The Marin headlands arePublic Reserve land that is maintained and managed by the state. It is a symphony of scintillating natural beauty and rare natural resources that exist within the proximity of one of the most beautiful coastline areas in California. This park of migratory birds is a favorite of travelers and locals who value the natural beauty of this headland area. There are a number of short hikes in the area that allow the visitor to enjoy the birds and their surroundings in a short outing.
The Poinsettia Woods- One of the most attractive places to stop and take in the sights is the Poinsettia Woods, named for the spectrum of color that blooms throughout the area. The park is filled with trails and points of interest leading to a view of the exquisite color variations that can only be seen in nature.angled out in the landscape are the twisted branches of the Aspen trees to the meandering of the Deer Creek through the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
The discernable track on the Teresa Earns Crater Hiking Trail skips back and forth across the trail and peaks of the towering redwoods. Hikers are treated to the sight of canine works on the trail and are treated to the caninebows by way of Cristo Rey Natural Bridge. The path leads to a junction and at this point the path to the left leads to Rosemary Trail and the path to the right leads to Paw Paw Creek.
To get to the Teresa Earns Crater Hiking Trail, take US 101 south and exit at Doane. Turn right onto Key LNACanto-Oldavored Road and travel for approximately 2.5 miles to where the signed turnoff to the county park is found. During the summer months, a large oak tree stands statuesque in the middle of the highway between the parking area and the trail head.
The Teresa Earns Crater Hiking Trail is a short and relatively flat trail that moves steadily through forests of white pine and red fir. The trail opens out into a meadow with flushing streams running alongside. Throughout the journey, expect to encounter magnificentants and wild flowers of birds and other wildlife. The path hugs the shoreline with some shoreline rocks and we have seen eagles perched high up in the cliffs somewhat above the path. This is a very strenuous path and hikers should allow all of themselves to go out ahead of the group. The trail is a mix of meadows and cliffs with a fair number of drop-offs. There is a 100-foot fall cliff followed by a shorter but equally strenuous 1600 foot climb to the summit of Bently Mountain.
Peak Height: 910 feet to 1210 feet (3110 meters)
Time for Hiking: 1.5-2 hours of daylight treks
Difficulty for Hiking: Easy to Moderate
Terrain for Hiking: Kaslo Mountain has all of the elements needed for a great hike. The trail gains nearly 1500 feet in elevation, but still maintained all of the track back to the parking lot.
Best Season for Hiking: June to October (unteers are permitted during April and May)
Pets Allowed: No
Length of Hike: Four miles round trip per person
Terrain and Activities: This trail is in the Dunsmuir Mountains and hikers should allow themselves about six hours for the four mile round trip. The trail passes through Clark State Forest and the Dunsmuir Wildlife Refuge. Also, this trail crosses United States Highway 2 which marks the boundary between the states of Massachusetts and Connecticut.
For the most part, the trail is well marked and isn’t very difficult. The trail balls up and down gives you a nice mountainous environment. All of the Portills are well maintained and provide a great place to picnic. There are quiet regions of moderate difficulty. You will find mules and animals all along the trail making it rather remote. Once you start on the trail, you are hiking into the eastern reaches of the woods where the forest is faint and the wildlife scatters throughout the area.
Your first glimpse of the Appalachian Trail will come into view as you pass through the heavily forested slopes of Kaslo Mountain. This marks the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. Next, your attention will focus to the large Kaslo Peak and the Four Mile Rock Valley before your next turn off into the Lost Mountain Wilderness. The trail will take you around the north side of the mountain and the peak that gives this section its name. The section between Fumarole and Rock Valley is the most strenuous as you have to climb up through cloud forests, up to the summit and then down again to rejoin the Appalachian Trail.
