Archive for the 'Transportation' Category

Busy Campsites, More Wildflowers, Bobcat Spotted, Last Weekend for Shuttle Photo

April 7th, 2009

What’s happening in the park in early April 2009.

  • Park campgrounds are extra full this week and next; about a 5% raise over last year.  Looks like folks are staying closer to home this year.
  • Some positive fish news: smolt trapping (one year old fish – ready to go to the ocean) found 144 coho in Olema Creek and 8 in Redwood Creek at Muir Woods!
  • Birders watching quail at Bear Valley also noted a bobcat at the Horse Ranch snacking on a mouse!
  • Wildflowers continue to bloom especially with the extra dollop of rain this week! Poppies and lupine in the fields at Bear Valley. Tidy tips just beginning at Chimney Rock along with Baby Blue eyes! Creamy yellow wallflowers fragrance the steps at the Lighthouse. Many species coming out.
  • Shuttle Bus service ends this weekend; Easter Sunday will be the last day of service for this years season
These are highlights from the National Park Service Park Wavelengths newsletter.

Driving Directions to Point Reyes: 3 Options

June 24th, 2008

Many of you come from San Francisco to visit. And if you go to mapping site to get driving directions to Point Reyes, chances are the mapping site will tell you to head over Mount Tam and go up Highway 1 (Option 1 below). This is a stunning, but slow and very windy, route to Point Reyes.

But there are other ways into the Point Reyes area. Here are the four major drives in and out (I map it to the Bear Valley Visitors Center).

Option 1: Highway 1

PROS:

  • This is the beautiful iconic California drive, where car commercials are made.
  • Passes through the Stinson Beach

CONS:

  • Passes through Stinson Beach, which can be very very slow on summer weekends
  • Mapping software says it’s the fastest way. Don’t believe it. The twists and turns are pretty intense and you or someone in front of you will be driving very slowly
  • Out of the way for those of you coming from the East Bay over the Richmond Bridge
  • No fun in the dark. Lots of work; no view.

BOTTOM LINE: If you have time and haven’t done it, do it.


View Larger Map

Option 2: SIR FRANCIS DRAKE

PROS:

  • Go through the fun towns of Fairfax and San Anselmo
  • Lots of services along the way (gas, food, drink)
  • If you don’t like winding roads, this is probably the tamest way to go

CONS:

  • You’re going through suburbs, so backups are possible

BOTTOM LINE: Most Bay Area (rather than out-of-town) visitors coming to Point Reyes come through here.


View Larger Map

Option 3: LUCAS VALLEY ROAD

PROS:

  • Very pretty ride through ranch land and past the Nicasio Reservoir
  • No traffic

CONS:

  • Longer way to go, but generally as fast as Sir Francis Drake

    BOTTOM LINE: Locals who want to go to San Francisco and back usually take this route


    View Larger Map

    Option 4: D STREET (FROM PETALUMA)

      PROS:

      • So so pretty. I think it’s my favorite drive to 101.

      CONS:

      • Only good for those coming from the North (as a percentage, that’s very few of us)

      BOTTOM LINE:

      • If you need to go to Petaluma; this is the only way. Luckily, it’s gorgeous.


      View Larger Map

      Shuttle Bus from Bear Valley Visitors Center to Limantour Beach (Trial for July 2008)

      June 22nd, 2008

      Some summer 2008 news on the public transportation front.  The National Park Service has received a special grant from the Department of Transportation to provide a free trial shuttle bus during the month of July 2008 to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  The free shuttle is scheduled to run on weekends between Olema RV Resort, Bear Valley Visitor Center and Limantour Beach and to connect with the West Marin Stagecoach schedule. The park will evaluate ridership, impacts on parking congestion at Bear Valley Visitor Center, etc. to determine if the bus service is sustainable.

      Now it is possible to get all the way from the Bay Area to West Marin onto a beach via bus!

      Take Mass Transit (Bus) to Point Reyes

      May 30th, 2008

      Much of the West Marin and Point Reyes area is accessible only by car, but if you want to hang out at Stinson Beach, Bolinas, Point Reyes Station, or hike in and out of the Bear Valley Visitor’s Center, you have another option.

      As of this writing, the West Marin Stagecoach has daily service (4-5 roundtrips) from San Rafael and Marin City to West Marin. Fares are $2 for Adults and $1 for those under 18 or over 65.