National Seashore)
Intermediate | 1.6 Miles
Seeing a trend here? Wildflowers bloom in many areas of Point Reyes, as you’ve probably noticed, but the best viewpoints are in the woodlands, grasslands, beach dunes, scrublands and even salt marsh edges. Therefore, Chimney Rock is one of the prime locations for spotting the most vibrant varieties. The view from the top
is pretty spectacular, and if you’re lucky, you might even see some elephant seals lounging lazily on the beach.
5. Coastal Trail (Marin Headlands)
Advanced | 5.5 Miles
This challenging but rewarding hike leads from Rodeo Beach to Hill 88 in the Marin Headlands. Since you’re essentially hiking up the hill, expect a steep incline. Once at the top, take a breather and enjoy the bird’s-eye views of Golden Gate National Recreation Area. On your descent, head down via the Wolf Ridge Trail and Miwok Trail. You’ll pass Rodeo Lagoon and will see lots and lots of colorful wildflowers, too.
RULES OF THE ROAD
As tempting as it might be to reach out and pick a wildflower, doing so is strongly discouraged. The best policy is to admire them with your eyes and not with your hands. After all, there are several rare and endangered plants in Marin, like the lady’s slipper orchid and the adder’s tongue. That said, they are rare for a reason, so it’s unlikely you’ll stumble upon them.
