Wanderers Marin Day Hiker Itinerary — $425

Day 1: Monday — Marine Mammal Center & Point Bonita Lighthouse

Every child will feel part of the group after some fun introductions and game playing this morning at Julius Kahn playground. We have a snack and then head to the Golden Gate National Recreation area, part of the Marin Headlands, where our adventure begins at the Marine Mammal Center.

Today at the Center we see that just like people, seals, sea lions, dolphins and other creatures of the sea need a “hospital” when they’re sick or injured. We also learn the answers to often-asked questions: What’s the difference between a seal and a sea lion? Which one barks and which one grunts? Do they have to come up for air? By listening to their barks, touching some pelts, and watching their playful antics, we better understand these magnificent animals and how the Center helps them-- some of them orphans–back home.

Next we play Indiana Jones as we make our way along a wild Marin Headlands trail, through tunnels and across a suspension bridge, to the Point Bonita lighthouse. Perched precariously at the entrance to San Francisco Bay, this historic lighthouse still acts as a beacon to ships on foggy nights. Here we see how the lighthouse works, examine the giant lens, and hear the tales of shipwrecks past. While we learn a bit about the area’s geology and its treacherous coast, we also enjoy one of the most spectacular views of the Bay Area from our lighthouse vantage point.

Lessons: Marine Mammals of the Pacific, Pt. Bonita Lighthouse history

Day 2: Tuesday — Steep Ravine Trail/Stinson Beach

Today we descend into an enchanting world of milkmaids, sword ferns and cathedral-like redwoods on the Steep Ravine trail. Wooden bridges ford the creek and ladders send us climbing beside waterfalls and crystal pools. We walk through magical fern gardens and crawl through the tunnel tree. Giant salamanders may make us give chase and we search for wild huckleberry. Our trail climbs rocky bluffs and ends at Stinson Beach, where we make sand castles and enjoy the sun.

Lessons: Watersheds, Douglas Fir facts, Banana slugs

Day 3: Wednesday — Muir Woods

Muir Woods begs to be explored by the curious and the energetic. We go beyond the “tour group” route and wander a labyrinth of hidden trails. The forest friends we meet include the Banana slug, the Mission Blue butterfly and the red–legged frog. The giant redwoods whisper their secrets to us through fairy rings, and Fern Canyon beckons for a play in the creek.

Lesson: Muir Woods history and ecology

Day 4: Thursday — Pt. Reyes–Tule Elk Preserve

What is the sound of a bull elk bugle? Can you see a snowy plover when it isn’t snowy? Can the California coast really fall into the ocean? We’ll find the answers to these questions and more today when we explore Pt. Reyes National Seashore and its visitors center. We hike through a pine forest, over a windswept plain, and above a crashing sea below. Glimpsing herds of tule elk, an endangered species, will be a special treat. Through binoculars and special “spotting scopes”, national park rangers introduce us to all that’s weird and wonderful about these elk.

Then at the visitors center, a short movie, a collection of giant stuffed animals and a series of hands-on exhibits tell us more about the remarkable things we can find within the park. Our leader will answer questions we may have––like why are elk called cows?–and lead a fun “natural things” treasure hunt.

Lesson: Tule Elk natural history

Day 5: Friday — Hike to the top of Mt. Tam

Today’s challenge hike takes us to the top of Mt. Tamalpais, but getting there is half the fun! Tracing the route of “the crookedest railroad in the world”, we play trail games, sing songs, and discover what the mountain has to offer us. Along the way, we may see grey foxes, bobcats or black-tailed deer. At the top we are rewarded with views across Marin County and a renewed sense of accomplishment. On our way back down, a park ranger will meet us to teach us about the history of the Mt. Tam Gravity Car.

We’ll even get a chance to sit in a full–sized replica and ring the bell and use the brakes! A sand castle contest and ice cream at Muir Beach mark the end of our week of adventure. After our celebrations, we head back to the city and say goodbye to our new friends.

Lessons: Mt. Tamalpais History

Wanderers – phone 415-643-5686 – fax 415-641-4101 – kurt@wandererscamp.com