San Francisco Blue Angel Weekend
October 6th and 7th
This will be a weekend to remember. October 6th will feature a Point Reyes run of 8.2 miles to Arch Rock with an optional additional steep run to spectacular Alamere Falls –16 miles total. The run on October 7th will start at San Pedro Valley Park and climb to MontaraPeak and back—7 miles total. Both runs will begin at 7:30 AM. Please see Kimberly Becker’s descriptions below. She personally went up there and ran the courses last month, and is still giggly-enthusiastic about going up again. She even got us a deal on lodging--$119/nite where we will have a view of the Blue Angels—show starts about 3PM Sat. If you don’t like spectacular runs, great food, and fun, I guess you could stay home that weekend. Our thanks to Michael and Kimberly Becker for putting this trip together.
The BearValley Visitors Station, the starting point for both the long and short runs, is huge with plenty of paved parking, water, toilets , information and people.
The Bear Valley Trail - Out and back to Arch Rock is 8.2 miles
This trail is a wide fire road that provides a very easy jaunt through the forest of Point Reyes to the panoramic ocean views at Arch Rock. It is, therefore, also the most popular trail of the Pt. Reyes National Seashore. It's a straight shot, with a slight rise then gradual descent to the ocean
To Alamere Falls from the Bear Valley Station is quite a jaunt - a little over 16 miles round trip- and you'll probably be cursing me along the way until we reach the payoff - beautiful Alamere Falls, which drops off a short cliff directly on to the shore. Also, with a short climb, you can view three more tiers of this spectacular falls.
You will be exhausted after this run, particularly as the return is almost all slightly uphill. But that will just make the sumptuous breakfast at Point Reyes Station all the more appreciated.
We'll start out along the easy and wide Bear Valley Trail for 3.2 miles where we'll head south on the single track Glen Trail and leave the crowds behind as we head into the heavy canopy of this coast forests.
In 2.5 miles will run into the Coast Trail and we'll continue to head south until we reach the falls. This trail is fairly flat and open with the ocean visible on your right.
Montara Mountain Trail starting at San Pedro Valley Park.
This is a spectacular 3.5 mile climb to the 1,898 ft. peak of Montara Mountain.
From the paved parking area this moderate climb begins on a ever narrowing trail that winds up a little over 2 miles through a canopy of eucalyptus trees with widening views of the San Francisco area coast the further you climb.
The few final rocky switchbacks of this trail end at a fire road that descends to the right and Montara Beach. Turn left and ascend the fire road justslightly over one mile to MontaraPeak, where on a clear day you can view the FarallonIslands, the Golden Gate, and the CrystalSprings watershed. On the descent, I’ll be sure to clearly mark the return to the single track from the fire road because if you miss this sharp right you'll end up following the fire road about 6 miles down until you dead end at PCH. A nice jaunt but quite a climb back to our cars at San Pedro Valley Park.
Driving Directions
See attached map
Buena Vista to Point Reyes Station
Directions Distance Total Est. Time: 53 minutes Total Est. Distance: 37.51 miles
1: Start out going NORTH on LOMBARD ST / US-101. Continue to follow US-101 N. 8.5 miles
2: Exit the CA-1 N exit toward MILLVALLEY / STINSONBEACH. 0.2 miles
3: Stay STRAIGHT to go onto CA-1 / SHORELINE HWY. 0.7 miles 4: Turn LEFT to stay on CA-1 / SHORELINE HWY. 27.2 miles
5: Turn LEFT onto SIR FRANCIS DRAKE BLVD. 0.7 miles
6: Turn LEFT onto BEAR VALLEY RD. <0.1 miles
7: End at 1 Bear Valley Rd
Point ReyesStation, CA94956-9703, US--53 minutes Total Est. Distance: 37.51 miles
Or
From San Francisco, go north on U.S. Highway 101 across the Golden GateBridge. Follow U.S. 101 about 9 miles (14 km) north of the Golden GateBridge to the Sir Francis Drake-San Anselmo exit, exit 450B. Make sure you are in the lane for San Anselmo (the second lane from the right) and exit onto Sir Francis Drake Boulevard heading west. Follow Sir Francis Drake west approximately 21 miles (33 km) - passing through San Anselmo, Fairfax and SamuelP.TaylorState Park - until it intersects with Highway 1 at Olema. Turn right on Highway ,1 and proceed north about 100 yards (100 m). Take the first left turn at Bear Valley Road and head west about 1/2 mile (0.8 km). Look for a big red barn on the left and a sign for Seashore information on the right. Turn left past the red barn and proceed up the driveway to the BearValleyVisitorCenter, the main park contact station.
Point Reyes to Station House cafe
1. Start out going NORTHWEST on BEAR VALLEY RD toward SIR FRANCIS DRAKE BLVD. <0.1 miles Map
2. Turn RIGHT onto SIR FRANCIS DRAKE BLVD. 0.7 miles Map
3: Turn LEFT onto CA-1 / SHORELINE HWY. 0.2 miles Map
4: Turn LEFT to stay on CA-1 / SHORELINE HWY. 0.1 miles Map
5: Turn RIGHT to stay on CA-1 / SHORELINE HWY. <0.1 miles Map
6: End at Point ReyesStation, CAUSMap---Total Est. Time: 4 minutes Total Est. Distance: 1.26 miles
Buena Vista to MontaraMountain
1.Start out going EAST on LOMBARD ST / US-101 toward FRANKLIN ST. 0.1 miles Map
2.Turn RIGHT onto VAN NESS AVE / US-101. 2.2 miles Map
3. Merge onto US-101 S toward US-80 / OAKLAND / SAN JOSE. 2.9 miles Map
4.Merge onto I-280 S toward DALY CITY. 6.4 miles Map
5. Take CA-1 S toward PACIFICA. 7.1 miles Map
6: Turn LEFT onto LINDA MAR BLVD. 1.9 miles Map
7.Turn RIGHT onto ODDSTAD BLVD. <0.1 miles Map
8: End at 600 Oddstad Blvd Pacifica, CA94044-4422, USMap
Total Est. Time: 32 minutes Total Est. Distance: 20.98 miles
Or
When coming to San Pedro Valley Park from the north (San Francisco), use Highway 280 to Highway 1. Take Highway 1 south to the City of Pacifica. Turn east onto Linda Mar Boulevard. Follow Linda Mar Boulevard unit it ends at Oddstad Boulevard. Turn right on Oddstad Boulevard. Proceed on Oddstad Boulevard one block to the park entrance.