Combo Classics

Spring is here and the North Bay is ready with some double-header adventures featuring bikes, hikes, camps, kayaks, and…good wine.

Bald Mountain’s summit at 2,729 feet is a few hundred feet higher that Mt. Tamalpais. Photo by Brad Day

By weekendsherpa.com
Published: April, 2008 

Summit ‘n’ Sip

Pair a hike to one of Sonoma’s highest summits with an après tasting at its smallest winery, and you’ve got a vintage Wine Country day trip. At 2,729 feet, Bald Mountain’s summit is a few hundred feet higher than Mount Tam’s, offering views well worth the 7-mile (round-trip) hike. On clear days, the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada glint on the horizon and Mount Saint Helena looks close enough to touch; below, the lush green valleys and vineyard-latticed hills of Napa and Sonoma roll away. Descend via the same route, or make a partial loop by dropping down Gray Pine Trail to a mostly canopied section that crosses a creek, dips through forests, and pops out onto an open ridge with broad views. On the drive back, toast your successful ascent with a stop at Kaz Vineyard & Winery, the smallest—and quite possibly the friendliest—winery in Sonoma. (It closes at 5:00 p.m., so be sure to time your hike accordingly.) Richard Kaz Kasmier is the big guy at this family-run operation, which makes only 60 barrels of delicious organic wine a year. Buy one of their uniquely labeled bottles and Kaz will happily sign it for you.

With numerous stretches of exposed trail, this hike is best done in the milder temperatures of spring or fall. Bald Mountain is in Sugarloaf Ridge State Park . To reach the park: From Highway 12 in Sonoma Valley, go east on Adobe Canyon Rd. in Kenwood. Drive 3.5 miles to the park entrance. The trailhead is at the back of the left-side parking lot. Hike about 1 mile on Lower Bald Mountain Trail; continue up the paved Bald Mountain Trail for 1.5 miles. At the end of the pavement, turn right and continue on the Bald Mountain Trail. The trail curves around the summit; turn right on Gray Pine Trail and take a spur trail to the summit. Descend the way you came, or continue down the Gray Pine Trail .8 mile to Red Mountain Trail. (Sturdy shoes with good grip are recommended for this route.) Turn right and go about 1 mile to the Headwaters Trail; turn left. Go .5 mile to the Vista Trail; turn right. Go .7 mile until it connects back with the Bald Mountain Trail. The park may not have maps; print one out beforehand here. Allow four to five hours for the hike. No dogs are allowed on the trail.

Kaz Vineyard & Winery, 233 Adobe Canyon Rd., Kenwood; 877-833-2536. Open Friday to Monday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tastings are $5.

Good bike-and-hike trails are sometimes hard to find. In Point Reyes, the popular Bear Valley Trail is one of the best, with a peaceful ride and ramble that leads to a hulking coastal destination. Get a jumpstart on hikers by biking the first 3 mellow miles along the creek-side fire road, through towering Douglas firs. Lock your bike at the rack and continue on a foot trail that parallels the creek for another mile; near the end, the canopy thins and suddenly the destination pops into sight: Arch Rock (pictured). Walk out to rock’s edge for huge views up and down the coast. On the ride back, take a break at Divide Meadow, a sunny expanse prime for picnics; from here it’s a sweet stretch of gradual downhill back to the trailhead.

Camping in the Sierras would be chilly at this time of year, but Tomales Bay is just getting toasty: the average high in April is 70 degrees. For an offbeat spring camping excursion, rent a kayak from Blue Waters Kayaking in Marshall and paddle across the bay to a private beach. Stuff your kayak with overnight supplies that would be tough to haul in with a backpack: gourmet dinners, wine, firewood. (Be sure to pick up a fire permit at the Bear Valley Visitor Center.) Campsites are found at Marshall and Tomales beaches, about an hour’s paddle from Marshall. Get an early start to avoid the afternoon headwind, then spend the day watching egrets, herons, and the occasional osprey. Pull ashore, light up the campfire, and roast some s’mores with your sunset. Rites of spring.

Blue Waters Kayaking, 19225 Shoreline Highway, Marshall; 415-669-2600. Pick up two permits at Bear Valley Visitor Center in Point Reyes: an overnight permit ($15 per night, per six people), and a fire permit (no charge). There is no running water at camp; bring your own. To make a camping reservation call 415-663-8054. No dogs.

Arch Rock in Point Reyes provides breathtaking coastal views. Photo by Brad Day

Secluded beaches can become your private hideaway when traveling by kayak in Tomales Bay. Photo by Kasey Kasey