WEST MARIN: GARY GIACOMINI OPEN SPACE PRESERVE

WEST MARIN: GARY GIACOMINI OPEN SPACE PRESERVE

Leader: Gary Weiss  | gary@sfhiking.com  | 415-279-5570

Meeting Date and Day: Saturday, June 13, 2026

SF Carpooling Meeting Location: Whole Foods: 2001 Market St. @ Dolores (on the Dolores St. side); parking on the street or below. 
East Bay Meeting Location: Rockridge BART, bottom of escalator.

Please only show up at Whole Foods or Rockridge if you've arranged to meet your ride or driver there.

Meeting Time (From SF or Rockridge): 8:45 AM, departing shortly afterwards.

Rating: Level-4

Mileage: 7.5 miles

Elevation Gain: 1500'

Description: Giacomini Preserve is a stunningly beautiful preserve, oddly with very few visitors.  It's located between the Mt. Tam Watershed lands and Samuel P. Taylor State Park, just beyond the foothills of Mt. Tamalpais.  The Preserve is deeply forested for the most part - primarily redwoods, but we'll pass through several different terrains - even one brief stretch of chaparral.  The hike will be about 90% shaded - my guess. There are several spots where you get to peek out of the forest to spectacular views of the Bolinas Ridge and northern Marin, Sonoma and Napa counties.
We'll start near the town of Woodacre, passing through Forest Knolls and Lagunitas. We'll hike the majority of the east-west length of the Preserve, and hike our return along San Geronimo Ridge, within the Marin Watershed lands.
The reason I'm making this hike a 4 is that it includes some hefty ups and downs in the middle.  The final descent on the spectacular Hunt Camp Trail makes it all worth it!  Well-behaved dogs always welcome.

Bring/Wear: Lots of water, lunch, snacks (if you like chocolate bring some!), sunscreen, layers - and sturdy hiking shoes with good treads for a couple of slippery downhills. If you use poles they'll be very helpful on the very steep section in the middle.

Rain Policy: Contact hikeleader if weather is questionable.

Meeting Place:  The Fairfax Parkade - a block long parking lot across the street from the Fairfax Theater (9 Broadway St.) 
From US 101, exit at San Anselmo/Sir Francis Drake Blvd.  At the large intersection of Red Hill, continue west towards Fairfax.  Once in "town" you'll see the parking lot (Parkade) on the left.  Entrance from the far north end.
From the Parkade we'll merge into the fewest cars possible.  This is important due to very limited parking.  There will be plenty of street parking for those who leave their cars.  I'll lead everyone to the really hard-to-find trailhead. 
Google Maps Link

Fairfax Parkade Meeting Time:  9:30 AM, departing soon afterwards.

Total Driving Distance: 55 miles total from SF, 65 from Rockridge

Per Person Carpool Fees incl bridge toll: $10 from SF OR from Rockridge

(I will inform you of carpooling arrangements by late Thursday or early Friday.)