| The three most important factors in choosing a hike are weather, weather and weather. Other factors like distance, elevation change, difficulty and shade are important, but weather is paramount. For example, the hike from Pantoll to Stinson Beach is truly a great hike in good weather. However, on some summer days, the coast can be foggy and drizzly with visibility less than 100 feet. Then, this might be one of the worst hikes in Marin. Here are some weather guidelines, excerpted from the book, Hiking Marin, 141 Great Hikes in Marin County, 2nd edition ©2006 by Don and Kay Martin. December - January The sun is at its lowest angle of the year and it's often cold and wet or foggy. But you can beat the indoor blues by getting out and looking for views, coastal hills and beaches, creeks, waterfalls, mosses and lichens, whales, elephant seals, wintering birds and southern exposures. February - March This is the premier hiking time of the year. Even though rainfall averages 16 inches in the wettest areas, the weather is getting better, and water runoff is high. Trillium, milkmaids and hound's tongue start the wildflower parade. All the hikes are at their best. April - May More great hiking time. The weather is at its best, the hills are green and the late wildflowers reach their peak. Be sure to visit the rolling hills around Pt. Reyes, Mt. Burdell and the MMWD lakes area. Look for iris peaking in April. All the hikes are great. June - July While much of the Marin is hot and dry, the Marin Headlands, Muir Woods, Steep Ravine and the Pt. Reyes coast are often cool and foggy as the Bay Area air-conditioning system runs full blast. It's best to choose hiking areas carefully. August - September Now is the time to avoid the dry, dusty roads. Head for the coast and beaches, north-facing trails, creeks, conifer forests and ripe huckleberries. Try a real early morning hike. Caution: During hot, dry and windy days, fire dangers are high. Avoid Mt. Tamalpais and the hills and ridges of central and north Marin. October - November First winter storms arrive. Rainfall, averaging 8 inches around Mt. Tamalpais, settles the dust and brings out mushrooms. This is great weather time with gusty winds, clear days and marvelous views. It's a good time to head for the coast, south-facing trails and the oak-bay woodlands in central Marin and around the lakes. You can check the weather at the coast by calling Stinson Beach Weather at 415-868-1922 or by checking a spycam aimed at the Golden Gate Bridge at Exploratorium Cam2 Also check, San Francisco Live from Station KPIX A web cam aimed at Mt. Tam The Lawrence Hall of Science web cam looking west plus excellent weather info. A web cam at Point Reyes looking north along the beach from near the lighthouse. |