The Bishop Pine Forest of Tomales Bay State Park: Johnstone Trail & Seahaven Shaded Fuel Break
Sunday, February 12, 2023 - 10 am to 2 pm
Leader: Tom Gaman, Inverness Forester
Please sign up for this field trip by emailing Susan Schlosser. Susan will send you a link to the waiver.
This hike along the Johnstone Trail from Shell Beach to Pierce Point Road will be an opportunity to see early spring bud break in mixed evergreen and Bishop pine forests. Tom will discuss forest health and the forest restoration project recently proposed by CA State Parks. A short diversion along the way will enable the group to visit the 2021 privately-funded shaded fuel break designed to help protect the Inverness community from possible wildfire originating in the State Park.
Total distance of this moderately challenging hike is about 3 miles. It is a gradual uphill walk on a well-established trail. Tree fall often requires some detours or scrambling over trees. Wear good shoes, dress for the weather, and bring a lunch.
Directions: Participants will meet at an unmarked dirt parking area for the Jepson Trail on Pierce Point Road and shuttle from there to the Shell Beach parking area.Ribes sanguineum. Photo by Ann Elliott The meeting place is located just south of the Heart’s Desire turnoff to Tomales Bay SP on Pierce Point Rd. To get there from central Marin, drive out Sir Francis Drake Blvd. about 1.5 miles past the Inverness Store. The road climbs up a hill and then descends. About a quarter-mile past the summit, bear right onto Pierce Point Rd. and go approximately one mile to the parking area. If you get to the Heart’s Desire turnoff, you’ve gone too far, so turn around and go back 200 yards.
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