Driving Directions
From the East Bay, take 580N towards Point Richmond/San Rafael. Cross the San Rafael Bridge ($2 toll).
Exit San Anselmo/Sir Francis Drake. Drive west on Sir Francis Drake about 3.5 miles to the intersection
with Lagunitas Road (by the Marin Art and Garden Center). Turn left onto Lagunitas. Immediately turn
left again and park in the Ross Commons (the parking lot next to the soccer field).
It is optional to park directly at the Phoenix Lake Trailhead (keep going straight on Lagunitas Rd.),
although parking here is limited.
Trail Directions
The running route highlighted here offers a view of four lakes located in the area. From Ross Commons,
run along Lagunitas Rd for about 1 mile to Phoenix Lake Trailhead. Head up into the park, stay straight on
the trail so that Phoenix Lake is on your left. After Phoenix Lake, the trail branches off into three trails;
take the left-most fork onto Eldridge Grade. This path climbs steadily up for 0.8 miles. At the trail's junction
(where water is located), turn right onto the paved trail. Go straight for 1.2 miles, past a water tower.
Keep going straight until the end of the paved trail, then turn left.
You will end up between two lakes, Lake Laginitas on the left and Bon Tempe Lake on the right. Here you have the
option of going left and looping around Lake Lagunitas, which adds about an extra 2 miles. Otherwise, go straight
and then right along Bon Tempe Lake, keeping Bon Tempe Lake on your right-hand side. After 1.3 miles, go right
across the dam (Bon Tempe Lake remains to the right, while Alpine Lake is left of the dam). Past the dam, go straight
and to the left onto Bullfrog Road. Stay on this road and go past the gate. Take the right-hand trail (Taylor) for
0.5 mi, then turn right onto Concrete Pipe Rd. Stay on this road past Five Corners. After this point, all of the
trails lead downhill, so make your way down (either Concrete Pipe Rd. or Shaver Grade) to Phoenix Lake and back out of
the park.
Distance ~8-12 mi
Links
National Park Service |
Marin Municipal Water District