Gerbode Valley-Bobcat Trail
(scroll to bottom for photo gallery)
Location: Gerbode Valley, Marin Headlands, Bunker Road, Sausalito, CA.
Starting Point: Gerbode Valley Trailhead parking lot (Presidio Riding Club Trail parking lot) at Bunker Road near the intersection with Simmonds Road.
Info links:
For all web links, if a link doesn’t jump directly, copy and paste into browser.
Marin Headlands info link (Golden Gate National Recreation Area/National Park Service):
https://www.nps.gov/goga/marin-headlands.htm
Marin Headlands Map (National Park Service):
https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/upload/map_mahe_150429_508_2021.pdf
Distance:
From the Gerbode Valley Trailhead parking on Bunker Road (near Simmonds Road) to the trail junction with Rodeo Valley Trail is about 0.1 miles, and turning left, it is another 0.3 miles to the Bobcat Trail. Once on the Bobcat Trail, it is 1.9 miles to the junction with the Alta Trail, which is the trail we took to make a loop hike. This post and photo gallery cover the Bobcat Trail section. (Another post covers the return segment of the loop hike which is 0.7 miles on the Alta Trail to the Rodeo Valley Trail which takes just under 2 miles to get back to the Gerbode Valley Trailhead.)
Considerations:
• The parking area is fairly large.
• There is a vault toilet at the east end of the Gerbode Valley Trailhead parking area.
• Follow health, safety signs, and wildlife information signs.
• Having a poison oak scrub like Technu is handy for any trail.
• As with any Bay Area outing, bring layers. You may be hot in the sun one moment and shivering under fog and a chilly breeze the next.
The trail:
The Gerbode Valley is the low elevation starting area for hikes that rise up for better views, including sections of the Miwok Trail, Bobcat Trail, and the Rodeo Valley Trail. This post features a section of the Bobcat Trail.
From the parking area, there is a short 0.1 mile segment that crosses a short wooden footbridge to connect with the Rodeo Valley Trail which runs parallel to Bunker Road.
For this hike, we turned left (west) on Rodeo Valley Trail, and walked a fairly flat, open trail with hills in the distance and scenic wooden fence starting out. In about 0.3 mile, a short wooden staircase led us downhill to the junction with the Bobcat Trail.
This stretch of the Bobcat Trail is fairly smooth dirt, the width of a service road, and gradually rises up with views of the hills rising ahead.
A lovely copse of eucalyptus trees breaks up the visual pattern midway up this segment.
In spring and part of summer, a variety of wildflowers are in view along the sides of the trail, sometimes filling wide meadows with blossoms.
This trail has a gradual rise that is suitable for those who don’t like steep climbs. As the elevation rises, rock patches appear at the hilltops lining the trail. There are few trees, but a very handsome oak (I think) stands out along the way.
As hikers rise in elevation, turning back the other direction brings the ocean into view, with Rodeo Lagoon nestled in the hills close to the ocean.
At the top of what became a slightly steeper rise toward the end of this part of the Bobcat Trail, the trail connects with the Alta Trail. Hikers can take in the views and return for an out-and back-hike, or continue on with a loop hike as we did along the Alta Trail and Rodeo Valley Trail (covered in a future post). In either case, the hike back to the trailhead is easier because it’s largely flat or downhill!
Other hikes to try from near this location in the Marin Headlands: Tennessee Point Labyrinth, Battery Townsley, Hill 88 from Rodeo Beach, Rodeo Lagoon Loop-Marin Headlands, Old Bunker Road, Batteries Loop Trail-Marin Headlands, South Rodeo Beach Trail, and Rodeo Valley Trail-Marin Headlands.
(Gerbode Valley-Bobcat Trail Hike Notes were originally paired with the “Two Steps Forward” Insights post.)
Check the Home page for the broader background story. Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page, and scroll to the bottom of each hike page to see full photo galleries.
If you’d like to support HikingAutism, check out the Support/Shop page! Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links. Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, follow on Twitter at @HikingAutism and Instagram at lisalouis777
(scroll to bottom for photo gallery)
Location: Gerbode Valley, Marin Headlands, Bunker Road, Sausalito, CA.
Starting Point: Gerbode Valley Trailhead parking lot (Presidio Riding Club Trail parking lot) at Bunker Road near the intersection with Simmonds Road.
Info links:
For all web links, if a link doesn’t jump directly, copy and paste into browser.
Marin Headlands info link (Golden Gate National Recreation Area/National Park Service):
https://www.nps.gov/goga/marin-headlands.htm
Marin Headlands Map (National Park Service):
https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/upload/map_mahe_150429_508_2021.pdf
Distance:
From the Gerbode Valley Trailhead parking on Bunker Road (near Simmonds Road) to the trail junction with Rodeo Valley Trail is about 0.1 miles, and turning left, it is another 0.3 miles to the Bobcat Trail. Once on the Bobcat Trail, it is 1.9 miles to the junction with the Alta Trail, which is the trail we took to make a loop hike. This post and photo gallery cover the Bobcat Trail section. (Another post covers the return segment of the loop hike which is 0.7 miles on the Alta Trail to the Rodeo Valley Trail which takes just under 2 miles to get back to the Gerbode Valley Trailhead.)
Considerations:
• The parking area is fairly large.
• There is a vault toilet at the east end of the Gerbode Valley Trailhead parking area.
• Follow health, safety signs, and wildlife information signs.
• Having a poison oak scrub like Technu is handy for any trail.
• As with any Bay Area outing, bring layers. You may be hot in the sun one moment and shivering under fog and a chilly breeze the next.
The trail:
The Gerbode Valley is the low elevation starting area for hikes that rise up for better views, including sections of the Miwok Trail, Bobcat Trail, and the Rodeo Valley Trail. This post features a section of the Bobcat Trail.
From the parking area, there is a short 0.1 mile segment that crosses a short wooden footbridge to connect with the Rodeo Valley Trail which runs parallel to Bunker Road.
For this hike, we turned left (west) on Rodeo Valley Trail, and walked a fairly flat, open trail with hills in the distance and scenic wooden fence starting out. In about 0.3 mile, a short wooden staircase led us downhill to the junction with the Bobcat Trail.
This stretch of the Bobcat Trail is fairly smooth dirt, the width of a service road, and gradually rises up with views of the hills rising ahead.
A lovely copse of eucalyptus trees breaks up the visual pattern midway up this segment.
In spring and part of summer, a variety of wildflowers are in view along the sides of the trail, sometimes filling wide meadows with blossoms.
This trail has a gradual rise that is suitable for those who don’t like steep climbs. As the elevation rises, rock patches appear at the hilltops lining the trail. There are few trees, but a very handsome oak (I think) stands out along the way.
As hikers rise in elevation, turning back the other direction brings the ocean into view, with Rodeo Lagoon nestled in the hills close to the ocean.
At the top of what became a slightly steeper rise toward the end of this part of the Bobcat Trail, the trail connects with the Alta Trail. Hikers can take in the views and return for an out-and back-hike, or continue on with a loop hike as we did along the Alta Trail and Rodeo Valley Trail (covered in a future post). In either case, the hike back to the trailhead is easier because it’s largely flat or downhill!
Other hikes to try from near this location in the Marin Headlands: Tennessee Point Labyrinth, Battery Townsley, Hill 88 from Rodeo Beach, Rodeo Lagoon Loop-Marin Headlands, Old Bunker Road, Batteries Loop Trail-Marin Headlands, South Rodeo Beach Trail, and Rodeo Valley Trail-Marin Headlands.
(Gerbode Valley-Bobcat Trail Hike Notes were originally paired with the “Two Steps Forward” Insights post.)
Check the Home page for the broader background story. Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page, and scroll to the bottom of each hike page to see full photo galleries.
If you’d like to support HikingAutism, check out the Support/Shop page! Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links. Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, follow on Twitter at @HikingAutism and Instagram at lisalouis777
