Lucas Valley to Loma Alta

Marin
Trip Type: Day Hike / Trial Run
Elevation: 100 - 1400 ft
Distance: 7.5 miles
Surface: Dirt and Gravel
Vegetation: Sparse Woods and Grassland

Post of a Mountain Bike Ride taken in Summer 2015

We actually did this route on Mountain Bikes, but I'm posting it as a hike/trail run.  The route was great for humans on bikes, but sections of the fire roads were a bit rocky for presto and even with booties on his feet got a bit torn up.  So I can't recommend riding this route with a dog unless they've got paws of steel.  All around a very nice bit of Bay Area hills though.  Marin County has done a good job of combining several open space areas and public easements around Lucas Valley into a nice network of trails for hiking and biking.  We initially wanted to explore this route as the start to a big day all around the valley working our way up to Loma Alta, across the Valley at Big Rock and then up over Rock Ridge.  That would make for over 15 miles and more than 2,000 feet of climb for sure.  Next time we'll start at Big Rock and Explore the higher ground on (hopefully) mostly softer trails.

Getting There:

Head up 101 towards Novato and get off on Lucas Valley Road.  About 2 miles west of 101 turn right onto Mt. Lassen road and the next right onto Jeanette Prandi Way.  There are some county offices here and a gravel parking lot is open to the public on nights and weekends.  The trail proper starts a quarter mile up Lucas Valley Road at a horse paddock with no public parking.

The route:

Note that the middle portion along the 680 trail is approximate.