Phoenix Rising

Mount Tam has an impressive outdoor resume: sweeping vistas, whispering redwoods groves, cascading waterfalls and plentiful wildlife. Lesser known yet equally impressive is its series of five lakes connected by a network of trails and managed by the Marin Municipal Water District. Phoenix Lake is the easiest oasis to access, and the most popular (trail runners love the 2.7-mile loop around its shore). Start your 4.5-mile reservoir reconnaissance on a wide fire road skirting the lake's deep-blue north shore. Within minutes, veer onto Yolanda Trail to get farther into terrain that's delightfully reminiscent of the Sierra foothills. Burnt-yellow and forest-green foliage roll on for miles, and orange sticky monkey flowers currently festoon the trail. The path winds upward, bringing into view the aptly named Bald Hill and the summit of Mount Tam. No buildings can be seen, no freeways heard. Loop back down via Hidden Meadow Trail, bisecting a quiet grassy meadow strewn with oak trees. Finish along the southern shore of the lake, crossing gentle creeks. Water you doing this weekend?!

UPDATE: We just heard from the good folks at MMWD who informed us that many trails, including the ones we recommended here, will be closed from June 14 until the fall 2010 to replace a water transmission line. It's worth the wait!

To reach the reservoir: From Sir Francis Drake Blvd. in Ross, turn left on Lagunitas Rd. (Lagunitas Rd. may be closed for construction. If so, head back .5 mile on Sir Francis Drake. Turn onto College Ave., then make a hairpin right on Kent Ave and take it all the way to Lagunitas Rd. and turn left.) Follow Lagunitas Rd. about 1 mile to the small parking lot at the end. It fills up fast, there's no overflow parking, and the nearby residential neighborhood is riddled with no-parking signs. The best bet is to wait a few minutes as cars seem to come and go frequently. Alternatively, extend your outing by about a mile and park back at Lagunitas Rd. and Shady Lane. Dog-friendly!

Lafayette Lollygag

Lafayette locals love their namesake reservoir, and for good reason: it's a nucleus of relaxing nature activities. Stretch your legs on the flat 2.7-mile Lakeside Trail around the reservoir, passing a redwood grove and native wildflowers, or get to the heart of the matter by rowing the reservoir's pristine waters (row and paddleboats rent for $15 per hour). Paddle from one shore to the next—it takes about 10 minutes at a relaxed pace—and watch ospreys dive-bomb the water for fish. There's even an elusive bald eagle that hangs out in the area. Try your luck at catching a black bass or rainbow trout. The visitor center sells a one-day fishing license ($13) and a fishing rod and reel ($20), plus bait ($4). You're on your own for the catch!

The Lafayette Reservoir is just off Hwy 24 and is located in the Lafayette Recreation Area. Take the Acalanes exit and follow the signs. The area draws bicyclists (only on Tuesday and Thursday from noon until closing, and Sunday from opening until 11 a.m.), paddleboaters, kaykers, fishers, and picnickers. The Lakeside Trail is wheelchair accessible. Dogs on a leash are permitted on the Lakeside Trail.

Crystal Cruise

If your idea of two-wheel fun is a car-free and paved path through a nature symposium then we've got a match for you. The Sawyer Camp Trail near San Mateo is 6 miles (one-way) of cruising cushiness along two reservoirs, Crystal Springs and San Andreas. Inline skaters, hikers, and baby strollers also enjoy this popular trail most weekends. Several lakeside benches make nice snack-break spots, but better yet—picnic under the oldest and largest laurel tree in the state—the Jepson Laurel. This 600-year-old beauty, 4.5 miles in, has seen a lot of changes: grizzly bears, Spanish explorers, and even 1880s dance parties held right under its branches. After lunch the final mile climbs gradually uphill, so you've gotta do a little work, but the coasting on the way back is a crystal cruise!

From I-280 in San Mateo, take the Highway 92 exit going west. Make a quick right onto Crystal Springs Rd. and go .5 mile to the trailhead parking area. No dogs.

The Great Urban Race Returns!